Dr. David Korsmeyer

Deputy Center Director for Research & Technology at NASA Ames Research Center.

Korsmeyer previously has served as the associate center director for Research and Technology where he led the Center’s overall efforts in research, sciecne, and engineering developments that support NASA’s missions in aeronautics, science, exploration, and technology. Key achievements during this time included the successful initiation NASA’s next lunar rover, the VIPER or Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover. For six years prior to that role he was the director of engineering and led a broad range of spacecraft projects, proposals, and engineering support of technology, wind tunnels, and science experiments. Notably, he led the center’s expansion into small satellites and nanosats, including: NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer, or LADEE; numerous space biology instrumentation missions on the International Space Station, and the launch of 30 cubesats. For over nine years Korsmeyer served as chief of Ames’ Intelligent Systems Division, NASA’s premier research and development organization for artificial intelligence, robotics, and adaptive software supporting aeronautics and space missions, like the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. At Ames since 1991, Korsmeyer has been instrumental in the formation and management of many projects and NASA-wide technology programs in his early career. After receiving his Senior Executive Service certification in 2006, he supported key government initiatives including the 2009 Presidential Review of Human Spaceflight, and the 2020 Artemis Program Status Assessment. Korsmeyer regularly supports agency-level technology and engineering teams for NASA’s Aeronautics, Space and Technology, Human Exploration, and Science Mission Directorates at Headquarters. Korsmeyer received a Meritorious Presidential Rank Award in 2011, and a Distinguished Presidential Rank Award in 2021.

MySec.TV

Autonomous operations: expectations vs. reality