The Hollywood Salon with Randii Wessen, Astronautics Systems Engineer

DR. RANDII WESSEN is currently the Director of the New Opportunities Center at NASA’s Ames Research Center (ARC).  In this capacity, his office assists scientists to write more compelling science proposals in response to NASA’s request for new and exciting space missions.  The office also guides the ARC science community to identify future deep space robotic missions.

Previously he was at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for forty years. At JPL he worked as the Project Manager of the Science Understanding through Data Science effort, the Proposal Manager for a billion dollar X-Ray Telescope (HEX-P), and the Lead Study Architect for JPL’s Innovation Foundry’s Architecture-Team (A-Team).  He has also worked with several mission and program areas at JPL including System Engineer in the Astrophysics Division, Telecommunications & Mission Systems Manager in the Deep Space Network serving Mars missions, Manager of the Cassini Science Planning & Operations, the Galileo Deputy Sequence Team Chief, and the Voyager Science Sequence Coordinator for the Uranus & Neptune encounters.

Randii received his Bachelor of Science in both Physics & Astronomy from Stony Brook University, a Master of Science in Astronautics from the University of Southern California, and a Doctorate in Operations Research from the University of South Wales, United Kingdom.

He co-authored the books “Neptune: The Planet, Rings and Satellites” & “Planetary Ring Systems.”  He was the recipient of NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal for his contributions to the Voyager 2 Neptune Encounter and has eleven NASA Group Achievement Awards.  Dr. Wessen is also a fellow of both the Royal Astronomical Society and the British Interplanetary Society and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics.

Asteroid 31664 (Randiiwessen, below) is named in his honor.

LOCATION: The Hollywood Salon is again gathering at the idyllic CATCHER IN THE RYE in Toluca Lake. Open late and complete with finger foods & a full bar, it’s a great ambiance for a Salon. To note, there is free parking in the lot behind the bar and & plentiful street parking. See you Monday, September 8th at 8pm! $15 entry. Volunteers have the option of free entry – email howdy@nebraskacoast.com for details.