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2023 Hassan A. Hassan Distinguished Lecture: Prasun N. Desai
November 10, 2023 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
About the Dr. Hassan A. Hassan Distinguished Lecture Series:
The Dr. Hassan A. Hassan Distinguished Lecture Series was established in 2015 through the generosity of Dr. Hassan’s former students and faculty members as a way to honor his staggering impact on NC State’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
In 1962, Dr. Hassan joined North Carolina State University as a full professor and spent 53 years at NC State before beginning his phased retirement in 2015. While at NC State, he was the major adviser to 34 doctoral students, he authored more than 200 publications, and has been recognized with numerous research awards; including the Alcoa Foundation Distinguished Engineering Research Award in 1987, the Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor in 1991, the NASA Public Service Medal in 1992, the R. J. Reynolds Co. Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research, and Extension in 1993, the AIAA Thermophysics Award in 1999, and the Alexander Holladay Medal For Excellence in 2004 – the highest honor bestowed on a faculty member by the NC State trustees. Dr. Hassan died at the age of 87 in 2019, but through his massive contributions to the field of Aerospace Engineering, and through the Dr. Hassan A. Hassan Distinguished Lecture Series, his legacy lives on.
Title:
Space Technology Drives Exploration
Abstract:
Prasun Desai will present an overview on the work of the Space Technology Mission Directorate, along with the future of NASA’s work and how the country will proceed in regards to space technology.
Bio:
Dr. Prasun Desai serves as Associate Administrator (Acting) of the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). In this role, Dr. Desai is responsible for executive leadership, overall strategic planning and direction, and effective management for all elements of the Space Technology Programs executed under STMD’s $1.2 billion budget.
Dr. Desai’s permanent role is Deputy Associate Administrator for STMD. In this role, he plans, directs, coordinates, and evaluates the full range of Space Technology programs and activities including budget formulation and execution, and represents the program to appropriate officials within and outside the Agency. Dr. Desai allocates and reprograms STMD resources as required to meet approved objectives and ensures that sound management and engineering practices are followed in the implementation of STMD Programs and Projects to ensure their safety and success, and to ensure that commitments are met. In this role, he also supports the development of overall NASA planning, policy development, and program integration activities.
Dr. Desai has worked at NASA for 33 years. For the past 13 years, he has helped to establish the Space Technology Mission Directorate from inception at NASA Headquarters for development of next-generation space technologies and capabilities. Prior to that, he spent 19 years at NASA Langley Research Center as a senior systems engineer applying expertise in the fields of atmospheric flight dynamics, systems optimization, engineering of entry systems, flight operations, and design of planetary exploration mission elements for robotic and human systems. Dr. Desai has contributed to the design, development, analyses, and flight operations of many NASA missions (Mars Exploration Rover, Stardust, Genesis, Mars Phoenix Lander) pertaining to entry, descent, and landing of probes at Mars and Earth.
Dr. Desai has received numerous awards from NASA for his contributions, including two Exceptional Engineering Achievement medals; an Exceptional Achievement medal, Outstanding Leadership Medal; a Presidential Rank Award; and an Exceptional Service Medal for his significant contributions throughout his NASA career. He also received the 2005 National Engineer of the Year Award from American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
Dr. Desai has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rutgers University, an M.S. in Astronautics from the George Washington University, and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois. He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and has authored or co-authored over 60 technical publications. Desai is also a prolific speaker, having given presentations to schools (K-12), universities (domestically and internationally), civic groups, professional organizations, and the general public to promote science education and science literacy and to motive students for careers in math and science. He was the NASA Langley Research Center’s “Speaker of the Year” in 2008, 2009, 2011, and was inducted in the NASA Langley Speaker Hall of Fame in 2012.
