JPL Fellowship
A JPL Fellow is one who has made extraordinary technical and institutional contributions to JPL over an extended period of time. Fellows are sought out for advice on strategic technical decisions and for establishing the course for JPL’s future.
2025
| Name | Citation |
|---|---|
| Andrew Johnson | For renowned expertise in the use of computer vision technologies to enhance the performance of Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) systems and his collaborations within NASA, industry and academia. |
| Feng Zhao | For sustained and major impact in precision active optics technology development and flight implementation including renown as a leader in development of JPL’s world-class interferometric metrology and coronagraph systems. |
2024
| Name | Citation |
|---|---|
| Julia L. Bell | For exceptional expertise in addressing complex operations challenges while ensuring the mission remains aligned with its objectives and efficiently implementing solutions. |
| Jason D. Rhodes | For outstanding leadership in cosmology and exoplanet science including his sustained contributions to Flagship-scale missions spanning two decades. |
2022
| Name | Citation |
|---|---|
| Steve Alfery | For exceptional dedication and creativity in acquisitions in support of the Laboratory’s mission, and for taking a central role in institutional initiatives and the developmental stages of our subcontracts for flight projects. |
| Saverio A. D'Agostino | For exceptional expertise and contribution to the prevention, investigation and resolution of space hardware development challenges for JPL’s most important flight projects, and for serving as the leading subject matter expert in determining root causes and corrective actions for anomalies in mechanical, material and electronic elements. |
| Scott Hensley | For fundamental contributions in signal processing and algorithm development, scientific data processing and production methods, and synthetic aperture radar and interferometric SAR techniques. |
| Louise Jandura | For renowned expertise in mechanisms and sampling system development, including the advancement of state-of-the-practice for robotic planetary sampling systems from architecture though development and operations. |
| Naomi K. Palmer | For exceptional leadership and expertise in system reliability engineering, flight avionics and power systems implementation, and for a sustained record of accomplishments on many of JPL’s most significant and challenging missions. |
| Robert T. Pappalardo | For outstanding project science leadership encompassing advocacy, formulation, implementation, operations, and closeout phases of missions; and for outstanding research and renowned expertise on the interiors of planetary satellites, including ocean worlds. |
| Duane E. Waliser | For sustained and major impact on the direction of Earth science as an outstanding researcher and an international science leader in areas spanning tropical meteorology, convection, and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO); atmospheric rivers and the global water & energy cycles; and sub-seasonal to seasonal climate prediction. |
2020
| Name | Citation |
|---|---|
| Steve A. Chien | For a distinguished record of contributions to the JPL/NASA system-level spacecraft autonomy program, focusing on planning and scheduling systems, resulting in planning and scheduling autonomy (onboard and ground-based) evolving from a high-risk technology to an established capability. |
| Carl S. Guernsey | For providing nationally recognized technical expertise in propulsion for nearly all JPL Flight Missions in the last 30 years, and for providing the most extensive critical support in the chemical propulsion discipline at JPL over the last 25+ years, participating in numerous Tiger Team and JPL/NASA anomaly situations. |
| Soren N. Madsen | For accomplishments resulting in the successful execution of several highly visible flight missions and significant technical and scientific contributions to the Institution, especially in the areas of advanced radar systems and in-situ scientific analytical instruments. |
| Shouleh Nikzad | For international renown for her contributions to JPL’s MicroDevices Laboratory (MDL) and her vision which has resulted in the expansion of JPL core capabilities from technology to instrumentation and has led to the development of a new generation of ultraviolet imaging spectrometers and cameras. |
| Paul A. Rosen | For fundamental contributions in planetary and Earth sciences, signal processing and algorithm development, scientific data processing and production methods, and for worldwide renown expertise in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and interferometric SAR (InSAR). |
| Linda J. Spilker | For increasingly critical scientific leadership for a range of the Laboratory’s missions, particularly flagship missions, encompassing formulation through closeout and for expertise in planetary ring science, performing ground-breaking research and publishing key work during the Voyager period, and then leading the rings team for Cassini’s Infrared Composite Spectrometer. |
2018
| Name | Citation |
|---|---|
| David S. Bayard | For world-renowned expertise in Guidance, Navigation & Control (GN&C) spanning conceptualization, formulation, and design of complex space systems and for leadership in precision pointing control systems and estimation theory. |
| Jeff B. Berner | For highly accomplished technical expertise crucial for all DSN-supported NASA and partner agency robotic and Human flight missions and for extremely broad expertise across multiple engineering disciplines utilized to solve highly challenging problems associated with the high-sensitivity receivers, high-stability signals and high power transmitters used for deep space. |
| Bonnie Buratti | For world-class planetary science leadership utilized to maximize the scientific output of missions and for exceptional achievements that have furthered JPL’s reputation as the go to institution for planetary science. |
| Howard Eisen | For distinguished and sustained record of contributions to some of the Laboratory’s most prominent successes such as Sojourner, SRTM, MRO and MSL and for bringing deep technical contributions in the area of mechanical systems and structures, and world-class understanding of the systems engineering into his position on the leadership team of the Solar System Exploration Directorate. |
| Margaret A. Frerking | - |
2017
| Name | Citation |
|---|---|
| Austin B. Baggett | For exceptional creative leadership in generating world acclaim for JPL's missions and establishing JPL as the agency's lead center in public communications. |
| Charles A. Beichman | For pioneering JPL contributions to infrared astronomy in developing NASA space missions and leading the scientific research on mission data, and leadership in the development of new instrumentation for precision radial velocity measurements, effectively advancing NASA’s capabilities to identify Earth-like exoplanets. |
| Dan M. Goebel | For seminal work in conceptualizing, implementing, and trouble-shooting electric propulsion technology for NASA missions (i.e. Dawn, Psyche, etc.) and serving as a JPL expert in other cutting-edge, mission technologies (i.e. microwave sources, advanced plasma sources, high voltage engineering, ultra-linear TWT amplifiers, etc.). |
| Donald Sevilla | For state-of-the-practice leadership of mechanical systems engineering (mechanisms and mechanical devices) keeping JPL mechanical design principles and flight project practices at the forefront of the industry. |
| Chris R. Webster | For pioneering the development of tunable laser spectrometers (TLS) for flight and robotic missions - transfer of this technology to commercial and industry applications has revolutionized the real-time detection of gases and isotope ratios in diverse environments. |
2015
| Name | Citation |
|---|---|
| Dariush Divsalar | For pioneering work in the field of telecommunications and signal processing through the development of elegant, simplistic solutions in coding and modulation that have increased data return from spacecraft and advanced 3G/4G cellular standards for terrestrial communications. |
| Todd Gaier | For visionary leadership in the field of microwave radiometry for scientific remote sensing, ultra-low-noise millimeter wave amplifiers, and Microwave Monolithic Integrated Circuit (MMIC) technologies, enabling cutting-edge instrumentation for Earth Science, Astrophysics, and Planetary Science applications. |
2014
| Name | Citation |
|---|---|
| Sarath D. Gunapala | For pioneering a revolution in infrared detector technology, most notably through Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors (QWIPs) and high operating temperature barrier infrared detectors (HOT BIRDs), putting JPL at the forefront of this field for both NASA and non-NASA applications. |
| Timothy Krabach | For seminal and cutting-edge leadership in device physics (focal plane arrays and infrared sensors), microdevice technology, and optical systems, resulting in successful NASA and non-NASA projects, and the potential for future applications in these areas. |
| Glenn Reeves | For groundbreaking, state-of-the-practice contributions to flight software development and flight project systems engineering, expanding JPL’s core competencies in autonomy, data management, and many other software-resident functions that are so crucial to the success of the Laboratory’s increasingly complex missions. |
2013
| Name | Citation |
|---|---|
| James A. Donaldson | For exceptional technical leadership in the architecture and design of avionics hardware and software for JPL flight projects. |
| Charles Lawrence | For outstanding leadership of astrophysical missions as well as their required technological development, opening up future directions for JPL in this important arena. |
| Alejandro M. San Martin | For exceptional leadership and technical expertise advancing the state of practice and JPL’s leadership in autonomous onboard spacecraft Guidance, Navigation and Control systems and technology. |
| Marc Rayman | For outstanding leadership and exceptional technical expertise in systems engineering, reaffirming JPL’s leadership position in the field of solar electric propulsion engineering. |
| Ernesto Rodriguez | For creative leadership and technical expertise in radar altimetry, scatterometry, interferometry, sounding, terrain classification, and electromagnetic scattering theory. |
| Adam Steltzner | For exceptional leadership and technical expertise in Entry, Descent, and landing (EDL) systems engineering, most notably the Skycrane System which enabled the successful touchdown of Mars Science Laboratory’s Curiosity rover on the Martian surface. |
| Jennifer Trosper | For exceptional leadership and technical expertise in mission operations development and execution for missions to the Martian surface. |
| Jeffrey W. Umland | For seminal mechanical systems engineering acumen and expertise contributing to the JPL state of the practice reputation from mission formulation through implementation, as demonstrated on MSL, InSight and other flight projects. |
2012
| Name | Citation |
|---|---|
| James Bock | For extraordinary leadership in the development of highly sensitive cryogenic detectors and arrays for long wavelength astronomy and studies of the cosmic microwave background, thereby positioning Caltech-JPL at the forefront of ground-breaking scientific missions and exciting discoveries in cosmology and extragalactic astrophysics. |
| John R. Brophy | For outstanding leadership and overall systems engineering in the theoretical research, technological development, and mission infusion of position in the field of advanced propulsion engineering. |
| Robert O. Green | For outstanding leadership and seminal contributions to the field of imaging spectroscopy, pioneering the characterization of spectral performance and instrument application to address many Earth and planetary science problems, and for championing this field for current and future NASA missions. |
| David C. Redding | For exceptional leadership in the development and application of wavefront sensing and control (WFSC) systems, a critical technology for large optical systems integral to both NASA and non-NASA work. |
2010
| Name | Citation |
|---|---|
| Steven Macenka | For in-depth, expert knowledge and outstanding distinguished leadership in interferometry and advanced optical systems, resulting in novel concept design and implementation of outstanding optical programs for NASA and JPL. |
2009
| Name | Citation |
|---|---|
| Lee-Lueng Fu | For exceptional and sustained leadership in establishing and nurturing ocean sciences at JPL, promoting and developing space-based precision radar altimetry, and for outstanding accomplishments in applying satellite observations to understand ocean circulation. |
| Gentry Lee | For depth and breadth of expertise in space systems engineering and ability to apply that across the spectrum of capabilities related to JPL space exploration missions. |
| Robert Manning | For extraordinary systems engineering leadership in spacecraft Entry, Descent and Landing, and excellence across a broad spectrum of disciplines essential to the success of JPL flight projects. |
| Brian Muirhead | For his in-depth knowledge, experience and contributions in spacecraft and instrument systems design, development, integration, test and operations for JPL missions and NASA's human spaceflight program. |
| Tien T. Nguyen | For outstanding leadership and exceptional technical contributions to device physics, analog electronic design and analysis, control systems and failure analysis for JPL missions and instruments. |
| Robert D. Rasmussen | - |
| Michael W Werner | - |
| Richard W. Zurek | For outstanding leadership as project scientist on JPL missions to Mars and personal research that has contributed significantly to the understanding of planetary atmospheres. |