ROBERT’S BIOGRAPHY

Mr. Robert Brown serves as the Technical Program Manager in the Florida Space Institute (FSI) at the University of Central Florida.  FSI is located in the Partnership 1 building on the Navy Support Activity Orlando property in the Central Florida Research Park.  Mr. Brown was key in the establishment of the Defense Science and Technology Office within FSI to focus on providing a link to the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community activities across Florida. 

Prior to starting with FSI, Robert spent 25 years of service at the Kennedy Space Center starting as a contractor in the Space Shuttle program moving to NASA as a Civil Servant during the Columbia Return to Flight activities.  Over his career he performed roles with progressively increasing scope and responsibility starting in system engineering then moving up to project lead, system engineering and integration lead, and project manager under the Shuttle and Ares I-X programs. Robert continued to lead several projects including many multiple use technologies projects for radar, directed energy, and interferometric sensing systems.  Mr. Brown ended his government career as a senior GS-15 Technical Manager leading multi-state and multi-agency research and development programs.  

Now with FSI, Mr. Brown is in the process of developing a portfolio of scientific research, technology development, and system demonstration projects while building collaborations across the state and nation.  In addition to the work at FSI, Robert has started the last phase of his education with the intent of completing a PhD in Space Science from Florida Tech. 

Robert is a native of Florida growing up on the Space Coast with space in his blood.  He followed the “family business” working on space systems as a third generation Kennedy Space Center employee.  He is a graduate of UCF with his Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and a Masters of Engineering Management from the Industrial Engineering department. 

During his time with NASA, Robert received numerous awards including a Silver Snoopy, an Outstanding Leadership Medal, an Exceptional Achievement Medal, and a Silver Achievement Medal. He was also honored with a Superior Achievement Award, Silver Medal Award, Several Group Achievement Awards, and the Launch Directors Award for work done on the Space Shuttle Program.