A specialist in laser spectrometers, David Clinton Scott, Ph.D., discovered his interest in space technology from a formative age, having always followed the space program affiliated with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Receiving a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from the University of Colorado in 1986, he subsequently received a Doctor of Philosophy in chemical physics from the University of Southern California in 1993. Since that time, he has been certified in eVSM and ProSci, as well as by the American Society for Quality. He is also a NASA Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.
Commencing his professional career as a research and development chemist for Imperial Chemical Industries in Hawthorne, CA, in 1987, a role he held for one year, Dr. Scott soon became a research assistant in the department of chemistry at the University of Southern California from 1988 to 1993 while pursuing his doctoral degree. After obtaining his doctorate, he began his tenure at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, in 1993, where he first acted as a research scientist until the turn of the century. Since 2000, he has been a senior member of the technical staff and senior research scientist with the laboratory.
Among the notable highlights of his career, Dr. Scott was a team member for spectrometers that collected the first chemical measurements in the upper atmosphere using quantum cascade lasers. In addition, he led the NASA team that first successfully coupled a tunable quantum cascade laser to a ring spectrometer. Furthermore, he led an optical metrology team for measurements in the large-scale 25-foot solar simulator at the
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, having also participated in the launch of four rovers on Mars, with another rover being launched in 2019.
Influenced to delve further into his career by his mentors, which included Professors Curt Wittig and Hannah Riesler, pioneers in the field of chemical physics, Dr. Scott has garnered multiple accolades and honors in recognition of his contributions to the industry. He recently received the NASA Group Achievement Award for Metrology and the NASA Group Achievement Award for Electronic Board and Cable Fabrication in 2017,
having also received the JPL Team Award for Quality Audit, Assessment and Review. Receiving several other accolades from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA dating back to 1995, he also received the University of Southern California Department of Chemistry Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1989, as well as several fellowships and scholarships.
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