PATRICK WOIDA

Patrick Woida is a 25 year veteran in the development of innovative Space Optics and Telescopes. Primarily working on technology development of Optics for Airborne and Space Telescopes. He has been primarily responsible for optical figure and thermo-optical figure stability measurements of prototype ultra-lightweight optical elements and optical performance and calibration of Space Flight hardware. A designer and creator of novel optical materials for extraterrestrial applications. This work is not only restricted to NASA, but for commercial programs as well. In addition to hands on research he has served in several project roles including leading research as principal and co-investigator on grants and contracts. He has held research positions at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory, U of A Optical Science Center, and now the Lunar and Planetary Lab. He is a Senior Engineer for the Phoenix Mars Scout Polar Mission.

On Phoenix, he was originally the Test Director for the completion of the Optical Microscope, Robotic Arm Camera and Stereo Surface Imager Instruments. Currently Pat is a member of the integration test engineering team at the mission's Payload Interoperability Testbed and also will participate as part of the Surface Operations Team.

Pat is a graduate of the University of Arizona and is passionately involved in Science Education for young people. He works with college students as a mentor in the NASA Space Grant program. He additionally serves on the board of directors for the SciEnTek-12 Foundation. He has been a judge at both SARSEF and at the International Science and Engineering Fairs.

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