ICESat-2/ATLAS

Deputy Project Scientist/Instrument for the Advanced Topograhic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) on the ICESat-2 mission.

Physicist

Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD

2012 - Present

Deputy Project Scientist/Instrument for the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System, the instrument on the ICESat-2 mission. Maintain the instrument performance model. Performs special-purpose analyses to determine acceptability of as-built instrument performance to meet science requirements. Works closely with the instrument and mission engineering teams to define pre-launch testing and post-launch commissioning activities. Guides development of data analysis methods to take maximum advantage of the instrument’s strengths and weaknesses.

Engineer

Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD

1990 - 2012

Led and contributed to numerous projects, including instrument and communication technology research and development, future science mission and instrument design, and development of scientific instruments for space flight missions. Highlights include:

ICESat-2/ATLAS (2007-2012)
As Instrument Systems Engineer, led the instrument engineering team from mission capture through a successful Mission Concept Review. Developed and characterized numerous candidate instrument configurations to meet variable proposed science requirements. Carried out link and performance calculations, maintained the master equipment list, and coordinated the efforts of other instrument engineers as they joined the team. Regularly represented ATLAS to GSFC management and NASA HQ. Worked closely with mission managers and systems engineers and the science team. As Instrument Architect, offloaded much of the budget and coordination work to the successor ISE while continuing to serve as the interface to science, lead the requirements definition effort, and develop a comprehensive instrument performance model from Instrument System Requirements Review through Instrument Preliminary Design Review and beyond. Worked with the science team, developed a set of design cases; negotiated the instrument architecture and measurement requirements with Science and Mission Systems. Developed the instrument performance model with an increasing level of realism in the instrument and the terrain as laboratory and field data became available to replace theoretical assumptions; used the model to produce periodic updates of the predicted instrument performance. Initiated planning for instrument calibration. Worked closely with science and instrument engineering teams to be able to represent the concerns of each to the other, and recommend compromise solutions to issues that arose. Performed many special-purpose analyses to answer questions on instrument performance, calibration, and characterization. Gave many oral presentations at reviews, Science Team meetings, and other venues describing the instrument architecture and predicted performance.

Optical Communication (1990-1992, 2006-2007)
In the early 90s, tested avalanche photodiode detectors and monitored external contracts for detector development and pulse-position-modulation transceivers. In 2006-2007, as Systems Engineer, led the engineering effort for a planned demonstration of ground-space-ground laser communication using two ground terminals at GSFC and retroreflectors on orbiting satellites. Calculated link budgets and carried out experiments in a laboratory testbed; coordinated the efforts of the rest of the engineering team.

LISA (2005-2006)
As Optics Lead for GSFC's contribution, led trade studies on telescope and aft optics design and laser frequency stabilization methods.

TPF-C (2005)
As Instrument Systems Engineer, led the engineering effort to design GSFC's planned contribution to the Terrestrial Planet Finder-Coronagraph, an 8-meter telescope. Worked closely with counterparts at JPL, who were responsible for the mission.

FAR IR Interferometry (1998-2007)
Served as a Co-I or electro-optical engineer on several design and laboratory studies of far-infrared stellar interferometers including SPECS, SPIRIT, WIIT, and FKSI. Developed mathematical models of electro-optical performance. Designed and implemented laboratory experiments in optical testbeds.

ICESat/GLAS (1999-2002)
As Calibration Lead, worked with the Instrument Scientist to develop the initial instrument pre-launch calibration plan. Defined parameters to be measured, determined tolerances, and developed the first draft of the equipment needed for calibration. Performed the zero-range calibration test. As Etalon Lead, took over near the end of the task, took delivery of the flight etalons, performed electro-optical testing of the etalon assembly (including etalon, coarse filter, and tuning detectors) and delivered the hardware to instrument I&T.

STEREO (2000-2001)
Contributed to the optical architecture and performed extensive modeling of the electro-optical performance of the COR-1 inner coronagraph. Worked closely with the science team to develop a sufficiently realistic model of the solar input to properly assess the instrument's performance.

Cassini/CIRS (1992-1997)
As Reference Interferometer Lead Engineer, led the design and implementation of the CIRS Reference Interferometer optics, electronics, and structures from breadboard through flight. Advocated and implemented a change from the Mariner/Voyager heritage neon lamp to a laser diode/LED combination light source, resulting in extended-duration performance of CIRS. Later, developed a model of the electro-optical behavior of the entire CIRS instrument that successfully explained unexpected behavior that was observed during I&T and ensured that the performance of the delivered instrument was optimized. Worked very closely with the instrument science team and several instrument subsystem teams.

The Optical Society (OSA)

1984 - Present

SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

1984 - Present

American Geophysical Union

2018 - Present