Ken Williford

Ken Williford is a seasoned scientist with extensive experience in planetary science and astrobiology. Currently serving as a Scientist at the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science since January 2021, Ken has contributed to surface operations for the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. As a Co-Investigator for NASA's Mars 2020 SHERLOC investigation, Ken is involved in advanced scientific research. Prior roles include Deputy Project Scientist for the Mars 2020 mission at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where Ken led scientific strategies from mission development to surface operations and sample collection, and Founding Director of the JPL Astrobiogeochemistry Laboratory. Ken's educational background includes a PhD in Earth and Space Sciences from the University of Washington, complemented by a recent Professional Certificate in Data Science and Analytics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.