Dr. Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu is a Ghanaian robotics engineer at NASA, where he has served as the chief engineer and technical group leader for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), since joining in 1999. He is the brain behind various NASA Mars missions. He was the lead engineer for the InSight Mission, the first deep interior mission on Mars, launched on May 5th, 2018.
Early Life and Education
Trebi-Ollennu was born in Accra, Ghana. His father was an economist at the Ministry of Finance in Accra. Living near an airport, he was captivated by the sight of airplanes flying overhead which sparked his interest in space exploration and robots. He attended Garrison Primary School in Burma Camp and then went on to Ghana Secondary Technical School in Takoradi.
He traveled to the United Kingdom, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Avionic Engineering in 1991 from Queen Mary University of London. He continued his education at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Royal Military College of Science, and Cranfield University in 1996, receiving a Ph.D. in Control Systems Engineering. He also holds a project management certification from the California Institute of Technology, earned in 2007.
Career and Achievements
Trebi-Ollennu joined the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1999 and rose through the ranks to become the leader of the team that designed the Mars Rover robot that landed on the red planet.
In 2018, Trebi-Ollennu and his team built a robotic arm for the Insight Mission which would go where no human has ever gone before, exploring the frozen water of Mar and uncovering how planets form. His past projects on Mars include the Phoenix Mars Exploration Rover in 2003, which resulted in the discovery of water on Mars.
In 2007, he worked on the Mars Lander, earning the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal. He was also involved in the 2011 Mars Science Laboratory and the InSight Mars Lander project in 2016. His current research at Jet Propulsion Laboratory focuses on Planetary Rovers, Multiple Mobile Robots, Reconfigurable Robots, and Man-machine Interaction. Dr. Trebi-Ollennu’s research has resulted in more than 95 publications.
Ghana Robotics Academy Foundation
In 2011, Trebi-Ollennu founded the Ghana Robotics Academy Foundation. A nonprofit volunteer organization with the vision of inspiring young Ghanaians who have an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The mission is to pioneer science education through administering hands-on robotics workshops and competitions throughout Ghana for Junior Secondary Schools, Senior Secondary Schools, and Colleges with the mission to inspire and unlock creativity, innovation, and passion for science and technology for young Ghanaians. His organization is dedicated to organizing yearly robotics workshops and science clubs in both public and private schools, aiming to develop science and technology skills while nurturing well-rounded leadership qualities such as self-confidence, emotional intelligence, communication, and stewardship.
His foundation has won numerous awards, including the Google RISE Award 2013.
Honors and Awards
Dr. Trebi-Ollennu is a highly accomplished engineer who has made significant advancements in science, engineering, and technology.
His contributions have earned him numerous prestigious awards including the 2008 NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal for his contributions to the Mars Exploration Rover mission, the 2007 Outstanding Engineer Award from The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Region 6, the 2007 Sir Monty Finniston Achievement Medal from Institution of Engineering and Technology, U.K., the 2010 Specialist Silver Award from the Royal Aeronautical Society, U.K. and The 21st Century Trailblazer Award in Systems Engineering from the U.S.A. National Society of Black Engineers and many more.
Trebi-Ollennu is a Fellow of both the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Royal Aeronautical Society in the UK. He is also a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest technical professional organization committed to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. He is also a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Conclusion
Idowu Koyenikan once said, “Show me the heroes that the youth of your country look up to, and I will tell you the future of your country.”
The influence of role models in shaping the next generation cannot be overstated. Dr. Trebi-Ollennu, along with many others, has demonstrated that Black excellence knows no bounds and is capable of reaching incredible heights.
