JPL workers give retiring director Charles Elachi a heartfelt farewell

Employees at La Cañada’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory gave a campuswide send-off Wednesday to outgoing Director Charles Elachi, who will retire at the end of the month after 45 years with NASA.

Since coming to JPL in 1970, Elachi has been an active researcher and science investigator on several space exploration missions and projects, authoring more than 230 publications in the fields of active microwave remote sensing and electromagnetic theory.

In an email to employees sent after the announcement of his retirement, he reflected on his past 15 years as director and some exciting projects on the horizon.

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Jet Propulsion Laboratory director Charles Elachi bids goodbye with a kiss and some tears to hundreds of JPL employees gathered for his retirement celebration at JPL in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Elachi spent 15years and 1 month working as director at JPL.  (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Jet Propulsion Laboratory director Charles Elachi speaks to hundreds of JPL employees gathered for his retirement celebration at JPL in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Elachi spent 15years and 1 month working as director at JPL.  (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Jet Propulsion Laboratory director Charles Elachi poses with a small Mars rover replica at his retirement celebration at JPL in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Elachi spent 15years and 1 month working as director at JPL.  (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Jet Propulsion Laboratory business administrator for division 39 Priscilla Lunn, right, takes a selfie with JPL director Charles Elachi after his retirement celebration at JPL in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Elachi spent 15years and 1 month working as director at JPL.  (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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La Cañada Flintridge mayor Jonathan C. Curtis speaks at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory director Charles Elachi’s retirement celebration at JPL in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Elachi spent 15years and 1 month working as director at JPL.  (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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A large crowd gathered at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for director Charles Elachi’s retirement celebration at JPL in La Cañada Flintridge on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Elachi spent 15years and 1 month working as director at JPL.  (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

“Flagship missions such as Mars 2020 and the Europa mission, plus the Asteroid Redirect Mission, additional Earth missions including Jason 3 and the GRACE follow-on and a number of smaller missions are examples of the tremendous opportunities we have to continue our tradition of exploration and discovery,” he said.

As professor emeritus, Elachi will be able to pursue research interests and participate as a science investigator on future missions, while continuing to advocate for a strong space science and exploration program.

Michael M. Watkins, director of the Center for Space Research at the University of Texas at Austin, will formally replace Elachi as JPL director and Caltech vice president beginning July 1.

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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine