Space Geodesy Project (SGP)

Project Manager for the Space Geodesy Project (SGP) that develops, operates, and maintains the global NASA Space Geodesy Network of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) ground stations, and produces and disseminates the data products for the International Terrestrial Reference Frame and Earth Orientation Parameters.  Responsible for managing: 

• The operation and maintenance of the NASA Space Geodesy Network and associated analysis systems,
• The development and delivery of Space Geodetic data products,
• The planning and implementation of the next generation NASA Space Geodesy Network,
• Coordination with over two-dozen domestic and international partners in Space Geodesy, and the development of new NASA partnerships.

Global Positioning System Laser Retroreflector Array (GPS-LRA)

Principal Investigator for the Global Positioning System Laser Retroreflector Array (GPS-LRA), a NASA provided instrument for the next generation of GPS satellites.  Provides guidance and oversight of all elements of the instrument implementation and responsible for coordination with US Space Command and US Space Force.

Geodetic Reference Instrument Transponder for Small Satellites (GRITSS)

Project Scientist for Geodetic Reference Instrument Transponder for Small Satellites (GRITSS), a flight instrument designed to improve the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), the foundation for geolocating all Earth Observations. 

Lunar Laser Ranging

Lead several projects related to Lunar Laser Ranging, including the Artemis Lunar Laser Retroreflector, Lunar Pathfinder Laser Retroreflector Array, development of next-generation lunar laser retroreflectors, and managing NASA's Apache Point Lunar Laser Ranging Station.

Space Geodesy Project Manager

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, Maryland

2011 - Present

Project Manager for the Space Geodesy Project and Principal Investigator for the Global Positioning System Laser Retroreflector Array.

Assistant Director for Policy and Planning

NASA Headquarters - Washington, D.C.

2010 - 2011

Developed policy and strategic plans for the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters. Developed the strategic and tactical plans for implementing the recommendations of the 2010 Astrophysics Decadal Survey.  Supported the development of the Astrophysics Division’s inputs into the President’s budget requests.  Led and supported interagency discussions with the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Office of Management and Budget.  Supported and participated in bilateral international discussions with the European Space Agency, Japan, and other international partners.   Prepared and reviewed presentations to the NASA Advisory Council’s Science Committee and Astrophysics Subcommittee; the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee; and other public presentations by the Division Director.  Worked with the National Research Council on Astrophysics related topics and studies.

Senior Policy Analyst for Physical Science and Engineering

Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President - Washington, D.C.

2009 - 2010

Provided advice and support to the President’s Science Advisor on a variety of physical science and engineering issues. Worked closely on a day-to-day basis at the very highest levels of government to develop policy recommendations on a wide variety of technical and scientific topics, and coordinated across all parts of the Executive Branch to implement and monitor those policies. In particular, worked directly with senior officials from the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in addition to coordinating with other offices within the Executive Office of the President such as the Office of Management and Budget.

Astrophysicist

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, Maryland

2000 - 2009

Deputy Project Scientist and Acting Mission Systems Engineer for the international LISA Project, a space based gravitational wave mission. Work on all aspects of the LISA mission, including: scientific activities, technology development, detailed engineering, and management. Lead a group of nearly 30 engineers and scientists solving some of the most challenging aspects of the LISA mission. Collaborate routinely with scientists throughout the US and Europe. Examples include: ESTEC (Netherlands), University of Trento (Italy), Instituto de Ciencias del Espacio (Spain), and the University of Hannover (Germany). Work closely and interact daily with managers, engineers, and scientists at the European Space Agency.

Principle Investigator for the “Precision Lunar Laser Ranging” project and Co-Investigator for the NASA Lunar Science Institute node “Lunar University Node for Astrophysics Research (LUNAR): Exploring the Cosmos From the Moon.” These efforts are aimed at developing the next generation of lunar laser ranging instruments and deriving the science they will produce. Collaborate with scientists at the University of Colorado, University of California at San Diego, and the University of Maryland, among others.

Member of the Goddard “LaserComm” development team, which is building a photon counting instrument for space based laser communications. Member of the MLA-Earthlink experiment team, which is attempting to perform laser ranging and communications over interplanetary distances using the laser altimeter on the MESSENGER spacecraft and the Goddard observatory.

Chair of the Astrophysics Science Division Colloquium Committee and member of the Lunar Exploration Science Working Group Steering Committee. Member of the Advanced LIGO Project Advisory Panel, which reports directly to the director of the NFS funded LIGO Project.

Research Associate

Nuclear Physics Laboratory, University of Washington - Seattle, Washington

1998 - 2000

Member of Professors Eric Adelberger’s and Jens Gundlach’s Eöt-Wash group, pioneering new techniques in high-precision studies of gravity.  Performed a measurement of Newton’s gravitational constant G with unprecedented precision.  This measurement remains the world’s most precise measurement of “big G” and is used to set the standard value.  Also led the implementation of a new continuously rotating torsion balance for testing the Equivalence Principle (the equivalence between gravitational mass and inertial mass).  Responsible for all aspects of the experiment, including designing and building the apparatus, writing the data acquisition and control system, and analyzing the data.