Sylvia M. Johnson

Sylvia Johnson is retired chief materials technologist in the Entry Systems and Technology Division at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California. She received her BSc. in ceramic engineering from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, and M.S. and Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Johnson previously served as director of the Ceramic and Chemical Product Development Laboratory at SRI International before moving to NASA, where she has also held the positions of deputy division chief of the Space Technology Division and chief of the Thermal Protection Materials and Systems Branch of the Space Technology Division.

Johnson is widely recognized for her contributions to the development and application of new and improved thermal protection materials for access to space and planetary missions. She has been an ACerS member for more than 45 years and is an ACerS Fellow. She has served the Society in a variety of roles, including as ACerS president (2018–19), member of the Board of Directors, program chair for the Pacific Coast Regional Meeting, chair of the Northern California Section, general chair for PACRIM-5, and several Society committees. She has received the James I. Mueller Award and the Edward Orton Jr. Lecture Award, as well as three NASA Awards that recognize her contributions to space flight systems and technologies. She belongs to ACerS Basic Science Division; Art, Archaeology & Conservation Science Division; Energy Materials and Systems Division; and Engineering Ceramics Division.