B. Gentry Lee
Keynote Speaker: Chief Engineer at JPL, Science Fiction Author, NASA Medal Recipient
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B. Gentry Lee Biography
- Gentry Lee is chief engineer for the Solar System Exploration Directorate at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. In that position, Lee is responsible for the engineering integrity of all the robotic planetary missions managed by JPL for NASA. His extensive portfolio includes the engineering oversight of the Curiosity rover mission to Mars in August 2012, the Dawn mission to the asteroids Vesta and Ceres, the Juno mission to Jupiter, and the GRAIL missions to the Moon. He also contributed to the Phoenix mission that landed in the Martian arctic in May 2008 and the successful Mars Exploration Rovers project, which landed on Mars in January 2004. Further, Lee was involved in NASA’s Deep Impact mission, where a robotic spacecraft collided with comet Tempel 1 in the summer of 2005.
Lee was chief engineer for the Galileo project from 1977-1988 and, after working in a variety of positions on the Viking project from 1968-76, was Director of Science Analysis and Mission Planning during the Viking operations. The historic Viking mission marked humanity’s first successful landing on another planet. His earlier work also provided guidance for NASA’s Stardust missions, showcasing his ability to balance the advantages of innovation against the inherent risks in space mission engineering.
In addition to his engineering career, Lee is a successful science fiction novelist, a futurist, a computer product designer, media columnist, lecturer, and television performer/narrator. Between 1989 and 1994, he co-authored four novels, "Cradle," "Rama II," "The Garden of Rama," and "Rama Revealed," with Arthur C. Clarke. All four books achieved New York Times bestseller status and were translated into over twenty-five languages. Post collaboration with Clarke, Lee penned solo novels including "Bright Messengers," "Double Full Moon Night," and "The Tranquility Wars." His work in media also includes partnering with Carl Sagan on the "Cosmos" series, which won several Emmys and the prestigious Peabody Award, and he was the featured performer/narrator in "Are We Alone?", a two-hour Discovery Channel documentary about life in the solar system.
Lee’s accolades include the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement in 1976, the Distinguished Service Medal in 2005, the Harold Masursky Award from the American Astronomical Society in 2006, the Al Seiff Memorial Award in 2014, and the Simon Ramo Medal by the IEEE in 2013 for career excellence in engineering. He holds a BA, summa cum laude, from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Globally, Lee lectures on topics related to the future, space, and science and technology, focusing on extraterrestrial life, planetary exploration, and the importance of science literacy, enhancing the learning experience for attendees with his engaging talks and infectious enthusiasm.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on B. Gentry Lee and other top speakers and celebrities.
B. Gentry Lee Speaking Topics
The twin Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) landed successfully using airbags on the surface of the red planet in January 2004 after decelerating from over 10,000 mph to 20 mph in just six minutes. Their sister mission, Phoenix, landed gently on three legs in the Martian arctic in May 2008. In the summer of 2005, the Deep Impact robotic spacecraft smashed into the comet Tempel 1 traveling at a closing velocity of over 25,000 mph, while another, parent spacecraft photographed the collision. Space missions like these are enormous engineering challenges and require the use of innovative new technology to be successful. However, using new technology has formidable risks. Balancing the advantages of innovation against its inherent risks is one of the most critical of all design processes. Achieving that balance requires a careful understanding of "what bad things might happen" and a systematic approach to mitigating those risks throughout the life cycle of a product or a project.
Global competition and intense marketplace pressure have combined to increase the demand for more and more innovation in new designs. But innovation is always accompanied by risk – risk that the design will not meet its technical objectives and/or will significantly overrun its target cost and schedule. Over several decades the American robotic planetary exploration program has evolved techniques for tracking and assessing the risks associated with engineering innovation. Using the Mars exploration program as the example case study, and highlighting both the successes and failures of the program, this talk will examine the balance between innovation and risk in engineering design.
How do I book B. Gentry Lee to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like B. Gentry Lee for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for B. Gentry Lee, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for B. Gentry Lee or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book B. Gentry Lee for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for B. Gentry Lee, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire B. Gentry Lee, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does B. Gentry Lee speak about?
B. Gentry Lee is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Fiction Authors, Non-Fiction Authors, Science, Space, Technology, Author, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Futurism, Family & Parenting, Inspirational, Motivational, Business, Education, Leadership and Strategic Leadership.
Where does B. Gentry Lee travel from?
B. Gentry Lee generally travels from Pasadena, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for B. Gentry Lee?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like B. Gentry Lee for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book B. Gentry Lee for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host B. Gentry Lee or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
B. Gentry Lee is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Fiction Authors, Non-Fiction Authors and Science. The estimated speaking fee range to book B. Gentry Lee for live events is $10,000 - $20,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. B. Gentry Lee generally travels from Pasadena, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Robert Cialdini, Daniel Burrus and Jon Bergmann. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling B. Gentry Lee for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
B. Gentry Lee Speaking Topics
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Extraterrestrials in Fact & Fiction
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The Power & Wonder of Science in Education
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Mars Exploration
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Balancing Innovation & Risk in Applying New Technology
The twin Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) landed successfully using airbags on the surface of the red planet in January 2004 after decelerating from over 10,000 mph to 20 mph in just six minutes. Their sister mission, Phoenix, landed gently on three legs in the Martian arctic in May 2008. In the summer of 2005, the Deep Impact robotic spacecraft smashed into the comet Tempel 1 traveling at a closing velocity of over 25,000 mph, while another, parent spacecraft photographed the collision. Space missions like these are enormous engineering challenges and require the use of innovative new technology to be successful. However, using new technology has formidable risks. Balancing the advantages of innovation against its inherent risks is one of the most critical of all design processes. Achieving that balance requires a careful understanding of "what bad things might happen" and a systematic approach to mitigating those risks throughout the life cycle of a product or a project.
-
Balancing Innovation & Risk in Engineering Design
Global competition and intense marketplace pressure have combined to increase the demand for more and more innovation in new designs. But innovation is always accompanied by risk – risk that the design will not meet its technical objectives and/or will significantly overrun its target cost and schedule. Over several decades the American robotic planetary exploration program has evolved techniques for tracking and assessing the risks associated with engineering innovation. Using the Mars exploration program as the example case study, and highlighting both the successes and failures of the program, this talk will examine the balance between innovation and risk in engineering design.
BOOKS
FAQS
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How do I book B. Gentry Lee to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like B. Gentry Lee for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for B. Gentry Lee, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for B. Gentry Lee or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book B. Gentry Lee for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for B. Gentry Lee, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire B. Gentry Lee, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does B. Gentry Lee speak about?
B. Gentry Lee is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Fiction Authors, Non-Fiction Authors, Science, Space, Technology, Author, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Futurism, Family & Parenting, Inspirational, Motivational, Business, Education, Leadership and Strategic Leadership. -
Where does B. Gentry Lee travel from?
B. Gentry Lee generally travels from Pasadena, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for B. Gentry Lee?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like B. Gentry Lee for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book B. Gentry Lee for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host B. Gentry Lee or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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