Dr. Jeevan Perera

Mentorship Committee

Dr. Jeevan Perera is a Senior Engineer and Manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center with over 36 years of service supporting major human spaceflight programs. He has held key roles in engineering, design and development, 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.

He has received numerous prestigious honors for his contributions, including the NASA Administrator’s Service Award, the NASA Administrator’s Commendation, and a Letter of Commendation from the Director of the FBI. Academically, he was awarded the Scholastic All American Award in Engineering, Legal Research and Writing and a Judicial Clerkship Honors Award in Law School.

As a recognized expert at the intersection of engineering, management and policy, Dr. Perera is a frequent keynote speaker and published author. His work integrates technology, systems thinking, and strategic leadership in support of NASA’s mission to advance human space exploration.