Science lead for more than 30 of 50 total career flights aboard NASA’s SOFIA, managing the instrument & scientific operations teams from proposals to in-flight operations; managed documentation, deliverables, and program requirements.

Instrument and Support Scientist for the First Light Infrared Test Experiment CAMera (FLITECAM), a facility instrument aboard NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). FLITECAM could be co-mounted with the High Speed Imaging Photometer for Occultations (HIPO) in a combined “FLIPO” mode, providing simultaneous optical and near-infrared imaging for transient events.

Key team member and general ring leader for FLITECAM and FLIPO flights, including onboard support for the dedicated observing campaigns of a Pluto occultation in New Zealand in June 2015 and a Triton occultation in October 2017.

Led FLITECAM (and to a lesser extent FLIPO) through commissioning and formal acceptance.

Science Highlights

  • SN2014J Paper
  • Pluto Occultation 2015 Paper
  • Triton Occultation 2017

Images

FLITECAM in work at the lab at UCLA FLIPO mounted on SOFIA for flights

SOFIA on the tarmac in New Zealand SOFIA on the tarmac in Daytona Beach