Robyn McCutcheon

Robyn Alice McCutcheon (born Robert Allen McCutcheon)^[1] is an American diplomat, engineer and historian.

She received her master's degrees in astronomy from Yale University and master's degrees in Russian studies from Georgetown University.^[2] She was previously an astronomer and historian.^[3] She is known for her work on the history of Soviet astronomy.^[4] She also has several publications to her credit on the history of Soviet and Russian science during the Stalin period.^[2] She became a member of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in 1983^[5] and was a member of the Historical Astronomy Division (HAD) of the AAS^[6] and chair of the AAS International Relations Committee.^[7] She formerly worked at the Space Telescope Science Institute and the Computer Sciences Corporation.^[8] She also worked as an engineer on NASA missions, primarily Hubble Space Telescope.^[2][9]

She joined the US Department of State in 2004 and became a Foreign Service Officer in several countries, including Russia, Romania, Kazakhstan. She served at the Nuclear Risk Reduction Center in 2013–14.^[9] McCutcheon is a trans woman and is the first person to transition while posted overseas.^[9][10] She transitioned in 2011 in Romania.^[1] She also served as president of the GLIFAA (Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies).^[11]

Publications

• McCutcheon, Robert A. "The 1936-1937 purge of Soviet astronomers." Slavic Review 50, no. 1 (1991): 100-117. JSTOR 2500602
• Bronshten, Vitalii A., and Robert A. McCutcheon. "VT Ter-Oganezov, ideologist of Soviet astronomy." Journal for the History of Astronomy 26, no. 4 (1995): 325-348.
• Doel, Ronald. E., and Robert A. McCutcheon, eds. "Astronomy and the State: CIS Perspectives," a special issue of Journal for the History of Astronomy, no. 4 (1995).
• McCutcheon, Robert. (August 19, 2003). "Russia’s Astronomy Icon Nears Rebirth". Sky & Telescope

References

1. . glifaa.org. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019.
2. . 2009-2017.state.gov. June 1, 2012. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019.
3. Graham, Loren R. (1993). Science in Russia and the Soviet Union: A Short History. Cambridge University Press. p. 221. ISBN 9780521287890.
4. . hssonline.org. History of Science Society. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019.
5. Tinch, Crystal. . aas.org. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. 35 Years (Joined the AAS in 1983): McCutcheon, Robyn
6. Bracher, Katherine. . had.aas.org. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019.
7. Dick, Steven J. (February 1995). (PDF). had.aas.org. Newsletter of the Historical Astronomy Division of the American Astronomical Society. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2019. And I am very pleased with the ongoing work of the International Relations Committee (Bob McCutcheon, chair)...
8. . adass.org. Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems. 2003. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Robert McCutcheon, Space Telescope Science Institute/Computer Sciences Corp., 1054 West St., Laurel, MD 20910, USA ([e-mail])
9. Tannehill, Brynn (January 12, 2017). . LGBTQ Nation. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019.
10. McCutcheon, Robyn (2015). "Transgender Lives: Your Stories". The New York Times. I became the first U.S. foreign service officer to openly and publicly transition while serving at a U.S. mission overseas.
11. Lavers, Michael K. (June 20, 2014). "Kerry: LGBT rights are human rights". Washington Blade. Kerry praised GLIFAA President Robyn McCutcheon, who is the first foreign service officer to come out as transgender....