Jasenka Rakas

Jasenka Rakas is a Continuing Lecturer in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of California, Berkeley, where she teaches courses on airport design and air transportation. She also serves as the Deputy Director of the UC Berkeley National Center of Excellence for Aviation Operations Research (NEXTOR), where she leads aviation research initiatives.

Dr. Rakas has pioneered methods and models for analyzing the impact of navigational equipment outages on airspace performance and has conducted significant work in controller-pilot communications. Her contributions to airport operations and planning are substantial, particularly in using high-fidelity data to create new arrival headway distributions. She is the author or co-author of more than 100 publications and has participated in over 200 high-level presentations worldwide.

Her research focuses on National Airspace System (NAS) infrastructure performance and investment analysis, air traffic flow management, cost/benefit analysis, simulation modeling, human factors, and cognitive psychology. Current research projects include:

• Environmental Performance Assessment in Enhancing the Sustainability of Airport Developments
• Robust Optimization Models for Aviation Infrastructure Investments
• Impacts of a Mixed Media Air Traffic Control Communication Environment on Aviation Efficiency

Dr. Rakas' recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on sustainable aviation, airport operations optimization, and adapting to climate change impacts. Her work addresses critical challenges in modernizing air transportation systems while considering environmental sustainability and operational efficiency.

Her scientific awards include:

• Commendation from the Federal Aviation Administration ATO Technical Operations for NAS Infrastructure Management Conference development (2006)
• Commendation from the Federal Aviation Administration ATO Technical Operations for NAS Infrastructure Management Conference development (2005)
• Harkins Group Fellowship (2000)
• Special Award for Outstanding Performance from CSSI, Inc. (1994)
• Election as AIAA 2025 Associate Fellow (October 2024)

Dr. Rakas actively advises graduate students and has mentored numerous researchers in aviation-related topics. She has founded several educational initiatives including the UC Berkeley Advanced Aviation Educational Program, the Airport Design Studio, and the National Airspace System Infrastructure Conference. Her teaching evaluations consistently highlight her enthusiasm, accessibility, and innovative teaching methods.