Mr. David Barnhart

David Barnhart is a Research Professor in the Department of Astronautical Engineering at University of Southern California (USC), the Director/Co- Founder of the USC Space Engineering Research Center, and the Director of Space Systems and Technology Division at USC/ISI. At USC he specializes in developing innovative technologies and architectures for 2nd generation space morphologies, satellite robotics and inspiration-based engineering techniques through hands-on projects with students, faculty and staff amongst the various Schools at USC. David was most recently a senior space Project Manager at DARPA, pioneering cellular spacecraft morphologies, satbotics and space robotics on the Phoenix and SeeMe projects, and represented the first DARPA space project presented at the United Nations COPUOS in Vienna Austria. He also leads ISI’s Space Systems and Technology group, which combines disruptive research with a hands-on, small-satellite design and launch program for USC Viterbi students. Barnhart’s specialties include second-generation space morphology design, robotics applied to and with satellites, and application-based engineering capabilities. He is the founder of Space Engineering Research Center (SERC) and current director who recently returned to ISI from DARPA, where he was a senior space project manager. Before USC he helped found and lead two space companies, Millennium Space Systems and Germany-based Vanguard Space.