As Director, Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, Dr. Miriam Baltuck is responsible for operations of the Australian facility used to track and communicate with all of NASA's solar system exploration missions.

Miriam has degrees from the University of Michigan (BS, High Honors, 1976) and from the University of California San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography (PhD 1982). Graduate work included geologic field mapping, blue water oceanographic research cruises, laboratory geochemical analyses, with the Deep Sea Drilling Project, and at the University of Paris and Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In 1986 Dr. Baltuck joined the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to manage NASA's Solid Earth and Natural Hazards Branch. During her tenure in this position she secured resources for 11 new flight projects including the renowned Shuttle Radar Topography Mission. Under her direction, her NASA branch developed more international cooperative partnerships than any other program at NASA. In 1994 she was seconded to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to chair twenty-five federal agencies in the development of a National Earthquake Loss Reduction Strategy.

Dr. Baltuck moved to Canberra in mid-1997 as the NASA Attaché at the US Embassy, Canberra. In 2001 she pioneered a position in Australia as Science and Technology Advisor at the US Embassy, Canberra, assisting US organizations in developing cooperative activities in the Asia Pacific region. In 2005 she joined the Australian National University as Director of University Advancement, a new position created to support the university's strategic development through external alliances.

In 2006 Dr. Baltuck returned to space science with the Directorship of CDSCC and NASA Operations in Australia.

Miriam is married to Mr. Robert D. Lees and has three sons.

Minor Planet Baltuck was added to the international astronomical registry (minor planet catalog no. 5701); bestowed in January 2006.