John Brandenburg

Dr. John E. Brandenburg is a plasma physicist and Chief Science Officer at Kepler Aerospace, where he also leads the company’s Astronautics Division. He holds a B.A. in physics from Southern Oregon University and both an M.S. in applied science and a Ph.D. in theoretical plasma physics from the University of California, Davis, with research focused on magnetic confinement for nuclear fusion. He has worked at a range of research institutions and companies, including Sandia National Laboratories, the Aerospace Corporation and the Florida Space Institute, with research spanning plasma propulsion, rocket technology and space science. Brandenburg has also taught physics, astronomy and mathematics at the college level and is an author of technical publications and patents related to plasma physics and propulsion systems.