Michael Watkins

Michael M. Watkins is a Professor of Aerospace and Geophysics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), serving since 2016. Previously, he held dual roles as Vice President and Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from 2016 to 2021. He earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in aerospace-related fields from the University of Texas at Austin (1983–1989).

His research focuses on planetary science, satellite gravimetry, and climate change studies, particularly leveraging data from NASA's GRACE missions. Key contributions include advancing understanding of ice sheet dynamics, gravitational perturbations, and Earth's climate system through satellite missions and ground-breaking instrumentation like the Advanced Pointing Imaging Camera (APIC). His work bridges aerospace engineering with geophysical analysis.

Scientific achievements include election to the National Academy of Engineering. He has advised on major space missions and contributed to educational initiatives, including teaching Ae 105 abc – Space Engineering at Caltech (2022–2024).

Watkins' career highlights interdisciplinary collaboration between Caltech's academic research and JPL's mission operations, emphasizing practical applications of aerospace and geophysical data for global environmental monitoring.