Mission

The mission of the Exoplanet Exploration Program is threefold– to search for planets beyond our solar system, characterize them, and look for life among the stars. The scientists and engineers who work at NASA's exoplanet program work daily to make those goals a reality.

• 

  Gary Blackwood

  Program Manager
  Dr. Gary H. Blackwood is the Program Manager for the NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He earned his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from MIT. He has been an employee at JPL since 1988 and has worked on technology development for precision astronomical instruments and astrophysics missions including the Hubble Wide/Field Planetary Camera-2, the StarLight formation-flying interferometer, the Space Interferometry Mission and the Terrestrial Plan... more

  Program Manager
  Dr. Gary H. Blackwood is the Program Manager for the NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He earned his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from MIT. He has been an employee at JPL since 1988 and has worked on technology development for precision astronomical instruments and astrophysics missions including the Hubble Wide/Field Planetary Camera-2, the StarLight formation-flying interferometer, the Space Interferometry Mission and the Terrestrial Planet Finder. Since 2012 he has served as the Program Manager for the Exoplanet Exploration Program, managed by JPL for the Astrophysics Division of the NASA Science Mission Directorate – NASA’s search for habitable worlds and for evidence of life beyond the solar system. Dr. Blackwood is responsible for managing a program for NASA APD that is comprised of flight projects, ground instruments, technology development, mission studies and science community service. He received the JPL Magellan Award for exceptional leadership of the Exoplanet Program in 2015. In 2014, Dr. Blackwood received NASA’s Federal Acquisition Certificate for a Program/Project manager, establishing his credentials at the senior expert level and admitting him to the agency’s Professional Acquisition Community. less
• 

  Kendra Short

  Deputy Program Manager
  Kendra Short is the Deputy Program Manager for the NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Prior to this position, she served as a Payload Manager within the SWOT project, responsible for the delivery of over $50 million in instruments and subsystems. In her previous 28 years of professional experience at JPL, she has held a number of leadership positions in related science, technology, and project management across multiple Directorates (Earth Science, Astrophysics, Planetary... more

  Deputy Program Manager
  Kendra Short is the Deputy Program Manager for the NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Prior to this position, she served as a Payload Manager within the SWOT project, responsible for the delivery of over $50 million in instruments and subsystems. In her previous 28 years of professional experience at JPL, she has held a number of leadership positions in related science, technology, and project management across multiple Directorates (Earth Science, Astrophysics, Planetary and Mars). Her direct experience on projects includes SWOT, SIM, SRTM, Mars Pathfinder and Cassini projects. Responsibilities included delivering flight hardware and major subsystems, flight integration and test teams, flight operations team, budget and schedule development and management, systems engineering, team management and leadership. Throughout the years, she also held several line management positions within the Mechanical Systems Division at JPL including Division Manager for nine years. As Division Manager, she was responsible for the activities and deliverables of up to seven hundred engineers and researchers in the design and development of mechanical systems for flight spacecraft and instruments, and technology development programs. Recently, Ms. Short was the Principal Investigator of the three-year NIAC technology task entitled “Printable Spacecraft.” Ms. Short received a B.S. in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University in 1989 and an M.S. in Aero/Astro Engineering from Stanford University in 1992. less
• 

  Karl Stapelfeldt

  Program Chief Scientist
  Dr. Karl Stapelfeldt is the Chief Scientist for NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His research is focused on circumstellar disks, planet formation, exoplanets, and the design of future missions and instruments that could achieve major scientific advances in these areas. Dr. Stapelfeldt began his NASA career as a post-doctoral research fellow at JPL in 1993. As a JPL scientist from 1994 to 2011, he worked on the Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 instrument, Spitzer Sp... more

  Program Chief Scientist
  Dr. Karl Stapelfeldt is the Chief Scientist for NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His research is focused on circumstellar disks, planet formation, exoplanets, and the design of future missions and instruments that could achieve major scientific advances in these areas. Dr. Stapelfeldt began his NASA career as a post-doctoral research fellow at JPL in 1993. As a JPL scientist from 1994 to 2011, he worked on the Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 instrument, Spitzer Space Telescope Science Teams, and the Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph Mission Study. He left JPL in 2011 to become the Chief of the Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics Laboratory at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, before returning to JPL in 2016. He received his Ph.D. in astrophysics, with a graduate minor in planetary science, from Caltech in 1991, and a B.S.E. in mechanical and aerospace engineering and engineering physics from Princeton University in 1984. less
• 

  Eric Mamajek

  Deputy Program Chief Scientist
  Dr. Eric E. Mamajek earned his B.S. in astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State, an M.Sc. in physics from the University of New South Wales/ADFA, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Arizona. He was previously a Clay Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Associate Astronomer for the National Optical Astronomy Observatory at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, and Professor of Physics & Astronomy at University of Rochester, w... more

  Deputy Program Chief Scientist
  Dr. Eric E. Mamajek earned his B.S. in astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State, an M.Sc. in physics from the University of New South Wales/ADFA, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Arizona. He was previously a Clay Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Associate Astronomer for the National Optical Astronomy Observatory at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, and Professor of Physics & Astronomy at University of Rochester, where he worked with students on observational astronomy research related to the formation and evolution of exoplanetary systems and their host stars. Since starting at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, in 2016, he has served as the Deputy Program Chief Scientist for the NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program, managed by JPL for the Astrophysics Division of the NASA Science Mission Directorate. less
• 

  Nick Siegler

  Program Chief Technologist, Technology Development Manager
  Dr. Nick Siegler is an astrophysicist and the Chief Technologist for NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program located at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. With collaborators from all over the country he helps identify and mature technologies needed to enable possible future NASA missions that will ultimately look for evidence of life on exoplanets. He has worked in a variety of systems engineering and project management roles for the last nine years. Prior to JPL, Dr. Sieg... more

  Program Chief Technologist, Technology Development Manager
  Dr. Nick Siegler is an astrophysicist and the Chief Technologist for NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program located at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. With collaborators from all over the country he helps identify and mature technologies needed to enable possible future NASA missions that will ultimately look for evidence of life on exoplanets. He has worked in a variety of systems engineering and project management roles for the last nine years. Prior to JPL, Dr. Siegler held astronomy research positions at the University of Arizona as well as various operations management positions with subsidiaries of Unilever at various domestic and international locations. Dr. Siegler received his Ph.D. and Masters in astronomy from the University of Arizona, a master's in international business from the Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands, and a bachelor's in chemical engineering from the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey. less
• 

  Keith Warfield

  Program Chief Engineer
  Keith Warfield is the Chief Engineer for the NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEP) and the Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission (HabEx) Study Office Manager. HabEx is one of four large mission studies funded by NASA as preparation for the coming 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey. Prior to his present roles, Mr. Warfield was the Study Office Manager overseeing the designs and concept development for two sub-billion dollar exoplanet direct-imaging mission studies (Exo-C an Exo-S). From 2006 to 2013, Mr. W... more

  Program Chief Engineer
  Keith Warfield is the Chief Engineer for the NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEP) and the Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission (HabEx) Study Office Manager. HabEx is one of four large mission studies funded by NASA as preparation for the coming 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey. Prior to his present roles, Mr. Warfield was the Study Office Manager overseeing the designs and concept development for two sub-billion dollar exoplanet direct-imaging mission studies (Exo-C an Exo-S). From 2006 to 2013, Mr. Warfield was the Lead Engineer for JPL’s Advance Projects Design Team (Team X) and has participated in over 200 concept studies including studies supporting the Astro2010 Decadal Survey. Before coming to Team X and mission concept development, Mr. Warfield worked in engineering roles on a number of JPL flight remote sensing instruments, as well as ground-based instrument development for high-energy physics experiments on the Stanford Accelerator. Mr. Warfield received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and Applied Science from the California Institute of Technology. less
• 

  Anya Biferno

  Exoplanet Communications Manager
  Anya Biferno is the Public Engagement Manager for NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program, coordinating communications activities across the theme of exoplanet science, missions, and technology development. She has been with ExEP since 2008. In addition to her communications role with ExEP, Ms. Biferno is the JPL Co-I on the Universe of Learning education cooperative agreement (PI-STScI). She has a BA in Global Politics from the California State University, Los Angeles and a Masters in Public... more

  Exoplanet Communications Manager
  Anya Biferno is the Public Engagement Manager for NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program, coordinating communications activities across the theme of exoplanet science, missions, and technology development. She has been with ExEP since 2008. In addition to her communications role with ExEP, Ms. Biferno is the JPL Co-I on the Universe of Learning education cooperative agreement (PI-STScI). She has a BA in Global Politics from the California State University, Los Angeles and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. less
• 

  Charles Beichman

  NExScI Director
  Dr. Beichman has been a leader in infrared astronomy and exoplanet research for over 30 years. His primary scientific interests include the formation of solar type stars and debris disks around both young and mature stars (IRAS, Spitzer, Keck Interferometer, JWST), the detection and characterization of planets around young and mature stars (Palomar, SIM, Spitzer, JWST), and the study of brown dwarfs (2MASS, Keck, WISE, Spitzer, HST, JWST). He has been a member of science teams on a variety of sky survey projects... more

  NExScI Director
  Dr. Beichman has been a leader in infrared astronomy and exoplanet research for over 30 years. His primary scientific interests include the formation of solar type stars and debris disks around both young and mature stars (IRAS, Spitzer, Keck Interferometer, JWST), the detection and characterization of planets around young and mature stars (Palomar, SIM, Spitzer, JWST), and the study of brown dwarfs (2MASS, Keck, WISE, Spitzer, HST, JWST). He has been a member of science teams on a variety of sky survey projects (with major responsibilities for IRAS, 2MASS and minor roles in ISO and Planck) and space instruments (IRAS, Spitzer/MIPS and JWST/NIRCAM). He currently leads the exoplanet program for the JWST NIRCam team. He is author or co-author on 246 refereed articles and first author on 42. less
• 

  Rachel Akeson

  NExScI Manager
  Dr. Rachel Akeson is the Acting Manager for the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI), part of NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program. She has been at NExScI, which is located at Caltech, for 19 years as a research scientist and specializes in using interferometry at many wavelengths to study the formation of stars and planets. Her previous roles include Keck Interferometer Project Scientist and NExScI Deputy Director.

  NExScI Manager
  Dr. Rachel Akeson is the Acting Manager for the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI), part of NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program. She has been at NExScI, which is located at Caltech, for 19 years as a research scientist and specializes in using interferometry at many wavelengths to study the formation of stars and planets. Her previous roles include Keck Interferometer Project Scientist and NExScI Deputy Director. less
• 

  Anthony Comberiate

  Program Area Manager
  Mr. Comberiate is the WFIRST Mission Manager for the Exoplanet Exploration Program at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, responsible for ensuring the successful development and implementation of the WFIRST mission. Mr. Comberiate has over 45 years of engineering and management experience in both space and environment programs. He has served in senior executive positions with both NOAA and NASA with experience in managing communications satellite systems, space science missions, and environmental satell... more

  Program Area Manager
  Mr. Comberiate is the WFIRST Mission Manager for the Exoplanet Exploration Program at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, responsible for ensuring the successful development and implementation of the WFIRST mission. Mr. Comberiate has over 45 years of engineering and management experience in both space and environment programs. He has served in senior executive positions with both NOAA and NASA with experience in managing communications satellite systems, space science missions, and environmental satellite programs. He has also served as a technical and management consultant for both NASA and NOAA for developing and managing programs and projects. Mr. Comberiate has an extensive background in acquisition, planning, implementation, and execution of both large-scale complex projects and small satellite, radar, and IT missions. He has earned a bachelor's and master's in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland and has attended the Program for Senior Executive Fellows at Harvard University. less
• 

  Phil Willems

  LBTI Manager
  Dr. Phil Willems has been an employee at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory since June 2015. He is the Project Manager for the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer and was previously the Project Manager for the NN-EXPLORE precision radial velocity spectrometer. Prior to joining JPL, he was a Senior Scientist on the LIGO gravitational wave detector and has also worked in the optical fiber telecommunications and medical imaging industries. Dr. Willems earned his B.S. in physics from the University of Wisconsi... more

  LBTI Manager
  Dr. Phil Willems has been an employee at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory since June 2015. He is the Project Manager for the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer and was previously the Project Manager for the NN-EXPLORE precision radial velocity spectrometer. Prior to joining JPL, he was a Senior Scientist on the LIGO gravitational wave detector and has also worked in the optical fiber telecommunications and medical imaging industries. Dr. Willems earned his B.S. in physics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and his Ph.D. in physics from the California Institute of Technology. He is a co-winner of the 2017 Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. less
• 

  John Callas

  NN-Explore Project Manager
  Dr. John L. Callas earned his B.S. in Engineering from Tufts University and his Sc.M. and Ph.D. in Physics from Brown University. He has been an employee at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1987. He has worked on advanced spacecraft propulsion, X-ray and gamma-ray instrumentation for astrophysics and several Mars missions beginning with Mars Observer and continuing with the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Project. He currently is the project manager for MER and recently accepted, as an additio... more

  NN-Explore Project Manager
  Dr. John L. Callas earned his B.S. in Engineering from Tufts University and his Sc.M. and Ph.D. in Physics from Brown University. He has been an employee at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1987. He has worked on advanced spacecraft propulsion, X-ray and gamma-ray instrumentation for astrophysics and several Mars missions beginning with Mars Observer and continuing with the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Project. He currently is the project manager for MER and recently accepted, as an additional duty, management of the joint NASA-NSF Exoplanet Observational Research (NN-EXPLORE) program. In addition, he is also an adjunct assistant professor at Pasadena City College. less
• 

  David Ardila

  K2 Mission Manager
  Dr. David Ardila has worked in space astrophysics most of his professional career, as a scientist, instrument designer, and program manager. He earned his B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Los Andes (Bogota, Colombia), and his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from U.C. Berkeley. He worked in the development of high contrast imaging with the Hubble Space Telescope, to search for planets surrounding debris disks. As a scientist with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope he worked on the infrared spectrograph calibratio... more

  K2 Mission Manager
  Dr. David Ardila has worked in space astrophysics most of his professional career, as a scientist, instrument designer, and program manager. He earned his B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Los Andes (Bogota, Colombia), and his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from U.C. Berkeley. He worked in the development of high contrast imaging with the Hubble Space Telescope, to search for planets surrounding debris disks. As a scientist with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope he worked on the infrared spectrograph calibration, and provided support to the observatory users. At the Herschel Space Observatory he represented the scientific interests of the U.S. astronomical community to the European Space Agency. While working at The Aerospace Corporation he provided scientific and managerial guidance to the remote-sensing CubeSat program. He is interested in innovative uses of space and in the role that small satellites can play in astrophysics. less
• 

  Brendan Crill

  Deputy Program Chief Technologist, Deputy Technology Manager
  Dr. Brendan P. Crill has worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 2008 and joined the Exoplanet Exploration Program in 2016 as the Program’s Deputy Technology Development Manager. His science career began in cosmology, with an undergraduate degree from Brown University and a Ph.D. in physics from Caltech. He worked on developing instrumentation for measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). His work on the receiver of the BOOMERANG ball... more

  Deputy Program Chief Technologist, Deputy Technology Manager
  Dr. Brendan P. Crill has worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 2008 and joined the Exoplanet Exploration Program in 2016 as the Program’s Deputy Technology Development Manager. His science career began in cosmology, with an undergraduate degree from Brown University and a Ph.D. in physics from Caltech. He worked on developing instrumentation for measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). His work on the receiver of the BOOMERANG balloon-borne telescope, including bolometric detectors (one of which is on display in the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.) and the cryogenic system needed to keep them at 0.3 Kelvin, contributed to the understanding that we live in a spatially flat universe. He then worked on testing and selecting NASA’s bolometers delivered to the European Space Agency’s High Frequency Instrument (HFI) on Planck. He continued to work as the US HFI instrumental data analysis lead on the Planck. Exploiting the science data from BOOMERANG, Planck, SPIDER and the BICEP2/Keck ground-based CMB measurement led to work in the field of high-performance computing, and he participated on the SPHEREx Phase A as the science data pipeline lead. less
• 

  Mary Romejko

  Program Business Manager
  Mary Romejko has been an employee of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1983. She has held positions with increasing levels of responsibility in Financial Controls and is currently the Program Business Manager Exoplanet Exploration Program Office. Ms. Romejko receives programmatic direction from the Exoplanet Exploration Program Office. In this capacity she is the primary business interface with other business organizations, both internally and externally. She leads the implementation and perfor... more

  Program Business Manager
  Mary Romejko has been an employee of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1983. She has held positions with increasing levels of responsibility in Financial Controls and is currently the Program Business Manager Exoplanet Exploration Program Office. Ms. Romejko receives programmatic direction from the Exoplanet Exploration Program Office. In this capacity she is the primary business interface with other business organizations, both internally and externally. She leads the implementation and performance of all cost and schedule control activities for JPL projects and tasks within the program. She is also responsible for managing all activities related to cost estimating, funding, task order management, subcontract management, IA management, accounting, and financial planning for all tasks within the program. Ms. Romejko received her MSLM in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne and has excelled in positions that include Project Controls Manager, Project Resource Line Manager, Mars Helicopter Project Business Manager, Resource Analyst, and Business Administration Manager. Ms. Romejko is well versed in the business acumen at JPL and has extensive experience in the execution, implementation, analysis, and reporting of all cost and schedule activities in accordance with institutional business standards and processes. She has led multi-disciplinary teams and was responsible for team results on multifunctional and/or multidisciplinary projects and assignments, including performance standards, budget and schedule. She has been responsible, in each of her management roles, for establishing, promoting, and ensuring the use of best business practices in the implementation of project control functions for all projects and task-type activities within the respective directorates. less
• 

  Ray Lemus

  Program Business Administration Manager
  Ray Lemus earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA. He has been an employee at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1996. Early in his career, Mr. Lemus worked as a process engineer in Chevron’s largest refinery in the San Francisco Bay area, responsible for the technical performance of various fuel-oil plants. Subsequent to his MBA, he split his career primarily between contra... more

  Program Business Administration Manager
  Ray Lemus earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA. He has been an employee at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1996. Early in his career, Mr. Lemus worked as a process engineer in Chevron’s largest refinery in the San Francisco Bay area, responsible for the technical performance of various fuel-oil plants. Subsequent to his MBA, he split his career primarily between contracts and subcontracts. Mr. Lemus’s notable accomplishments were the foreign purchase of the two GRACE Spacecraft from Germany. He served as the manager of the Acquisition Planning and Compliance Section where he led a team of 115 subject matter experts, advisors and managers to completely rewrite and simplify JPL’s procurement rules without degradation in contract metrics and quality. Mr. Lemus also served as manager of the Contract Management Office and served as a team lead in the 2013 JPL Prime Contract negotiations with NASA in the renewal of the sponsoring agreement for the operation of the Lab. Mr. Lemus has served the Lab as a subject matter expert in contract, subcontract and task order formation and administration, Organizational Conflicts of Interest, Nondisclosure Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, Cost Allowability, and JPL/Caltech policies and procedures. Since 2015, he has served as the Exoplanet Exploration Program Business Administration Manager, providing outstanding business solutions and administrative support to the operation of the program office. less
• 

  Bruce Nomoto

  Program Resource Analyst
  Bruce Nomoto received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration-Finance from California State University, Northridge. He started his employment with JPL in May 2016, working for the Exoplanet Exploration Program Management Office as a Program Resource Analyst. He has overall Program Office responsibility for implementation and performance of all program and project control activities (e.g. cost estimating, funding, resource planning and analysis, budgeting, reporting, accounting).

  Program Resource Analyst
  Bruce Nomoto received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration-Finance from California State University, Northridge. He started his employment with JPL in May 2016, working for the Exoplanet Exploration Program Management Office as a Program Resource Analyst. He has overall Program Office responsibility for implementation and performance of all program and project control activities (e.g. cost estimating, funding, resource planning and analysis, budgeting, reporting, accounting). less
• 

  Jennifer Gregory

  Business Administrator
  Jennifer Gregory has been employed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1998 and has provided administrative support to several departments throughout her career. Among these were Interferometry and Large Optics, the Space Interferometry Mission and JPL’s special program DOD activities. In 2015, Ms. Gregory eagerly joined the Exoplanet Exploration Program Office. She enjoys being a part of NASA’s vision and development of technology and missions that enable the search for life in th... more

  Business Administrator
  Jennifer Gregory has been employed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1998 and has provided administrative support to several departments throughout her career. Among these were Interferometry and Large Optics, the Space Interferometry Mission and JPL’s special program DOD activities. In 2015, Ms. Gregory eagerly joined the Exoplanet Exploration Program Office. She enjoys being a part of NASA’s vision and development of technology and missions that enable the search for life in the universe. less
• 

  Karla Miller

  Executive Staff Assistant
  Karla Miller has worked at JPL since 1993, first as a contractor, then becoming permanent in 1995. She has provided administrative support in several areas beginning with the Low Temperature Science & Engineering group, CHeX (Confined Helium Experiment) project, and the SESPD (Space Engineering & Science Program Division). She has worked in her present position for over 16 years, when it was called the “Origins” and “Navigator” Program Office. She is fascinated when pla... more

  Executive Staff Assistant
  Karla Miller has worked at JPL since 1993, first as a contractor, then becoming permanent in 1995. She has provided administrative support in several areas beginning with the Low Temperature Science & Engineering group, CHeX (Confined Helium Experiment) project, and the SESPD (Space Engineering & Science Program Division). She has worked in her present position for over 16 years, when it was called the “Origins” and “Navigator” Program Office. She is fascinated when planets are discovered and enjoys being part of a remarkable group, a team of experts searching for life on other planets. less
• 

  Molly Lift

  Project Schedule Analyst
  Molly Lift joined JPL in 2017 as part of the Early Career Hire Rotational Program that exposed her to the various business Divisions and their role in supporting the Lab. Through this unique opportunity, she gained an in-depth understanding of how JPL operates as a cohesive unit. As Project Schedule Analyst on the Exoplanet Exploration Program team, Ms. Lift tracks various science milestones and enjoys being part of a program that is constantly advancing what we know about the stars and universe around us. She earned her B.S. in Business Administration – Finance from Cal Poly Pomona and is pursuing a M.S. in Integrated Design, Business & Technology.

• 

  Rhonda Morgan

  Standard Definitions and Evaluation Team Lead
  Dr. Rhonda Morgan is lead of the Standard Definitions and Evaluation Team for Yield Analysis as well as the Technologist for the Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission (HabEx) Study. Dr. Morgan joined ExEP in 2015. She has been at JPL since 2001, developing technologies for lightweight space telescopes and advanced observational instruments. She has worked on a variety of missions including the Starlight separated spacecraft interferometer, TPF-C, TPF-I, and DART. She was the metrology... more

  Standard Definitions and Evaluation Team Lead
  Dr. Rhonda Morgan is lead of the Standard Definitions and Evaluation Team for Yield Analysis as well as the Technologist for the Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission (HabEx) Study. Dr. Morgan joined ExEP in 2015. She has been at JPL since 2001, developing technologies for lightweight space telescopes and advanced observational instruments. She has worked on a variety of missions including the Starlight separated spacecraft interferometer, TPF-C, TPF-I, and DART. She was the metrology lead for the Advanced Hybrid Mirror Demonstrator and the calibration lead for the Active Mirror Testbed. She received the JPL Explorer Award for outstanding leadership and technical excellence in 2011 and JPL Ranger Award in 2014 for outstanding leadership of an airborne instrument campaign. Dr. Morgan earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in remote sensing from Caltech and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona with a dissertation in nulling interferometry for exoplanet direct detection. less
• 

  Jeffery Webster

  Project Support Lead in the JPL Project Support Office
  Jeffery Webster has 33 years of experience in the aerospace industry, most recently at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. While a JPL Staff and Senior Systems Engineer, Mr. Webster served as a project planner and systems engineer on numerous JPL flight and ground-based programs and projects, and is currently a Project Support Lead in the JPL Project Support Office. Mr. Webster also serves as the SRB Review Manager for four JPL flight projects. He received a B.A. from Penn State... more

  Project Support Lead in the JPL Project Support Office
  Jeffery Webster has 33 years of experience in the aerospace industry, most recently at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. While a JPL Staff and Senior Systems Engineer, Mr. Webster served as a project planner and systems engineer on numerous JPL flight and ground-based programs and projects, and is currently a Project Support Lead in the JPL Project Support Office. Mr. Webster also serves as the SRB Review Manager for four JPL flight projects. He received a B.A. from Penn State University and an M.A. from the University of Southern California. Mr. Webster has received numerous awards during his career, is an Associate Fellow member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and is a Co-chair of the IEEE Aerospace Conference Technical Program Committee. less
• 

  Stephen Watson

  LBTI Mission Assurance Manager
  Stephen H. Watson has been at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1990 and joined he Exoplanet Exploration Program in 2016 as the LBTI Mission Assurance Manager. He is also currently the Mission Assurance Manager for NASA's Deep Space Network, and has been the Project Software Systems Engineer on the Juno mission to Jupiter since 2006. He has been involved in the development of numerous project-wide, flight, ground and instrument software systems. He began his career at JPL in image processing... more

  LBTI Mission Assurance Manager
  Stephen H. Watson has been at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1990 and joined he Exoplanet Exploration Program in 2016 as the LBTI Mission Assurance Manager. He is also currently the Mission Assurance Manager for NASA's Deep Space Network, and has been the Project Software Systems Engineer on the Juno mission to Jupiter since 2006. He has been involved in the development of numerous project-wide, flight, ground and instrument software systems. He began his career at JPL in image processing, scientific data visualization and supercomputing software development. Mr. Watson received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Master of Science in Computer Science degrees from Arizona State University, emphasizing numerical analysis and computer-aided geometric design. He received the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal for his work on the Juno Mission, and holds several U.S. patents. Mr. Watson is a private pilot with instrument and seaplane ratings, and built his own airplane, a Van's RV-7A. He is currently studying Scottish Gàidhlig through the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland. less
• 

  Jitendra Mehta

  Program Mission Assurance Manager
  Jitendra S. Mehta is the chief mission assurance manager for the Astronomy and Physics directorate at JPL. He trains and mentors others to become mission assurance managers. Those responsibilities include proper implementation of flight project practices and design principle, and keeping track of project status on behalf of the directorate. Before taking on this role, Mr. Mehta was a group supervisor for flight information systems and fault protection in the flight systems section. He ha... more

  Program Mission Assurance Manager
  Jitendra S. Mehta is the chief mission assurance manager for the Astronomy and Physics directorate at JPL. He trains and mentors others to become mission assurance managers. Those responsibilities include proper implementation of flight project practices and design principle, and keeping track of project status on behalf of the directorate. Before taking on this role, Mr. Mehta was a group supervisor for flight information systems and fault protection in the flight systems section. He has also provided technical leadership in the Cassini Integration Test Laboratory, and was a spacecraft software systems engineer for Mars Global Surveyor. He was associated with JPL through Boeing Aerospace Co. from 1979 until 1988, when he joined JPL full time as a flight software systems engineer for the Mars Observer project. In his time at JPL, Mr. Mehta designed, built and tested a system that converted Viking radio science analog data to digital form, and designed and implemented numerous systems, including a system performance test for the Deep Space Network and attitude and articulation control flight software for the twin Voyager spacecraft. He also contributed to Galileo’s command and telemetry system, and managed development, integration and testing for Mars Observer. He has received numerous NASA awards for exceptional service, as well as NASA achievement awards, including two for Voyager. Mr. Mehta received a Master of Science degree in computer science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 1975, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic Engineering from Heald Engineering College in San Francisco in 1971. less
• 

  Randal Jackson

  Web Studio Manager
  Randal Jackson is manager of the Web Studio at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which produces websites, visualizations and apps about Mars, Earth science, and NASA's search for life beyond our solar system. Prior to working for NASA, he was senior editor for science and technology at CNN.com, where he oversaw coverage of such stories as the Pathfinder mission to Mars, the deorbiting of the Mir space station, and the construction of the International Space Station. Randal majored in science journalis... more

  Web Studio Manager
  Randal Jackson is manager of the Web Studio at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which produces websites, visualizations and apps about Mars, Earth science, and NASA's search for life beyond our solar system. Prior to working for NASA, he was senior editor for science and technology at CNN.com, where he oversaw coverage of such stories as the Pathfinder mission to Mars, the deorbiting of the Mir space station, and the construction of the International Space Station. Randal majored in science journalism and drama at the University of Georgia. His work has received numerous awards, including five Webby Awards and a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal. less
• 

  Thalia Rivera

  Outreach Coordinator
  Thalia Rivera is an academic part-time hire for NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration program. She works on public engagement by coordinating and supporting outreach events such as “A Ticket to Explore JPL,” and by maintaining NASA’s presence at public events like San Diego Comic-Con, American Astronomical Society conferences, and the Intrepid Air and Space Festival. She also creates informative materials for distribution to the public. These events and materials help make the science of exop... more

  Outreach Coordinator
  Thalia Rivera is an academic part-time hire for NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration program. She works on public engagement by coordinating and supporting outreach events such as “A Ticket to Explore JPL,” and by maintaining NASA’s presence at public events like San Diego Comic-Con, American Astronomical Society conferences, and the Intrepid Air and Space Festival. She also creates informative materials for distribution to the public. These events and materials help make the science of exoplanet exploration relatable, accessible, and exciting to people who may be unfamiliar with current NASA Exoplanet missions. Ms. Rivera is working on completing her bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications at the University of La Verne. less
• 

  Elizabeth Landau

  Senior Storyteller
  Elizabeth Landau is the senior storyteller in the Web Studio at JPL. She leads the creation of multimedia content packages and writes in-depth articles for NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration and Solar System Exploration websites. She was previously JPL’s media relations specialist for astrophysics. Prior to joining NASA's JPL in 2014, Ms. Landau was a writer/producer at CNN Digital in Atlanta, Georgia, where she spearheaded the CNN Light Years science blog and covered space news extensively. She hol... more

  Senior Storyteller
  Elizabeth Landau is the senior storyteller in the Web Studio at JPL. She leads the creation of multimedia content packages and writes in-depth articles for NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration and Solar System Exploration websites. She was previously JPL’s media relations specialist for astrophysics. Prior to joining NASA's JPL in 2014, Ms. Landau was a writer/producer at CNN Digital in Atlanta, Georgia, where she spearheaded the CNN Light Years science blog and covered space news extensively. She holds a Master of Arts degree in journalism from Columbia University and an undergraduate degree in anthropology from Princeton University. She writes funny songs about space in her spare time. less
• 

  Pat Brennan

  Science Writer
  Pat Brennan is a science writer for NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program, and also for the NASA Sea Level Portal. He writes feature stories about exoplanet discoveries and helps develop a variety of public engagement content, from info-graphics to conference banner stands and even provided text for a recent exoplanet travel poster. Mr. Brennan joined JPL in 2015 after a 30-year career as a newspaper journalist. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Arizona.

  Science Writer
  Pat Brennan is a science writer for NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program, and also for the NASA Sea Level Portal. He writes feature stories about exoplanet discoveries and helps develop a variety of public engagement content, from info-graphics to conference banner stands and even provided text for a recent exoplanet travel poster. Mr. Brennan joined JPL in 2015 after a 30-year career as a newspaper journalist. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Arizona. less
• 

  Arielle Samuelson

  Web Editor
  Arielle Samuelson is the web editor and social media lead for the Exoplanet Exploration Program. She has an M.S. in journalism from the University of Southern California, a B.A. in anthropology, and a background in documentary film. None of which are related to space. NASA let her have their Twitter account anyway.