Earlier this year, Leidos announced that Dr. Miguel Román had joined the company as senior director and chief scientist of climate and environment. In this role, Román is responsible for planning, leading, directing, and growing Leidos’ climate-related science, technology and infrastructure programs.
Román comes to Leidos from NASA. Since 2014, he has led a group of investigators and technical staff in generating long-term climate data records from polar-orbiting satellites. The products are generated from two of the largest satellite systems operated by NASA and NOAA to monitor our planet’s vital signs. (Photo by Wachacups – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=124396606)
In 2022, Román was named the team leader of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) science team for NASA’s Terra and Aqua missions.
As a leading researcher in the field of Satellite Remote Sensing, Román has championed translational research, sustainability science, and data-intensive approaches to address climate-related risks. These efforts have improved disaster resilience and reduced the disproportionate risks experienced by socially-vulnerable and underserved communities.
“We are thrilled Miguel is joining the Leidos team,” said Eric Freeman, Leidos senior vice president and integrated missions operation manager in a statement. “His extensive knowledge and experience in climate-related issues make him a strong asset as we continue to strengthen our climate and environmental science business. At Leidos, we are committed to practicing and promoting sustainable development and environmental stewardship, and we’re excited to utilize Miguel’s expertise to help serve our customers and their missions.”
As Leidos’ new Chief Climate Scientist, Román manages a broad range of capabilities across the earth sciences, as well as the company’s infrastructure sector. He leads research, development, and growth in areas including climate-sensitive water and agriculture, renewable energy, disaster resilience, and sustainable urban infrastructure.
Román is a native of San Juan Puerto Rico. He was recognized by President Barack Obama in 2016 with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). He is also a 2014 Service to America Medal “Sammies” finalist, one of the highest honors for federal civil servants.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, a master’s degree in systems engineering from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. in geography from Boston University. Román has served in leadership, organizational management, and technical capacities across the federal government, academic and nonprofit sectors.
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