Biography

Hunter A. Danque, Ph.D., is a geophysicist with a strong interest in space resource exploration and over 18 years of experience in geospatial analysis, geoscience research, and resource evaluation. He currently supports lunar exploration efforts as part of NASA’s Artemis program, focusing on landing site analysis and characterization. Hunter holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Space Resources from the Colorado School of Mines, where his research examined lunar polar volatiles in Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs) and modeled regolith thickness. He also earned an M.S. and B.S. in Geoscience from the University of Texas at Austin, where he developed a foundation in field-based research, Antarctic glaciology and aerogeophysics, and identified locations for potential Martian analog environments. As part of a Colorado School of Mines team, he contributed to a second-place finish in NASA’s 2021 Break the Ice Lunar Challenge, which focused on innovative approaches to lunar excavation and resource extraction. He has contributed to both academic and applied research, authoring several publications on lunar and terrestrial geophysics. His background includes fieldwork in Antarctica, participation in NASA’s Planetary Science Summer School, numerous marine surveys, and contributions to planetary cartography and mission planning.

Before transitioning to space science, Hunter spent over a decade in the energy industry, where he developed expertise in seismic interpretation, marine geohazard analysis, and probabilistic resource assessment. In addition to his technical work, he has led volunteer teams with Habitat for Humanity to build six homes in Montgomery County Texas. Hunter brings a multidisciplinary perspective to planetary exploration, grounded in practical field experience and a long-standing curiosity about the Moon and beyond.