Manila: Malaca±ang has named Dr. Gay Jane Perez as officer-in-charge of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) following the resignation of Director General Joel Marciano Jr. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed to reporters Perez’s designation on Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Perez has served as PhilSA’s deputy director general for space science and technology since 2021. She earned her Ph.D. in Physics from the University of the Philippines-Diliman and completed her postdoctoral research at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, where she specialized in remote sensing and satellite data applications.

Perez is recognized for her work using satellite data to forecast droughts and boost agricultural productivity, becoming the first Filipino recipient of the ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women. She was also named one of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) in 2019 and was recognized as an Outstanding Young Scientist by the National Academy of Science and Technology in 2021.

At PhilSA, Perez led the team behind Diwata-1 and Diwata-2, the country’s first microsatellites. Marciano, who headed the country’s space program for five years, stepped down in September to return to the University of the Philippines.