Stephen Ettinger named new UCAR chief financial officer
Ettinger brings extensive finance experience at federally funded research organizations
Jun 2, 2026 - by Staff
Stephen Ettinger has been selected to serve as chief financial officer (CFO) of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), effective June 8, 2026. Ettinger brings more than 28 years of experience to the position from across federally funded research organizations, national laboratories, higher education, and public sector institutions.
Ettinger’s professional roots began at UCAR, where he spent 10 years progressing through administrative and operational roles. He has held senior finance and operations leadership roles at NSF's NOIRLab, UNAVCO (now part of EarthScope Consortium), the University of Colorado's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (now the National Laboratory of the Rockies), and most recently, the Colorado State Office of the Public Defender.
“Returning to UCAR is a full-circle moment for me,” said Ettinger. “The organization played an important role in my professional development, and I am excited to rejoin a mission that has never stopped mattering to me. I look forward to working with colleagues across UCAR to strengthen the financial foundation that supports world-class science and service to society.”
As CFO, Ettinger will help lead efforts already underway to shape UCAR’s financial strategy for the long term, while advancing a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
“What stands out about Stephen is not just the breadth of his experience, but how directly it maps to where we are as an organization,” said Chief Operating Officer Alisha Swofford. “Stephen has extensive experience helping organizations navigate periods of growth, change, and complexity with steadiness and integrity. We are delighted to welcome him back to UCAR.”
Ettinger will replace Justin Young, who will retire on July 3, 2026.
About UCAR
UCAR is a nonprofit consortium of 129 North American universities that manages the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) on behalf of NSF. UCAR is a vibrant hub that brings together America’s top research universities in partnership with government agencies and private companies to address complex challenges.