Juan Rivera is the Mission 1 Technology Director for the Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems Sector.  In this role, he is responsible for defining and developing electronic and payload space technologies for ISR programs.  In addition, he works closely with the ISR community to define future requirements and technologies that will satisfy emerging needs.   

Juan Rivera was born and raised in El Paso, Texas.  In 1975, he graduated from The University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.  After working on the F-111 and F-16 jet fighters at General Dynamics Corporation, he enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin to pursue a graduate engineering degree.  Dr. Rivera was awarded a PhD degree in 1982 and began employment with Northrop Grumman Corporation in Redondo Beach.

Prior to his current assignment, Dr. Rivera was Department Manager in the Antenna Products Organization. He has served as Integrated Product Team manager for several ISR programs and as IR&D Principal Investigator for various antenna technologies.  He is a contributing author in “Infrared and Millimeter  Waves”, has 5 technical publications and holds 2 patents.  He is also a certified green belt in Six Sigma.

Juan Rivera lives in Torrance, California with his wife and two sons. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and in 2003, he was recognized for Professional Achievement by the Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Conference.   He has volunteered as assistant youth basketball coach, science text book advisor for the Torrance Public Schools, summer counselor in the Sierra Service Project and participated in HENAAC’s College Bowl.