NAME: John
D. Olivas (Ph.D., P.E.) "Danny"
NASA Astronaut
PERSONAL DATA: Born in North Hollywood, California and raised in El Paso, Texas. Married and has 5 children.
Recreational interests include running, weightlifting, hunting, fishing,
surfing, and mountain biking.
EDUCATION: Graduate of Burges
High School, El Paso, Texas; received a bachelor of science degree in
mechanical engineering from the University of Texas-El Paso; a masters of
science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Houston and a
doctorate in mechanical engineering and materials science from Rice University.
AWARDS: Six U.S. Patents;
Four NASA Class One Tech Brief Awards; Five JPL-California Institute of
Technology Novel Technology Recognitions; The University of Texas-El Paso
Distinguished Alumnus, HENAAC Most Promising Engineer, McDonald's Hispanos
Triunfadores Award, NASA ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Award, Dow Life Saving
Award.
EXPERIENCE: After graduating
with his undergraduate degree, Olivas worked for the Dow Chemical Company as a
mechanical/materials engineer responsible for performing equipment stress/failure
analysis for the operating facilities.
Upon completing his master's degree,
Olivas pursued his doctorate while supporting engine coating evaluations for
C-5 maintenance operations at Kelly Air Force Base. He also supported the Crew
and Thermal Systems Directorate at NASA Johnson Space Center, evaluating
materials for application to the next generation space suits.
Upon completing his doctorate, he
received a senior research engineer position at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
(JPL) and worked in the development of tools and methodologies for
nondestructively evaluating microelectronics and structural materials subjected
to space environments.
He was promoted to Program Manager
of the JPL Advanced Interconnect and Manufacturing Assurance Program, aimed at
evaluating the reliability and susceptibility of state-of-the-art
microelectronics for use in future NASA projects. Throughout his career, he has
authored and presented numerous papers at technical conferences and in
scientific journals.
NASA EXPERIENCE: NASA selected Olivas in 1998. Astronaut
Training included orientation briefings and tours, numerous scientific and
technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space
Station systems, physiological training and ground school to prepare for
T-38 flight training, as well as learning water and wilderness survival
techniques.
From 1999 to 2002, he was assigned
technical responsibilities within the Robotics Branch as lead for the Special
Purpose Dexterous Manipulator Robot and the Mobile Transporter.
From 2002 to 2005 he was assigned to
the EVA Branch and supported the research effort focused on developing
materials, tools and techniques to perform on-orbit shuttle repair. In 2006, he
served as lead of the Hardware Integration Section of the Space Station Branch,
responsible for ensuring proper configuration and integration of future station
modules and visiting vehicles.
Olivas is assigned to the crew of STS-117
targeted for launch in 2007. STS-117 will deliver the second starboard truss
segment to the International
Space Station with the third set of U.S. solar arrays, batteries and
associated equipment. Olivas is scheduled to perform two space walks in
connection with the deployment of the truss segment.
Last updated: February 2007
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