Scott Hensley received his BS degrees in Mathematics and Physics from the University of California at Irvine and the Ph.D. in Mathematics from Stony Brook University where he specialized in the study of differential geometry. In 1991, Dr. Hensley joined the staff of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory where he is currently a Senior Research Scientist studying advanced radar techniques for geophysical applications. He has worked on the Magellan and Cassini radars, was the GeoSAR Chief Scientist, lead the SRTM Interferometric Processor Development Team, lead a team using GSSR data to generate topographic maps of the moon and was Principal Investigator and is currently the Project Scientist for the NASA UAVSAR program which is an airborne electronically scanned L-band radar designed for repeat pass applications. Most recently he has been very active in developing proposals for exploring the solar system that require radar observations.  

Stony Brook University

Ph.D. in Mathematics 1985 - Specialized in Differential Geometry

University of California Irvine

B.S. Mathematics and Physics 1980

My primary area of interest is the use of radar remote sensing for geophysical applications in particular the use of radar interferometric techniques. Areas of interest include topographic mapping, archeology, earthquake and volcanoes, vegetation structure and biomass, ice cap and glacier dynamics, sea ice thickness and planetary geology and geophysics.

2013 – Present: Adjunct Professor University of New South Wales

1995 – Present: Principal

2015 – Present Senior Research Scientist

Selected Key Assignments:

1989 – 1992: Magellan Radar Team Member

1996 – 2003: GeoSAR Principal Investigator

1997 – 2002: SRTM Topographic Processor Lead

2003 – 2017: Cassini Radar Team Member

2004 – 2008: UAVSAR Principal Investigator

2008 – Present: UAVSAR Project Scientist

2008 – 2012: Assistant Section Manager

• Professional Society and External Organization Awards | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) (?)
• JPL Fellowship | For fundamental contributions in signal processing and algorithm development, scientific data processing and production methods, and synthetic aperture radar and interferometric SAR techniques. (2022)
• NASA Award | NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal (2016)
• Senior Research Scientist | Radar Interferomety (2015)
• JPL Award | JPL Research Poster Award (2015)
• Professional Society Fellowship | IEEE | IEEE Fellow (2014)
• JPL Award | JPL Leadership Award (2014)
• JPL Award | JPL Magellan Bonus Award Winner for UAVSAR (2011)
• NASA Award | NASA Medal of Excellence for the GSSR Lunar Mapping Project (2010)
• NASA Award | NASA Group Achievement Award for the Glistin Ka-band Radar Development (2010)
• NASA Award | NASA Medal for Excellence for Leading the UAVSAR Development Effort (2008)
• NASA Award | NASA Medal for Excellence for Leading the SRTM Processing Effort (2003)
• JPL Principal Designation | 3340 - Radar Science And Engineering (1999)