Leon Chen is an engineer, NASA-certified console operator, system manager, visionary architect, researcher, advanced technology advocate, and a leader within the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) community.

Leon began his ECLSS journey after serving as a systems engineer in the U.S. Air Force. At NASA/Boeing, he took on pivotal roles as an ECLS system engineer, developing and investigating hardware solutions under tight timelines to support on-orbit operations. Beyond hardware management, Leon also served as the International Space Station (ISS) ECLSS Mission Evaluation Room Life Integration Specialist (MERLIN) console team lead, overseeing ECLSS-related on-orbit operations — contributions that earned multiple NASA Group Achievement Awards. Leon continued to make a significant impact at SpaceX, where he contributed to the development of life support systems for Crew Dragon and Starship. He currently serves as the NASA ISS/Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program(CLDP) ECLS Subsystem Manager, leading efforts to sustain and advance ECLSS capabilities for the ISS while overseeing/guiding the development of next-generation life support systems for future commercial space stations.

Leon also serves as Section Chair for session 301: Advanced Life Support Systems Control and session 506: Human Exploration Beyond Low Earth Orbit at the International Conference of Environmental Systems (ICES) since 2023. In this capacity, he advocates for ECLSS advancements and fosters collaboration within the aerospace community, helping shape industry standards and promote innovative solutions through organizing sessions, presenting papers, and sharing best practices.

Leon’s numerous accolades, including multiple NASA-JSC Group Achievement Awards, recognition as a Global Young Scientist Summit 2022 Fellow, Georgia Tech’s 40 Under 40, and a NASA Stellar Award nomination, underscore his dedication and leadership. His career exemplifies a commitment not only to overcoming current challenges in space exploration but also to inspiring the next generation to push boundaries even further.

Leon is deeply passionate about promoting STEM education and enjoys mentoring students and young professionals, encouraging them to explore careers in aerospace, systems engineering, and beyond. He actively participates in outreach events, public lectures, and mentorship programs, sharing his experience to ignite curiosity and foster a love for science and engineering in future innovators.

Outside of work, he is passionate about adventure and exploration — from snowboarding and scuba diving to hiking and skydiving