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Kenneth F. Harris II

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Kenneth Harris II
Born (1992-04-13) April 13, 1992 (age 32)
Mitchellville, MD
EducationUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County[1]
Johns Hopkins University[2]
OccupationMechanical Engineer
Scientific Career
Years active2008 - Present
Known forJames Webb Space Telescope (JWST)[3]
Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission Satellite
Global Precipitation Measurement Satellite
Joint Polar Satellite System[4]
Websitewww.kennethfharris.com

Kenneth F. Harris II is an African-American mechanical engineer who works with the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.[5] Harris' work focuses on protecting satellites from cyberthreats and malicious interference in low-Earth orbit. Over his career, Harris has worked on space security through to next-generation observatories.[6] Harris is also a science communicator.

Early life and education

Harris grew up in Prince Georges County Maryland.[5] Initially he became interested in engineering as a child after spending time with his father in the office and laboratory.

Harris attended Eleanor Roosevelt High School, graduating in 2010. He has highlighted how two high school teachers, Hubert Willoughby and Troy Bradbury, helped him through his high school experience.[7] In 2014, Harris received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County's College of Engineering after a struggle with course and laboratory work.[8] Harris gives credit to his former engineering professor, Anne Spence, for assisting him.[9] In 2017 he received a master's degree in Engineering Management from Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering.[2][10]

Career

Integrating the James Webb Space Telescope

During summer 2007, Harris worked as a janitor, cleaning the school building for incoming students.[7] In 2008, Harris started his career at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Since then he has worked on several flight projects including the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission Satellite studying the effects of radiation on components,[11] the Global Precipitation Measurement Satellite contributing to the deployable solar array hinges,[12] and the Joint Polar Satellite System leading the database team.[13] Harris has said his most memorable mission was serving as the deputy lead integration engineer[11][14] for the James Webb Space Telescope Integrated Science Instrument Module, which houses the computing and electrical resources for the satellite.[15] Harris led the team to integrate the main payload of the satellite that will detect the light from stars billions of light years away.[16] The media has portrayed him as a "Face of NASA"[17] saying: "He has worked on five different satellite missions since he started working at NASA at age 16"[18] and he is "one of the youngest African-Americans to lead integration efforts on the telescope."[19] During the 2020 general election, Harris was elected onto the Board of Education in Prince George's County Maryland.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Retriever Engineer Seeks Space - Kenneth Harris II '14". UMBC Magazine. 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  2. ^ a b deNobel, Jacob (2019-12-10). "Ten Johns Hopkins faculty, students, and alumni named to 30 Under 30 list". The Hub. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  3. ^ Gutro, Rob (January 30, 2020). "NASA Engineer Named in Forbes 30 Under 30 List of Innovators" (PDF). The Prince George's Post. Vol. 88, no. 5. p. A1 & A3. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "Kenneth Harris II, Senior Satellite Engineer". 19 February 2020.
  5. ^ a b Blodgett, Rachael (2020-02-19). "Kenneth Harris II, Senior Satellite Engineer". NASA. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  6. ^ "Meet the NASA Engineer Who Protects Satellites From Cyberthreats". Vice.com. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  7. ^ a b Gerhart, Brogan. "ERHS Grad Kenny Harris II Named Forbes 30 Under 30 |". Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  8. ^ The power of mentorship (at NASA and beyond) | Kenny F Harris | TEDxBethesda, retrieved 2021-04-10
  9. ^ "Retriever Engineer Seeks Space - Kenneth Harris II '14". UMBC Magazine. 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  10. ^ "Alumni Highlight: Impacting the Next Generation". Johns Hopkins Engineering Online. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  11. ^ a b An Engineers Guide to Working for NASA — Kenneth Harris II — GOTO Night 2020, retrieved 2021-04-10
  12. ^ "Making History Integrating $10 Billion Satellites for NASA, Kenneth Harris Named NextGen for Industry". www.thomasnet.com. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  13. ^ "Kenneth Harris II". The Root. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  14. ^ Gutro, Rob (January 30, 2020). "NASA Engineer Named in Forbes 30 Under 30 List of Innovators" (PDF). The Prince George's Post. Vol. 88, no. 5. p. A1 & A3. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  15. ^ "ESA Science & Technology - JWST payload module (ISIM)". sci.esa.int. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  16. ^ "Kenneth Harris". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  17. ^ Patrinos, Thalia (2020-03-02). "Senior Satellite Engineer Kenneth Harris II". NASA. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  18. ^ Hille, Karl (2020-01-22). "Engineer Named in Forbes 30 Under 30 List of Innovators". NASA. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  19. ^ Gayle, Anna-Lysa (2020-02-21). "Prince George's County man honored on Forbes '30 under 30' list". WJLA. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  20. ^ "Official 2020 Presidential General Election results for Prince George's County". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 4, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
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