Michael Krainak

Michael Krainak has a diverse and extensive work experience. Michael started their career in 1979 as a Field Service Engineer at AT&T Western Electric. Michael then worked as a Technical Staff member at the NSA's Computer Research Group from 1986 to 1987. From 1981 to 1990, they worked at the National Security Agency, where they had a Top Secret Sensitive-Compartmented-Information (SCI) clearance. Michael was selected for the elite NSA Engineering Intern Program, which allowed him to rotate through three organizations before choosing their ultimate work organization.

In 1990, Krainak joined NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as a Section Head. Michael held this position until 2000 when they moved to Quantum Photonics, Inc. and became the Head of the Reliability and Test Group. At Quantum Photonics, they managed all aspects of the department, including planning facilities, capital equipment, budget, schedule, and personnel. Michael was responsible for the design, implementation, and operation of manufacturing production lines for electro-optic products.

Krainak returned to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in 2002 and served as a Technical Staff member until 2005. During this time, they also became the Branch Head for the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESAT) Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) Instrument. Michael successfully delivered space flight hardware to the ICESAT/GLAS project and conducted research and development on the cloud lidar subsystem for the ICESAT GLAS instrument.

Since September 2019, Krainak has been working as the Chief Technology Officer at Relative Dynamics Inc.

Michael Krainak completed their Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from The Catholic University of America from 1976 to 1979. Michael then pursued a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University from 1981 to 1984. Lastly, they obtained their Ph.D in Electrical Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University from 1985 to 1989.