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JOHN D. "DANNY" OLIVAS (PH.D.)
NASA ASTRONAUT (MISSION SPECIALIST)
PERSONAL DATA: Born in North Hollywood, California, but considers El Paso, Texas to be his hometown. 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.
ORGANIZATIONS: American Society of Materials International (ASM International), Texas Registered Professional Engineer.
AWARDS: Four U.S. Patents; Four NASA Class One Tech Brief Awards; Five JPL-California Institute of Technology Novel Technology Report Recognitions; 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 in Freeport, Texas. While there, he was a mechanical/materials engineer responsible for performing equipment stress/failure analysis for the operating facilities. After completing his master's degree, Olivas left to pursue 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 Extravehicular Mobility Unit, during a summer intern.
Upon completing his doctorate, he was offered a senior research engineer position at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). His research included 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. Through his career, he has authored and presented numerous papers at technical conferences and in scientific journals and is principal developer of seven inventions.
NASA EXPERIENCE: NASA selected Olivas for assignment as Astronaut 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 of the Astronaut Office as lead for the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator Robot and the Mobile Transporter. He is currently assigned to the EVA Branch and is supporting the research effort focused on developing materials, tools and techniques to perform on-orbit shuttle repair.
OCTOBER 2004
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