Barbara L. Brown
Director, Exploration Research and Technology Programs
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Barbara L. Brown serves as the director of Exploration Research and Technology Programs at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. She leads processing, assembly, integration, and test of payloads and flight science experiments bound for the International Space Station.
She serves as Kennedy’s lead for the formulation of concepts to support uncrewed operations on the Moon and Mars and directs research, development, testing, and demonstration of flight systems and technologies to advance exploration and space systems. The programs and projects under her purview span NASA’s Exploration Systems, Science, Space Operations, and Space Technology mission directorates.
Experience
In addition to working for Kennedy, Brown also has worked for the Ames Research Center and completed rotations to NASA Headquarters in the Office of the Chief Engineer, the Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD), and the Office of the Chief Information Officer.
She has served in numerous roles, including Kennedy Center Chief Technologist, Kennedy assistant director for Research and Technology Development, 21st Century Launch Initiative lead for the Advanced Ground Systems Maintenance Element Integration Team, Ground Systems Development and Operations Program Fault Management Lead, Kennedy Chief Information Officer, program manager for X-34 Eastern Range Test Flight Operations at Kennedy, Kennedy Artificial Intelligence Laboratory manager, Ames resident office manager at Kennedy, Ames Intelligent Systems Program deputy manager for Human-Centered Computing, Ames work package manager for Crew Launch Vehicle Health Management, SOMD full cost manager, and Exploration Technology Development Program project manager for Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery.
Brown began her career with NASA at Kennedy as a programmer and design engineer, supporting the development of the shuttle configuration management system and a voice commanding prototype for space station operations. She has spent most of her career leading the development and application of software, intelligent systems health management tools and techniques, command and control architectures, robotics, and other devices to increase human-computer systems performance and enable automation and autonomy of ground and space-based operations for the shuttle, the space station, and other exploration systems and infrastructure.
Awards
Brown has coauthored numerous papers and reports on physics-based diagnostics, autonomous cryogenic system operations, and intelligent vehicle/systems health management. She has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, and the Kennedy Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award.
Education
Brown has a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Florida State University, a Master of Science in industrial engineering from the University of Central Florida, and is a Harvard School of Government Senior Executive Fellow.
Biography last updated March 2022