Craft 2025 - Kenneth Harris
Kenneth Harris
Senior Project Engineer / Former Rocket Scientist
About Kenneth Harris

Dr. Kenneth F. Harris II is a former NASA Rocket Scientist, education leader, and globally recognized keynote speaker who has inspired audiences in over seven countries. With a 17-year STEM career that began at age 16, Dr. Harris blends deep technical expertise with strategic leadership—having served both in high-stakes aerospace roles and as Vice Chair of the Prince George’s County Board of Education, one of the largest school districts in the U.S.

As a Senior Project Engineer at The Aerospace Corporation, he advises on critical missions for NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense, focused on defending satellites from physical and cyber threats. Earlier in his career, he made history as one of the youngest African Americans to lead a major spacecraft integration on the James Webb Space Telescope.

A powerful communicator and advocate for equity and innovation, Dr. Harris has been featured by Forbes, PBS Nova, and The Smithsonian, and has led global initiatives impacting over 1,600 students across five continents. Whether speaking to engineers, educators, executives, or students, Dr. Harris brings unmatched energy, insight, and inspiration to every stage.

Talk
A 13 Billion Year Old Photograph
Level: Beginner+
In schedule:
Main stage
May 29, 14:00 - 14:45 CET

Over thirteen billion years of cosmic history lie etched in the light that travels across the universe. Join Dr. Kenneth Harris, former rocket scientist and integration engineer to learn about the next generation technology developed for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as humanity's most advanced tool for decoding this ancient story—revealing planets, star systems, and the violent birth and ...