Dr. Rodrigo Leonardi
Senior Staff
Brazilian Space Agency
Dr. Rodrigo Leonardi is the Coordinator for Satellites and Applications at the Brazilian Space Agency. Dr. Leonardi holds a PhD in Astrophysics (2006) from the Brazilian Institute for Space Research and a BS degree (1999) in Mathematics from the University of Brasília. He joined the Brazilian Space Agency in 2017, and coordinates a portfolio of projects and initiatives to promote space related systems, science and technology. Leonardi directly contributed to the elaboration of the current edition of the Brazilian National Space Activities Program 2022-2031. His past experience includes a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2007-2009) position at the University of California at Santa Barbara, USA; working as a scientist at the European Space Agency (2009-2015); and working at CGEE, a think tank center for strategic studies in technology and innovation, where he conducted prospective studies for the Brazilian space sector. At ESA, he gained experience with science operations, as well as working with a large number of scientists spread geographically. More specifically, he worked as the Community Support Scientist for the Planck mission. In 2015, Leonardi returned to Brazil and worked at CGEE, a think tank center for strategic studies in technology and innovation, where he conducted prospective studies for the Brazilian space sector. At the Brazilian Space Agency, he gained work experience regarding international space cooperation, industrial relation, education, and investments, providing him with an understanding of different space ecosystems, as well as approaches and difficulties in the space sector. He co-authored 159 papers in peer reviewed scientific journals.