Chief Orbital Scientist and Ansys Fellow, Ansys Government Initiatives (AGI)
B.S. ASE 1986, The Pennsylvania State University
M.S. ASE 1989, The University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D. ASE 1994, The University of Texas at Austin
Jim Woodburn is the chief orbital scientist at Ansys Government Initiatives (AGI) and an Ansys fellow. He is the technical lead of the Orbit Determination Tool Kit (ODTK) development team where he is responsible for product direction, algorithm development and software implementation. His research interests include advanced methods of sequential estimation, all forms of observation modeling and uncertainty analysis.
Woodburn received his B.S. degree in aerospace engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and his M.S. degree and Ph.D. degrees in aerospace engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.
He began his profession career at the General Electric Company in Springfield, VA in 1986 as a member of the Edison Engineering Program. After working on rotational assignments in orbit determination research, spacecraft operations and software development, Woodburn enrolled in graduate school at UT Austin. He returned to GE after completing his master of science degree as a software engineer. Jim returned to UT for his Ph.D. in 1991 and assumed his role as chief orbital scientist at Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI) upon graduation. At AGI, he was the lead astrodynamics developer for AGI’s flagship product, Systems Tool Kit (STK), formerly named Satellite Tool Kit, for nine years prior to becoming the lead developer for the Orbit Determination Tool Kit (ODTK) in 2003.
While at AGI, Woodburn has been a co-inventor on three patents which cover innovations in the areas of satellite visibility analysis, satellite conjunction assessment and orbit determination. He was the original author of many foundational capabilities within STK, which was elected for induction into the Space Foundation’s Space Technology Hall of Fame in 2024. Woodburn has been honored to provide direct to support numerous space missions using AGI software including TDRS, IBEX, Beresheet, LADEE and Astrobotic PM1. He has more than 50 publications in refereed journals and conference proceedings.
Woodburn serves on the Penn State Aerospace Engineering Department Industrial Professional Advisory Committee, formerly served on the American Astronautical Society Technical Committee, and was a member of the Peer Review Board for the LADEE lunar mission. He was named an Ansys fellow, a gated designation requiring election by the senior technical staff in 2023. While at UT, Jim participated in the sailing club and was a member of The University of Texas men’s club volleyball team.
Woodburn lives in Ardmore, PA with his wife Joyce and their son, Michael, who is studying biomedical engineering at Drexel University.
