MATTHEW P. DANIELS
Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Washington, DC
Current Positions and Affiliations
Advisor, Office of the Secretary of Defense Senior Technical Advisor, Office of the NASA Administrator Affiliate, MIT and Stanford Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University
Education
Ph.D. Stanford University, Management Science & Engineering, 2015 Dissertation: Optimization of Spacecraft Architectures for Earth-Orbit Satellite Projects Committee: M. Elisabeth Paté-Cornell (advisor), Ronald Howard, S. Pete Worden, Sigrid Close
M.S. Stanford University, Aeronautics & Astronautics, 2010
B.A. Cornell University, Physics, 2007
Academic Appointments
Research Affiliate, MIT Media Lab Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (2018-)
Adjunct Professor, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service Georgetown University, Washington, DC (2016-)
Affiliate, Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation Stanford University, Stanford, CA (2015-)
Predoctoral Science Fellow, Center for International Security and Cooperation Stanford University, Stanford, CA (2013-2014)
Predoctoral Science Fellow, Center for International Security and Cooperation Stanford University, Stanford, CA (2012-2013)
1 Relevant Professional Experience
Advisor, Office of the Secretary of Defense (2015-present)
Principal areas of focus include U.S. space programs, deep space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Create and analyze strategies for space programs at the whole-enterprise level of the U.S. Department of Defense. Manage teams of researchers and independent scholars. Assess long-term trends relevant to space technology, commercial and entrepreneurial aerospace ventures, information technology, and international security. Provide analysis and alternative strategies to the office of the Secretary of Defense and the office of the NASA Administrator. Host strategy seminars with government leaders, technology investors, and private executives. Chaired OSD study on artificial intelligence and coauthored White House study on emerging technology.
Senior Technical Advisor, Strategy and Plans, Office of the NASA Administrator, NASA Headquarters (2018-present)
Serve as an expert advisor on technology, strategy, and policy issues relating to NASA, the commercial space industry, and partnerships with government and private organizations.
Research Engineer and Special Assistant, NASA Ames (2008-2015)
Advised center director and senior leadership of NASA Ames on developing and implementing new aerospace and technology projects. Researched distributed satellite systems using stochastic optimization algorithms. Developed collaborations with technology executives in Silicon Valley and the leadership of science, defense, and foreign ministries overseas. Served as special assistant to the NASA Ames director on delegations to Europe, the Middle East, and South America. Consulted on studies for the U.S. Air Force and Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Research and Teaching Assistant, Stanford University (2010-2014) Research projects in optimization, decision analysis, planetary defense, satellite design, probability theory, and international security.
2 Research Manager and Special Assistant, Institute for the Future (2007-2008) Managed project and performed research to identify disruptive technologies for DoD Office of the Director, Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E). Supported Executive Director in all strategy, operations, and board and client relations activities.
Undergraduate research and employment (2004-2006): Foreign policy program, U.S. Department of State (2006) Undergraduate intern for systems analysis, NASA Headquarters (2006) Aerophysics engineering intern, NASA Ames Research Center (2005) Aeromechanics engineering intern, NASA Ames Research Center (2004)
Papers and Publications
M. Daniels and M.E. Paté-Cornell, "Risk-Based Comparison of Consolidated and Distributed Satellite Systems," IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Vol 64, Issue 3, August 2017, pp 301-315.
M. Daniels, “(Artificial) Intelligence: What Questions Should DoD be Asking?” Net Assessment Summer Study, Washington, DC, 2016.
M. Daniels and M.E. Pate-Cornell, “Risk Aversion and Optimal Satellite Systems,” IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, March 2015.
M. Daniels, “Optimization of Spacecraft Architectures for Earth-Orbit Satellite Projects,” Ph.D. Dissertation, Stanford University, November 2014.
J. Reinhardt, M. Daniels, M.E. Pate-Cornell. “Probabilistic Analysis of Asteroid Impact Risks and Investments in Asteroid Detection and Risk-Mitigation Programs,” PSAM Conference, June 2014.
M. Daniels and M.E. Pate-Cornell. “Quantitative Analysis of Satellite Architecture Choices: A Geosynchronous Imaging Satellite Example,” 30th Space Symposium, May 2014.
M. Daniels. B. Tracey, J. Irvine, W. Schram, M.E. Paté-Cornell. “Probabilistic simulation of multi-stage decisions for operation of a fractionated satellite mission,” IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, March 2011.
3 C. Foster and M. Daniels. “Mission Opportunities for Human Exploration of Nearby Planetary Bodies,” AIAA Paper 2010-8609, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Space 2010, Sept. 2010.
S. P. Worden, T. Al-Saud, M. Almajed, H. Altwaijry, C. Braxmaier, S. Buchman, R. Byer, M. Cruise, M. Daniels, D. DeBra, H. Dittus, J. Goebel, J. Hall, B. Jaroux, C. Laemmerzahl, J. Lipa, A. Peters, K.X. Sun. “Technology Development for Fundamental Physics on Small Satellites,” White Paper for Fundamental Physical Science, Micrograv 2010: National Academies Decadal Survey, January 2009.
Selected Presentations and Guest Lectures
Invited speaker, “Machine Intelligence and National Security,” Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation, November 2017, Stanford, CA.
Invited speaker, “Artificial Intelligence: What questions should DoD be asking?” Center for Global Security Research, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, November 2017, Livermore, CA.
Invited speaker, “Military Space Trends in the 21st Century,” Future Warfigter Symposium, Naval War College, August 2017, Newport, RI.
Invited speaker, “Artificial Intelligence strategic issues for DoD,” DARPA, April 2017, Washington, D.C.
Invited speaker, Space and the Third Offset Symposium, Center for Global Security Research, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, August 2016, Livermore, CA.
Distinguished Lecturer, Space Education Panel, International Space University (ISU), July 2016, Haifa, Israel.
Guest Lecture, "Space Exploration in the 21st Century," Stanford University, AA 47SI: Why Go to Space?, February 2016, Stanford, CA.
Invited Speaker, Matthew Daniels and LtGen. Jay Raymond, “Security Challenges in the New Space Age,” Stanford University, Center for International Security and Cooperation, December 2015, Stanford, CA.
Guest Speaker, “Archaeology with UAVs and Satellites,” Combatant Command Cultural Heritage Action Group Meeting, Sept. 2015, Washington, D.C.
4 Invited Speaker, “Building Earth-Orbit Infrastructure with Small Satellites,” United Nations Symposium on Space Technology, Oct. 2014, Mexico.
Invited Speaker, “Expanding into the Solar System,” American Exploration & Mining Association Annual Meeting, December 2014.
Research Presentation, “Optimization, resilience, and risk for distributed satellite systems,” Stanford University, Center for International Security and Cooperation, April 2014, Stanford, CA.
Research Presentation, “Optimization of Spacecraft Architectures for Long-Term Earth-Orbit Satellite Projects,” Aerospace Corp, April 2014, El Segundo, CA
Invited Speaker, Jason Reinhardt, Xi Chen, Matthew Daniels, Wenhao Liu, Petar B. Manchev, M.E. Pate-Cornell, “Assessing and Addressing Near-Earth Object Impact Risks,” Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, April 2014, Livermore, CA.
Research Panel, Matthew Daniels, Megan Palmer, Jason Reinhardt, Rebecca Slayton, “What is Risk?”, Stanford University, Center for International Security and Cooperation, February 2014, Stanford, CA.
Research Presentation, “Spacecraft Design Decisions and International Space Security,” Stanford University, Center for International Security and Cooperation, June 2013, Stanford, CA.
Invited Speaker, “Long-Term Visions for Human Space Exploration,” Second International Conference in Astrobiology, Sept. 2012, Medellin, Colombia.
Research Presentation, “Bayesian Belief Nets for Satellite Survival Analysis,” Third International Engineering Systems Symposium and TMP Graduate Consortium, TU Delft, June 2012, The Netherlands
Research Presentation, “System Architectures for Scientific and National Security Satellite Programs,” Technology Management & Policy Graduate Consortium, Penn State University, June 2011, State College, PA.
Guest Lecture, “Space and Planetary Imaging Primer,” Stanford University, AA236B Spacecraft Design Laboratory, February 2010, Stanford, CA.
Invited Speaker, “The Value of Small Satellites for Education,” 4th Ilan Ramon International Space Science Conference, February 2009, Herzliya, Israel.
5 Service and Affiliations
Member, Working Group on Governing Transformative Technologies to Address Risks and Harness Opportunities, Council on Foreign Relations (2018)
Board of Directors, Peninsula School, Ltd. (2015-2016)
Board of Advisors, Facing History and Ourselves (2013-2016)
Co-Founder & Advisory Board, Stanford Student Space Initiative (2013-present)
Public speaker, NASA Speaker’s Bureau (2010-2015)
Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (2008-present)
Medic / EMT, Cornell University Emergency Medical Service (2004-2007)
Teaching Experience
Georgetown University
Instructor, Space Security & Exploration, (spring 2017, 2018)
Stanford University
TA, Technology and National Security (fall 2011) Professors William Perry (Secretary of Defense, 1994-1997) and Siegfried Hecker (Director, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1986-1997)
TA, Engineering Risk Analysis (winter 2011, 2013, 2014) Professor M. Elisabeth Pate-Cornell
TA, Graduate Project Course in Risk Analysis (spring 2011) Professor M. Elisabeth Pate-Cornell
Awards and Honors
CISAC Predoctoral Science Fellow (2013-2014) CISAC Predoctoral Science Fellow (2012-2013) NASA Pathways Grant (2008-2012) Stanford MS&E Department TA Award (2012) Dean’s List, Cornell University (2006-2007) Cornell in Washington Program (2006) U.S. Department of State Student Foreign Policy Program (2006) NASA Undergraduate Student Researcher Program (2005)
version: Mar, 2018
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