Jill Tarter

Jill Cornell Tarter (born January 16, 1944) is an American astronomer renowned for pioneering the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). She earned a B.E. Physics from Cornell University and M.S./Ph.D. in Astronomy from UC Berkeley. Inspired by NASA's Project Cyclops report, she joined SETI efforts, co-founding the SETI Institute in 1983 and serving as project scientist for NASA's High Resolution Microwave Survey (1992-1993). After Congress terminated funding in 1993, Tarter led Project Phoenix (1993-1999) with private funds and spearheaded the Allen Telescope Array. Former director of the Center for SETI Research, she retired in 2012 but remains Chair Emeritus. Tarter inspired Ellie Arroway in Carl Sagan's 'Contact.' No direct involvement in UAP/UFO military programs; her work focuses on radio searches for extraterrestrial signals. Key awards: Lifetime Achievement from Women in Aerospace, two NASA Public Service Medals.