Jason L. Kessler is the Program Executive for NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) & Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. Prior to joining the program in February 2021, Jason served as a Senior Advisor to the Global Knowledge Initiative, where he created systems-focused learning experiences for clients in the developing world, targeting an increase in the use of science and technology to strengthen environmental and climate change programming.
Prior to that, Jason spent nearly 15 years at NASA, serving most recently as a Program Executive in the Office of the Chief Technologist from 2013-2016, and as Deputy Project Director for SERVIR—a unique partnership between NASA and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)—from 2010-2013. As an entrepreneur and consultant serving outside of government, he has started several
businesses.
Jason is the recipient of two NASA Exceptional Service Medals and a NASA Group Achievement Award. He published his first book in 2020: Simple Acts, Practices for a Broken World.