Robert PearceBob is the Deputy Director of the FAA-led Next Generation Air Transportation System Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO). For the past three years, Mr. Pearce has been in a leadership position of the JPDO, at one time serving eight months as the Acting Director. This unique, interagency office is tasked with developing and implementing a national plan to transform the air transportation system to meet the long-term transportation needs of the nation. The JPDO reports through the FAA Administrator to the Senior Policy Committee, chaired by the Secretary of Transportation. Previously, Bob was in charge of strategy and program development for NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. Bob led the Directorate’s strategic management efforts, developing the overall direction for the total program, including investment strategy and the technical development of responsive programs. Bob was a leader in transforming NASA’s Aeronautics strategy, increasing Directorate investment and developing program strategies in critical areas such as aviation safety, aviation system capacity, and small aircraft transportation. Bob previously held program management positions within NASA, primarily focused on high-performance aircraft systems and experimental flight research. Bob began his career as a design engineer at the Grumman Corporation, working on such notable projects as the F-14 and X-29 aircraft as well as other advanced military aircraft and concepts. He has experience in every aspect of aircraft development, from preliminary design through flight test. Bob also has previous experience with the Department of Transportation examining the technology, policy and economic issues associated with new technologies for short-haul inter-city transportation. This included examining the viability of commercial versions of tiltrotor aircraft. Bob holds a BS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Syracuse University and an MS in Technology and Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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