John D. Olivas

John D. Olivas is a notable American engineer and former NASA astronaut. Born on May 25, 1966, in Los Angeles, California, Olivas has made significant contributions to the field of aerospace engineering and space exploration.

Early Life and Education

John D. Olivas was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of Southern California where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1989. He later pursued his Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Houston in 1993. Olivas furthered his education by obtaining a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Rice University in 1996.

Career

Olivas began his career as a mechanical engineer at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. He worked on several projects related to the development of advanced materials and manufacturing processes. In 1998, Olivas was selected by NASA as a mission specialist. He completed two years of training and evaluation, and was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Station Operations Branch.

Olivas flew on two Space Shuttle missions, STS-117 in 2007 and STS-128 in 2009. During these missions, he performed several extravehicular activities (EVAs), also known as spacewalks, contributing to the construction and maintenance of the International Space Station.

Post-NASA Career

After retiring from NASA in 2010, Olivas joined the faculty of the University of Texas at El Paso as a professor of mechanical engineering. He also serves as the Director of the Center for the Advancement of Space Safety and Mission Assurance Research (CASSMAR).

Personal Life

Olivas is married and has two children. He is an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Olivas has received numerous awards and honors, including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and the NASA Space Flight Medal.

See Also

• List of Hispanic astronauts
• List of University of Southern California people
• List of University of Houston people
• List of Rice University people