Biography

John is a graduate student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. His research interests are in the areas of spacecraft navigation, spacecraft design, and entry, descent, and landing (EDL). He is currently working in the area of cislunar navigation under the guidance of Dr. Glenn Lightsey. In addition to research, John is currently the Assistant Instructor (AI) for the Space Applications Laboratory (ASE 166M). In previous semesters, he has also been the TA for the Space Systems Engineering and the Spacecraft/Mission Design classes. He remains active in a number of professional societies, including the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the American Astronautical Society (AAS). He currently serves as chair of the AIAA Society and Aerospace Technology Technical Committee and is an associate member of the AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) Technical Committee.

Prior to coming to UT, John received his MS in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. While at Georgia Tech, John worked under the guidance of Dr. Robert Braun in the Space Systems Design Lab. His research focused on two areas: (1) the sizing and technical feasibility of EDL systems for delivering very large payloads to the Martian surface, and (2) the reconstruction of EDL trajectories and atmospheric profiles for past Mars missions using sensor data. John also holds a BS in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech.

John is currently a graduate co-op at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He started co-oping in 2002 as an undergraduate student and has completed seven co-op tours, including rotations in the Mission Operations Directorate, the Space and Life Sciences Directorate, the Engineering Directorate, and the Constellation Program Office. Additionally, John has worked three summers at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico – the largest youth camp in the world (137,000 acres with over 22,000 participants passing through in the 2007 season). During the summer of 2007, John served as the Camp Director at Ring Place (the astronomy and weather camp).

John currently lives in north Austin with his wife, Laura. His hobbies are backpacking, hiking, astronomy, and Shao-Lin Kung Fu and Tai Chi.