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John Christian is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Graduate Programs at the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is known for his contributions in developing algorithms that extract information from space sensor data, particularly using visible and infrared space imagery. His work has been incorporated into numerous space exploration missions. Before joining Georgia Tech, Christian held academic positions at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as an Associate Professor from 2020 to 2021 and as an Assistant Professor from 2017 to 2019. He was also an Assistant Professor at West Virginia University from 2013 to 2017. In addition, he served as a Summer Faculty Fellow at the Air Force Research Laboratory in 2021. Prior to his academic career, Christian was an engineer in the GNC Autonomous Flight Systems Branch at NASA Johnson Space Center from 2010 to 2012. He is active in various professional societies, including the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) where he is an Associate Fellow and associate editor of the AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. He is also a member of the American Astronautical Society (AAS) and serves as an associate editor for the AAS Journal of Astronautical Sciences. Christian holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, as well as both a B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech.
Georgia Institute of Technology • Atlanta, GA, US
Associate Chair of Graduate Programs, developing algorithms for extraction of information from space sensor data.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute • Troy, NY, US
Taught various courses and conducted research in Aerospace Engineering.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute • Troy, NY, US
Engaged in academic teaching and research responsibilities.
West Virginia University • Morgantown, WV, US
Focused on teaching and research activities in Aerospace Engineering.
NASA Johnson Space Center • Houston, TX, US
Worked in the GNC Autonomous Flight Systems Branch.
Department of Computer Science: GRE scores are optional for Fall 2026.