Biography

RileyDurenisChiefSystemsEngineerfortheEarthScienceand
TechnologyDirectorateattheJetPropulsionLaboratory.Forover25years
hehasworkedattheintersectionofengineeringandscienceincluding
sevenspacemissionsrangingfromearthsciencetoastrophysics.Hewas
ChiefEngineerfordevelopmentoftheKeplermissionthattodatehas
detectedover2300confirmedplanetsaroundotherstarswith20earthsizeplanetsinthehabitablezone.Since2008hisportfoliohasspannedsatelliteand
airbornemissionsforJPL’searthsystemscienceenterpriseaswellashisownresearch
applyingthedisciplineofsystemsengineeringtoclimatechangedecisionsupport.His
researchfocusesonanthropogeniccarbonemissionsandworkingwithdiverse
stakeholderstodeveloppolicy-relevantmonitoringsystems.HeisPrincipalInvestigator
fortheinteragencyMegacitiesCarbonProject,theUnderstandingUserNeedsandCalifornia
PrototypeMethaneMonitoringSystemprojectsforNASA’sCarbonMonitoringSystem
program,theMethaneSourceFinderproject,andtheCaliforniaBaselineMethaneSurvey.He
istherecipientoftwoNASAExceptionalAchievementMedalsandco-recipientofthe
agency’sSystemsEngineeringExcellenceAwardandsevenGroupAchievementAwards.He
holdsabachelor’sdegreeinelectricalengineeringfromAuburnUniversity.HeisaVisiting
ResearcheratUCLA’sJointInstituteForRegionalEarthSystemScienceandEngineering
andservesontheAdvisoryBoardforNYU’sCenterforUrbanScienceandProgress.