Alan N. Downey is a research engineer in the Communications Division at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field in Cleveland, Ohio. His research interests include the development and characterization of microwave and millimeter-wave-printed transmission lines and passive circuits, microwave packaging, and the use of advanced solid-state devices for aerospace applications in extreme environments.

Mr. Downey received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Cleveland State University in 1979, and his master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Toledo in 1983. He joined NASA Glenn Research Center in 1977 as a co-op student. In 1979 he joined the Communications Technology Division.