Joseph Rios, Chief Technologist at NASA’s Ames Research Center

Joseph Rios is the chief technologist at NASA Ames Research Center‘s aviation systems division.

As chief technologist, Rios oversees software technology development in support of various NASA projects, organizations and partners. He also ensures that teams optimize their processes and build software offerings that would meet current and future mission needs.

He was the chief engineer of NASA’s Air Traffic Management-eXploration Project, which focused on advancing the U.S. National Airspace System. He was also the chief engineer for the agency’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Traffic Management project, an initiative designed to ensure safe flights for drones, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Rios joined NASA in 2007 as a research aerospace engineer who worked on multiple efforts. He focused mostly on large-scale optimization, data exchanges, general aviation and other air traffic management-related work at the Ames Research Center.

Outside NASA, Rios served as a teacher at the Berkeley Unified School District and as a substitute teacher at the Brentwood Union School District. He was also an education volunteer at the U.S. Peace Corps.

He holds a doctorate degree in computer engineering and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He also has a master’s degree in computer science from California State University-East Bay.

NASA Ames Research Center conducts research and development activities in aeronautics, technology and science. Its expertise cover entry systems, advanced computing and IT systems, air traffic management,, space and earth sciences and cost-effective space missions.