Jason Kalirai has been passionate about the night sky since he was a young kid in the small Canadian town of Quesnel, British Columbia—a passion that led him to pursue a doctoral degree in astrophysics. As a mission area executive for space formulation at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Jason is responsible for a team that leads the formulation of all new civil space initiatives. He oversees the laboratory’s large portfolio of space science grants as well as integrated initiatives that cut across our nation’s civil and national security space domains.

Jason has a holistic approach to astronomical sciences that includes research, mission management, and STEM engagement. He leads major research programs on stellar and galactic evolution and has published over 100 scientific papers. He has directed complex mission teams to develop and launch new space science missions in planetary science, heliophysics, and astrophysics; and spearheaded hundreds of initiatives to advocate for space science and to inspire the next generation. Jason’s research and public outreach programs have led him to collaborate and explore many parts of the world.