2024 Fall Student Symposium Keynote Speaker

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ethiraj Venkatapathy, Ph.D.

Earth to Cosmos: A NASA Techie's Odyssey

Ethiraj Venkatapathy (“Raj”) has been, since 2018, NASA Senior Technologist for the Entry System Technologies. He has been the Chief Technologist for Entry Systems and Technology Division at NASA Ames since 2002.  Currently his focus is on enabling aerocapture, addressing the thermal protection system (TPS) future needs of NASA and commercial space industry, and mentoring the next generation of entry system and TPS technologists.

He received his B.Tech. in Aeronautical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Madras in India and his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa in 1982.  He is an Associate Fellow of AIAA and Associate Fellow of NASA Ames Research Center.

He has been recognized by many organizations for his contributions. He was recognized by the International Planetary Probe Community for his lifelong contributions with the Al Seiff Award in 2022. He received NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal twice (2007, 2010), Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal (2012), “NASA Game Changer of the Year” award (2015) and “STMD Leadership” award (2015) for providing NASA and the Nation with revolutionary new technologies and capabilities.