John Billingham, former Chief of the Biotechnology Division at NASA’s Ames Research Center and a founder of NASA’s SETI program, has unexpectedly passed away at the age of 83.

Billingham led NASA’s SETI efforts from the program’s beginnings in the 1970’s through 1993. When the SETI Institute continued the program’s work, Billingham served on their Board of Trustees.

In 2009, Billingham was honored for his work with an induction into the Ames Research Center Hall of Fame as the acknowledged “Father of SETI” at NASA. John Billingham will long be remembered for his important contribution to our search for life’s potential in the Universe.

For more information from the SETI Institute, visit: http://www.seti.org/john-billingham