Alumni

Alumnus Believes Computer Science Can Help Students Fly

David Kao
B.S., Computer Science
Class of 1991

From studying in Las Vegas to working for the government, computer science alumnus David Kao, class of 1991, says he has always been attracted to a challenge. After graduating from the University of Nevada with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, Kao became deeply involved in the Computer Aided Geometric Design (CAGD) program at ASU, which was new at the time. Led by computer science emeritus professor Robert Barnhill, Kao says he feels very fortunate to have been part of the “excitement that the new program created.” He also remains deeply grateful for his position as a research assistant (RA) in computer science. “As a RA, I valued the opportunity to work with my adviser and several other professors closely. I also valued the lessons that I’ve gained from them,” he says, recalling the ways in which his time at ASU contributed to his current position at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

“NASA is a great place to work,” he says. “I get the opportunity to work with many scientists from several disciplines. I collaborate with these scientists to create applications for scientific visualization in disciplines from earth science, astrobiology, aeronautics, biology and many others fields.” Kao has also developed several software tools at the NASA Ames Research Center, including the Unsteady Flow Analysis Toolkit (UFAT), for which he received a NASA Space Act Award. Since the computer program’s inception, the UFAT has enabled scientists to analyze high-fidelity, time-dependent simulations for space shuttles, military and commercial aircraft, as well as artificial heart devices. Prior to the UFAT’s development, scientists had to wait weeks to analyze the results of such large-scale unsteady-flow simulations. Now, results appear in hours.

In addition, Kao graduated from a one-year Leadership Development Program for future NASA leaders. The selection process for the program was highly competitive, and since that training three years ago, Kao has worked in NASA’s Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) division. His position enables him to collaborate with aeronautic scientists to develop visualization applications for large-scale rotorcraft simulations. Kao explains that he’s “always been inspired by the fascinating things that NASA does and has learned of how NASA developed technologies that have improved the lives of millions of people around the world.”

Considering how much new technology infuses the lives of what Kao calls the current “e-based generation,” Kao says he supports the idea of a strong computer science background. “Most importantly, it is about how you apply your computer science skills to solve problems from other domains,” he says. His advice to students is to treat studying like a full-time job. He also suggests staying in touch with people who can be of assistance both personally and professionally.

“Learn about the challenging problems in other areas besides your field,” he encourages. “There could be other new leads of employment that you may have never thought of.” He also recommends attending various professional and academic conferences and volunteering at them. As Kao’s own history demonstrates, the results can be out of this world.