Kelvin Ruiz, 35, of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, is using his expertise as a senior electronics engineer at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to inspire students to learn about robotics in the same way he was inspired by the field himself.
Working in the Exploration Systems and Operations Division of Kennedy’s Engineering Directorate, Ruiz has aided in development of a host of hardware and software during his career. Currently, Ruiz serves as hardware development lead for the Spaceport Command and Control System, which is designing and developing the computer hardware infrastructure for the next generation launch control system.
Previously, he served as project lead for the Integrated Display and Environmental Awareness System (IDEAS) project to develop augmented reality hardware and software for Ground and Space Operations. He also served as software mentor for the StangSat CubeSat satellite, launching to low-Earth orbit in late 2017.
Ruiz opted for engineering in high school when he was working on a competitive robotics team. He received a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico in 2003. He earned a master’s in industrial engineering from the University of Central Florida in 2008.
Ruiz began his NASA career at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi in 2004 and moved to Kennedy in April 2006.
Ruiz and wife Marlene have two children and live in Viera, Florida.
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Amber Philman
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
amber.n.philman@nasa.gov