Martin Greco

System Engineer and Lead Designer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

B.S. Aerospace Engineering (2000)

Came to Cal Poly Pomona in 1990 as a first generation college student with an interest in aerospace technology and the aircraft industry. He worked his way through college and graduated in 2000. He received CPP’s Aerospace department Outstanding Junior award during his junior year.
As a flight System Engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge, he designed and tested the cruise system required for the two 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers (MER), Spirit and Opportunity, during their six-month journey to Mars. The cruise system operated the vehicle from launch to landing. He also worked on the sequence of events to transform the landed system to a functioning rover on the surface of Mars.
Received NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal for his work on the MER project.
Following the successful landing of the MER Rovers he began designing the next generation of Mars rover.
Ten years later, in August 2013, he was a lead designer for the Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) team of the Mars Science Laboratory’s rover, Curiosity. As the EDL activity lead, he worked with a core team of about 30 engineers to plan, design, test, and monitor the spacecraft’s seven-minute hurtling descent toward the Martian surface.
Spoke at Cal Poly Pomona for the fall 2012 Professional Mentor Meeting hosted by TRIO Student Support Services part of CRSP, a group that serves students who are low-income, first-generation college students and/or students with disabilities.

Notable CSU Alumni in science & technology