Dr. Betsy Congdon

Betsy Congdon

Chief Technologist

Space Exploration Sector

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Talk title and abstract coming soon

BIO: Dr. Betsy Congdon has extensive experience in spacecraft development including technical leadership, mechanical testing, and hardware design. She has managed and led large and complex teams to accomplish technically challenging goals and producing one-of-a-kind flight quality hardware. Among her many achievements are leading the engineering team that successfully delivered the thermal protection system for NASA’s $1 billion Parker Solar Probe mission, leading the mechanical team for NASA’s first planetary defense DART mission from concept through integration and test and launch, and served as the Flight System Mechanical System Engineer for NASA’s Dragonfly mission. As a member of Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab Principal Professional Staff, Dr. Congdon is currently serving as the Space Exploration Sector’s Chief Technologist driving innovative technology development throughout the Sector and externally.

Dr. Congdon enjoys engaging a wide range of professional and public audiences on the development of complex missions and the technologies that enable them. She has spoken about Parker Solar Probe at South by Southwest, was featured in a plenary panel on DART at the International Astronautical Congress, and has done numerous press events for Parker Solar Probe and DART. Additionally, she serves as an instructor for the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering.

Dr. Congdon earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in Mechanical Engineering.