Watkins Returns As New JPL Director Veteran Engineer, Scientist and Manager Michael Watkins Has Been Named JPL’S New Director

MAY Jet Propulsion 2016 Laboratory VOLUME 46

NUMBER 5 Watkins returns as new JPL director Veteran engineer, scientist and manager Michael Watkins has been named JPL’s new director. He will begin his new role July 1 succeeding Charles Elachi, who led the Lab for 15 years. Watkins worked at JPL for 22 years, including his most recent position as manager of the Science Division, before leaving last year to lead the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Space Research. At JPL, Watkins was mission manager and mission system manager for the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover; led review or development teams for missions including Cassini, Mars Odyssey and Deep Impact; and was the project scientist for the Gravity Recovery and Interior Labora- tory moon-mapping satellites, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Earth science mission and its follow-on mission, scheduled for launch in 2017. He also man- aged JPL’s Navigation and Mission Design Section. Watkins’ JPL colleagues recall an enthu- siastic and dedicated leader, well versed in Photo by Josh Krohn / JPL Lab all areas of spaceflight operations, mission whole project—entry, descent and landing; Watkins holds a bachelor’s degree, mas- development and science. aeroshell instrumentation; the science. It ter’s degree, and Ph.D. in aerospace en- “It’s significant that a discriminator be- seemed he worked about 12 hours a day, gineering from the University of Texas at tween the final candidates was familiarity and was usually the last one to leave.” Austin. He has published extensively in with JPL’s culture given the challenges and At the same time Watkins was mission both engineering and science, contributed opportunities we have over the next de- system manager for Mars Science Labo- more than 100 conference presentations, cade,” noted Earth Science and Technol- ratory, he also served as project scien- and has served on the boards of numer- ogy Director Diane Evans. tist on the Gravity Recovery and Interior ous international scientific and engineering Richard Cook, currently acting director Laboratory mission. Project manager David societies. for solar system exploration and former Lehman praised Watkins’ knack for leader- “JPL has such a talented and deeply manager of several Mars missions, noted ship. “His time on the project was gold,” committed staff,” said Watkins. “It is a privi- that Watkins excelled in a diverse set of said Lehman. lege to have this opportunity to lead the roles. “When Mike left to go to Austin, many Laboratory to even greater discoveries. I “For Curiosity, Mike developed the mis- of us in the Science Division thought one look forward to working with my colleagues sion system and was the manager of day- day he would return to guide JPL,” said on campus and across NASA to forge new to-day surface operations,” said Cook. Simon Hook, the current Science Division directions in space exploration and Earth “But he also offered a lot of insight into the manager. science.” talents, headded, suchasentry, descent gram inareas inwhichtheLabhasunique said Elachi.JPLwillalsosupport thepro tion, aswellhuman-robot interaction,” deep-space communication and naviga “The keyroles thatJPLwill playinclude NASA’s Human ExplorationProgram. mission needs. tinue Marsexplorationandsupportfuture refresh thecapabilitiesnecessarytocon Next MarsOrbiter, orNeMO,whichwould for proposals hasbeen issued forthe be launchedintheearly2020s.Arequest orbital infrastructure withaneworbiterto Program isseekingtoupgradeitsaging Red Planet,NASA’s MarsExploration chamber testingisunderwayonLab. mission isahelicoptertojointherover; said Elachi. Also under study for the autonomous terrainmappingtechnology, mission continuesapaceandwillinclude 24 timeframe. studied forapotentiallaunchinthe2023- Europa landerisalsobeingassessedand could harborconditionssuitableforlife.A will investigatewhethertheicymoon mission toJupiter’s moonEuropa, which people ofJPLwillrisetothatchallenge.” Charles Elachi.“I’mconfidentthatthe be aboutthesame,”saidJPLDirector the next10or15yearsisexpectedto 24 spacemissions, and the pace over April. Executive Council’s annualretreat heldin decade dominateddiscussionsattheJPL will meetitschallengesoverthecoming Executive CouncilretreatpositionsLabfortheupcomingdecade New challenges, solid opportunities The Labisalsoworkingtosupport Also focusing on future studies of the Development oftheMars2020rover JPL’s planetaryportfolionowincludesa “In thelast15yearswehavelaunched A renewed focusonhowtheLaboratory - - - time that’s comingup?” to carrytheLabduringavery exciting do wemakesure theygaintheexperience said. “Forthenewemployees atJPL,how thinking ofhowwemanagethat work,”he “As wegetmore work,we needtobe the Labisataboutitscapacityrightnow. the JPL workforce. The director notedthat managing theLab’s challengesinvolves those criticaltechnologies,”saidElachi. limit, weneedto make sure we invest in “As anorganization that ispushingthe technologies thatwillshapethefuture. ment andmaintenance. model forfundinginfrastructure develop noted thedevelopmentofasustainable laboratory equipmentandoffices. Elachi infrastructure, including test chambers, long-term plantoupgradeitsfacilitiesand and achieve success, JPL is working on a and landing. Artist’s renderingdepictsaEuropaorbiter. Also understudyisalanderfortheJovianmoon. As always,Elachi said, a major part of The Labwillalsolook to determinethe In order tobest manage the challenges - well—both NASA andJPL.” optimistic financiallythatwe willdovery strong supportinCongress, andIamvery tion comingup,”hesaid.“We havevery changes inWashington, withthe elec looks solid.“We are aware there willbe hazards andclimatechange. ing thethemesofwaterresources, natural doing verywell,particularlyinemphasiz science missionsare fully funded andare think wewillberelying on industry.” biters andfuture Earthsciencemissions,I Elachi. “Aswethinkaboutfuture Marsor and whatdowewithindustry?”asked what dowewithotherNASAcenters, key thingis,whatdowekeepinhouse, sibility ofincreasing ouractivities,the possibility of significant work, the pos outside contractors. of theLab’s workisaccomplishedwith Elachi saidJPL’s future financialoutlook The director notedthatall of JPL’s Earth “When welookatthefuture andthe And JPL can’t go it alone.About half By Mark Whalen - - - -

Universe 2 was heldMarch 30. daughters HayleyandHeather. Amemorial impact toJPLemployeesandservices. protecting JPL’s ITassetswhileminimizing information securityofficer, responsible for curity threats. In2014hebecamethechief malware, computer virusesandotherITse P tion 3020; years, Section4000; Jones, ski, Sampley, 2000; years, Section2201; nounced theirretirements: R to combatmalicious supervisor, working IT SecurityGroup 2008 hebecamethe ing responsibility. In positions ofincreas several leadership cian andlaterheld 1989 asanITtechni died March 18. Corbin Miller, 49, tion securityofficer, Miller issurvivedbyhiswife,Kelly, and Linda Brown, March Herlen Reed February The followingJPLemployeesrecently an Miller joinedJPLin JPL’s chief informa 20years, Section389N Stephen Spohn assings 37years, Section312B; etirees 21years, Section4020; : Susan K. Jones : , 33years, Section341; 38years, Section329J; Stephen Proia, Lesley Ibaven, , 26 years, Section 3980; - - - . Corbin Miller B N , 33years, Section312D; Randall Taylor, Edward Blazejew rie ews 26years, Section 36years, Sec Carol Shutt Michael K. f s Karen , 30 37 - - - - L missed. the prayersandkindwords. Hewillbedearly were bothbeautifulandIsincerely appreciate father, Richard Ellis. The plant and the card for yourcondolencesonthepassing ofmy communications and director fortheTele sistant Laboratory retiring as the as Engineering Office, Planning Office and network’s Advanced in 2008.Heledthe in 1966andretired died April5. Network manager, a retired DeepSpace could transformfuture NASAmissionswith Extreme Environments. principal investigatorforAutomatonRover Airless BodyExploration;JonathanSauder, for E-Glider:ActiveElectrostatic Flightfor Moons;Marco Quadrelli, principalinvestigator to the Center of Icy vestigator for Journey and Propulsion; Masahiro Ono, principal in for Venus InteriorProbe UsingIn-situPower organization orindividual. award inthecompetitionthatwasopentoany different from thecurrent NASAmissions. formational missionconceptsthatare very cepts Program. Theseare long-range,trans awards inNASA’s InnovativeAdvancedCon Lab willleadfourconceptstudies grandson Lincoln. Logan, Bobby, PhoebeandLeah;great Craig andBrian;grandchildren Amy, David, planetary NetworkDirectorate). Mission OperationsDirectorate (nowtheInter 12 years, Section2731. Thomas Dodge, tion 312D; years, Section341; Wang, Provenzano, Catherine Cagle Kristan Ellis Thank youtoallmyfriendshere atJPL Coffin joined JPL Richard Coffin, 77, He issurvivedbyhiswife,Margie; sonsRick, The program nurtures visionaryideasthat Ratnakumar Bugga,principalinvestigator The JPLwinnersare: No otherorganization wonmore thanone JPL recently wonfourof13competed etters 32 years, Section392L; Nazeeh Aranki, 32years, Section3930; 13 years, Section 5122; , 32years, Section9020; Richard Beatty - - Richard Coffin 22years, Section349B; Nicole Rappaport, , 25years, Sec Ann Coppin, Tseng-Chan Joseph 26 - - - - -

and industry. NASA centers,laboratories,research groups perature andHigh-RadiationEnvironments. for SolarArrayLow-intensityLowTem including Mars. ing destinations well beyond low-Earth orbit, technologies thatwillaidspacecraftinexplor ing oneledbyJPL—todevelopsolararray gram hasselectedfourproposals—includ Array proposalmovesforward NIAC_funded_studies.html. www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/niac/ neurs aspartners. engaging America’s innovatorsandentrepre ter orentirely newaerospace concepts—while the creation ofbreakthroughs—radically bet Tournament ofRosesqueenwholaterhad Davidson. men; andgreat-grandsons KieranandAsher children JenniferDavidsonandRyanRubsa daughter AnneStantonRubsamen;grand Mariner MarsandthefirstglobeofMars. JPL contributedtosuchprojects asVoyager, worked withAlbertEinstein’s sonHans,andat cian atCaltechshe 30, 1940. (route 110)onDec. royo SecoParkway dena Freeway/Ar dedicated thePasa nament ofRosesand over the1941Tour selected topreside JPL, diedApril15. a career asamathematicianatCaltechand sion. home. Thankyouallagainforyourcompas proud tocallthisamazingplacemywork in hearingaboutwhatIwasdoing.tooam of meformyworkatJPLandwasinterested this timeofloss.Mydadwasalwaysproud basket brought meandmyfamilycomfortin ward Spitz.Your words, lovelyplantandfruit reach uponthepassingofmyfather, A.Ed friends here forthekindandgenerous out Sally Rubsamen,92,aformerPasadena A celebrationoflifewillbeheldinJune. She issurvivedbysonCharlesJr. and As amathemati Rubsamen was Suzanne Spitz I wanttothankbothmyco-workersand Thirteen proposals were received from JPL’s Andreea Bocaisprincipalinvestigator NASA’s Game Changing Development Pro For more information,pleasevisithttps:// - - - - Sally Rubsamen ------

Universe 3 Pasadena, CA91109. 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Education Directorate ofthe the Communicationsand Universe ispublishedby Mark Whalen Editor [email protected] E-MAIL USAT

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