Aloft Sensing is bringing high-performance radar sensing and advanced navigation to autonomous platforms in the stratosphere and other domains, leveraging innovative processing techniques to transform the way Earth observation, tactical ISR, and high-precision PNT data is collected.

US-based consultancy that creates realizable solutions to complex remote sensing problems

In my tenure at RSS, I had the opportunity to develop several novel, highly advanced instruments, including:• Principal Investigator / lead designer for an interferometric, micro-synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) system targeted to micro-UUV-class vehicles• Principal Investigator / lead designer for a fully software-defined-sonar capability, including SAS, bottom-sounding, and collision avoidance• Principal Investigator / lead designer for an ultra-high resolution flash sonar system• Co-investigator / lead designer for an adaptive proximity operations radar system for planetary landing & small body operations, with applications to autonomous vehicles of all varieties• Lead designer for a new, dual-frequency, interferometric radar altimeter capability for cryosphere and severe storm investigations• Lead analyst for examining dual-frequency measurements from the cryosphere• Also participated in numerous other developments, including interferometric SAR system designs for severe storm measurement systems; advanced real-aperture imaging systems for vehicle awareness; interferometric radar proof-of-concept studies for snow measurements; and dual-frequency radar development/deployment for root-zone soil moisture measurements.

Served as program lead for the Ka-band radar interferometer (KaRIn), the primary instrument enabling the NASA/France/Canada/UK partnered Surface Water / Ocean Topography mission.

Led the technical team from inception to landing for the first-of-its kind, multi-beam Ka-band radar Terminal Descent Sensor for the 2011 Mars Science Laboratory / Curiosity Rover. Developed the initial system concept, and led the team through all aspects of development, from early prototyping, field testing, flight hardware development and verification, and installation on the final flight vehicle.

Led a team of 14 exceptionally talented individuals focused on next generation mission concepts, radar phenomenology, advanced simulation development, and radar system engineering. Fostered collaborations with international science investigators and agencies toward the development of new mission concepts and measurement techniques leading to future mission opportunities.

Lead system engineer for the Wide Swath Ocean Altimeter instrument, originally slated for the Jason-2 mission. Key system engineering roles on orbital and sub-orbital programs that include the QuikSCAT mission, the Phoenix Mars Lander, and the conceptual development of HYDROS (later SMAP). Served as Principal Investigator on several NASA-funded technology development programs for novel millimeter- and sub-millimeter wave imaging systems for planetary and Earth science and engineering applications. Developed advanced SAR processing for and applications of along-track interferometry from the AirSAR instrument.