Dr. Steven Koontz – NESC Academy Biography

Dr. Steven Koontz has worked for NASA for over 30 Years with space-flight environment effects on spacecraft materials and systems. Before working with NASA, he earned a bachelor of science in chemistry with an emphasis in nuclear chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in chemistry with an emphasis in analytical instrumentation from the University of Arizona at Tucson. At NASA, he specializes in spacecraft-plasma interactions, spacecraft charging and contamination, as well as space radiation effects on materials and avionics systems, and spacecraft contamination. He has applied nuclear reaction and transport codes (FLUKA, HZETRN, and CREME-96) to Single-Event Environment/Total Ionizing Dose (SEE/TID) analysis and prediction of in-flight SEE and TID rates for the International Space Station (ISS) system level avionics safety and reliability. He has served on the NASA review panels and as a journal referee. He has been the principal investigator or co-investigator on several space flight experiments aimed at quantifying space environment effects. As ISS System manager for Space Environments, he is responsible for the ISS plasma contactor units and the floating potential measurement unit, as well as management of spacecraft charging risks for ISS. His work has resulted in receiving several significant awards including the Astronaut’s Personal Achievement Award, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and the NASA Silver Achievement Medal.

Biography last updated June 29, 2017