Joe Blahovec

Joe joined the EROS team in July 2020 and served as the New Missions Branch Chief until August 2022.  During his time in the New Missions Branch, Landsat 9 and the Landsat Multi-satellite Operations Center completed development and entered operations.  In August 2022, he assumed command of the Satellite & Ground Systems Operations Branch. 

Prior to working at EROS, Joe served in the US Air Force (USAF), both as active duty and as a civilian.  During his tour of duty at the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), he managed the development, maintenance, and application of a parallel particle-in-cell (PIC) code used for modeling and simulation of high-power microwave devices.  Following AFRL, he worked at the National Air & Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) managing the efforts of scientists, engineers, and intelligence specialists to analyze ground and airborne radars.  After NASIC, Joe managed research and development projects for technical collection systems for the Applied Research & Development Division.  During his most recent USAF position prior to working at EROS, Joe served as NASIC’s Technical Advisor to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) in Denver, CO, where he was embedded with NGA and created a collaborative relationship between the two agencies.  While in Denver, he assisted with the creation of a new processing and exploitation center for the Air Force to leverage available remote sensing data.  He provided continuity and community out-reach for the new center through multiple military leadership changes.  As an additional duty, he served as the Air Force Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Working Group’s (AFOWG) Staff Director. The AFOWG is responsible for aligning and deconflicting Air Force OPIR research & development and exploitation efforts.