TIME100 AI 2026 · Thinkers
Newton Campbell Jr.
Senior AI Researcher, NASA OCIO & Board Member, The Planetary Society
A senior AI researcher for NASA's chief information office who also sits on the board of directors of The Planetary Society.
- Born
- Not published
- Now
- Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University
- Studied
- Nova Southeastern University, James Madison University, University at Buffalo
Interesting facts
- Before AI
Spent about a decade on DARPA research programs as a lead on internet privacy and cyber-physical security before moving to space work.
planetary.org - First
As AROSE's first director of space programs he oversaw design of Australia's first lunar rover, nicknamed the Roo-ver.
atlanticcouncil.org - Connection
Joined The Planetary Society as an ordinary member in 2014 and was elected to its board a decade later.
planetary.org - Side project
Helps NASA work on food production systems for long missions to the Moon and Mars.
time.com - Numbers
Won a DARPA Rising Star Award in 2015, Black Engineer of the Year in 2019 and a NASA Space Tech Catalyst Prize in 2024.
atlanticcouncil.org
Career
- Georgetown UniversityAdjunct Professor2026 to now
- UNSWSenior Adjunct Lecturer2024 to now
- Heritage Space FoodDirector of Science and Technology2024 to now
- AROSEDirector of Space Programs2022–2024
- Everything Lives LLCCEO and Principal Consultantfrom 2021
- SAICSenior Principal Solutions Architect2018–2022
- a.i. solutionsSenior Software Engineer2017–2018
- CheggTutor2014–2018
- Raytheon BBN TechnologiesScientist2009–2017
Education
- PhD, Computer science, Nova Southeastern University, 2016
- MS, Computer science, James Madison University, 2010
- BS, Computer science and mathematics, University at Buffalo, 2008
Sources1linkedin.com