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Jason Derleth

Founder & CEO, Weatherwave Space, Inc.

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Jason Derleth is an aerospace architect, technologist, and strategic leader with more than two decades of experience shaping NASA’s most forward-looking missions and technology portfolios. His career spans mission systems engineering, national-level architecture studies, organizational strategy, and the stewardship of breakthrough aerospace concepts.

NASA Career

Jason began his career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he served as Deputy Mission Systems Engineer during the early formulation of the Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) rover. He developed modeling and optimization tools that were adopted widely across the project.

He later contributed to the Exploration Systems Architecture Study (ESAS) and conducted analysis for the Administrator’s office, influencing NASA’s human-spaceflight technology portfolio and long-term lunar return strategy. His astronaut-corps strategic workforce study directly informed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) decisions regarding astronaut class selection.

NIAC Leadership

Jason spent more than a decade as Program Manager and then Program Executive for the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program—the U.S. government’s premier incubator for breakthrough aerospace technologies. Under his leadership, NIAC grew in scale, rigor, and national impact, launching new companies, accelerating key mission technologies, and inspiring multiple DoD and commercial programs.

Astrophysics & Technology Strategy

As Chief Technologist for the Physics of the Cosmos and Cosmic Origins programs at NASA Goddard, Jason co-architected the early technology strategy for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), NASA’s next flagship astrophysics mission.

Awards & Recognition

  • NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal
  • Space Flight Awareness Honoree Award
  • Influential Leaders Award
  • Multiple NASA Group Achievement and Special Act Awards
  • NIAC “Captured Lightning” Award

Education

Jason holds a master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT and a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy & the History of Math and Science from St. John’s College.