Theresa E. Bender, Ph.D.

Theresa E. Bender is an aerospace engineer specializing in space mission design, trajectory optimization, and commercial space initiatives. She joined MITRE in 2024 through the National Security Accelerator Program, where she has contributed to projects spanning the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and commercial space sectors. Her work includes assessing the xGEO regime to inform test and evaluation needs; modeling and analyzing satellite orbital patterns of life; exploring the implementation of cislunar position, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities; and supporting the Traffic Coordination System for Space. 

Prior to joining MITRE, Bender earned her Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech. Her doctoral research focused on enhancing methodologies for integrating trajectory optimization into conceptual space mission design, with a particular emphasis on cislunar applications. She also conducted research in satellite constellation design and space habitat sizing, utilizing advanced design space exploration techniques.

During her academic career, Bender gained valuable experience at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where she performed PNT analysis for the Lunar Communications Relay and Navigation Systems in support of the Artemis missions. She also interned at NASA Johnson Space Center, developing abort trajectories for the Orion spacecraft for Artemis III.

Theresa holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, with a minor in electrical and computer engineering. As an undergraduate, she was selected for the NASA Academy at Langley Research Center (LaRC), an intensive research program for emerging leaders in aerospace. She also interned in the Space Mission Analysis Branch at LaRC, contributing to Mars surface architecture design, and at NASA Ames, where she played a key role in developing imagery and communications systems for the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System launched in 2024.