Keyur Patel, Associate Director for Flight Projects and Mission Success

Keyur Patel was appointed Associate Director for Flight Projects and Mission Success in April 2024. He has been a member of the professional staff at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1985 and in executive management since 2008. Keyur has previously served as the Director for Astronomy and Physics, Deputy Director for Planetary Science, Director for the Interplanetary Network Directorate, Deputy Director for the Solar System Exploration Directorate and also served as the Deputy Director for the Office of Safety and Mission Success. He has significant project management experience as the Dawn mission Project Manager, Deputy Project Manager and Chief Engineer for the Deep Impact mission, and the Flight Engineering Office Manager for the SIRTF project (Spitzer).

Earlier roles at JPL include 15 years in flight systems and engineering for missions including Mars Observer, Topex/Poseidon and Voyager. He also served 5 years as a line manager in the avionics division.

He is a graduate of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, with a MS Aerospace Engineering - Control Systems – March 1992 and a BS Aerospace Engineering – June 1986.