Dava Newman

Dava Newman
Name	Dava Newman
Birth date	15 June 1964
Birth place	Helena, Montana
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of Notre Dame (B.S.), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.S., Ph.D.)
Occupation	Aerospace engineer, Professor, NASA Deputy Administrator
Known for	Bioastronautics, Space suit design, NASA leadership
Spouse	Guillermo Trotti

Dava Newman is an American aerospace engineer, MIT professor, and former NASA Deputy Administrator. A leading expert in bioastronautics and human performance in extreme environments, she is renowned for her pioneering research on advanced space suit design and the effects of spaceflight on the human body. Her career spans academia, where she directed the MIT Media Lab, and high-level government service, shaping the future of human space exploration.

Early life and education

Born in Helena, Montana, Newman developed an early interest in science and exploration. She pursued her undergraduate studies in aerospace engineering at the University of Notre Dame, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. She then continued her education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she completed both a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in aerospace engineering, with a focus on biomechanics and technology policy.

Academic career

Newman joined the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, where she became the Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics. Her research group specialized in bioastronautics, investigating human-machine integration and performance metrics for astronauts. She later served as the Director of the MIT Media Lab, a renowned interdisciplinary research laboratory. Throughout her tenure, she held affiliations with the Harvard–MIT Health Sciences and Technology program and was a faculty member in the Harvard Medical School Department of Health Sciences and Technology.

NASA Deputy Administrator

Nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate in 2015, Newman served as the NASA Deputy Administrator under Administrator Charles Bolden. In this role, she was the agency's second-in-command, helping to lead NASA's broad portfolio, including the International Space Station, the Space Launch System, the Orion spacecraft, and initiatives in aerospace technology and Earth science. Her tenure focused on advancing the journey to Mars and fostering international partnerships in space exploration.

Research and contributions

Newman's seminal research is in the field of bioastronautics and the design of next-generation space suits. She is the principal inventor of the Biosuit, a revolutionary, mechanically counter-pressure space suit concept that offers greater mobility and safety compared to traditional gas-pressurized suits. Her work, often conducted in collaboration with NASA's Johnson Space Center, also encompasses studies on space motion sickness, cardiovascular deconditioning in microgravity, and the neurovestibular system. She has authored the influential textbook *Interactive Aerospace Engineering and Design*.

Awards and honors

Newman has received numerous accolades for her engineering and leadership contributions. These include the prestigious NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Jeffries Aerospace Medicine and Life Sciences Research Award. She is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the International Academy of Astronautics. Her work has been recognized by institutions like the National Academy of Engineering and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Personal life

Newman is married to architect and designer Guillermo Trotti, with whom she has collaborated on various design and technology projects. An avid adventurer, she has completed the Boston Marathon and is a certified scuba diver, interests that complement her professional focus on human performance in challenging environments. She maintains an active role as a speaker and advocate for STEM education and women in engineering.

Category:American aerospace engineers Category:NASA officials Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty Category:Living people