Jared Lucey ’07

Jared Lucey ’07 is a recognized leader in spaceflight microwave instruments with 20 years of experience at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). Throughout his career he has driven innovation in microwave technologies for space exploration and advancement in scientific discoveries. Currently serving as head of the Microwave Instruments and Technology Branch, he leads a team of engineers developing next-generation microwave instrument technologies that span frequencies from a few MHz to 6 THz. Lucey’s introduction to microwave engineering began during his sophomore year at UMass Amherst, where he secured a research position in the Microwave Remote Sensing Lab (MIRSL). Through faculty connections, he learned of a Co-Op opportunity with the Microwave Instruments and Technology Branch at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, which launched his career. After earning his BSEE, he transitioned into a permanent position at NASA and continued his education part-time, earning his MSEE with a focus on microwave engineering from Johns Hopkins University. 

Lucey has worked on numerous flight microwave instruments including AQUARIUS, SMAP, GPM, IceCube, CubeRRT, SNOOPI, and PolSIR. These instruments produce critical global observations that are relied upon worldwide to improve life through enhanced weather forecasting, drought and flood detection, crop production rates, precipitation and water cycle, and global climate variability.  He has also developed enabling technologies that could contribute towards discovery of molecular species on distant planetary bodies suggesting potential lifeforms. Lucey recently completed a detail as the head of Mission Systems Engineering where he oversaw engineering technical authority for all GSFC’s space flight missions.  He holds two patents in CubeSat instrument technologies and has been recognized with multiple agency awards for his technical contributions and leadership.  Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, whether it is officiating at his daughter’s swim meet or volunteering with Special Olympics for his son.