Speaker profile

Dr. Jeevan Perera is a Senior Engineer and Manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center with 36 years of service supporting major human spaceflight programs. He has held key roles in engineering, leadership, and risk management for initiatives such as the International Space Station (ISS) and the Orion spacecraft.

Dr. Perera led the development of the ISS risk management system; a pioneering framework now used across NASA. His expertise has shaped agency-wide standards for managing complex technical and programmatic risks. In addition to risk management, he has directed efforts in program planning, budgeting, contracting, configuration management, cybersecurity, IT systems, and scheduling on various programs.

Beginning his NASA career in software engineering, Dr. Perera managed development of both primary and backup flight software for the Space Shuttle and contributed to other mission-critical software across several programs.

He holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering with honors, a master’s and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, and a Juris Doctor (J.D.). He is a licensed attorney and certified pilot.

His accolades include the NASA Administrator’s Service Award, a Commendation from the FBI Director, and academic honors in engineering and law. As a frequent speaker and published author, Dr. Perera bridges engineering, leadership, and policy in advancing NASA’s mission.