Alejandro de le Puente

Alejandro de la Puente serves as director of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) and Sigma Pi Sigma, the physics honor society. Alejandro is also the American Institute of Physics (AIP) Student Engagement Officer. In these roles, Alejandro supports students in the physical sciences and astronomy throughout each of their unique journeys and works to ensure student voices help shape the future of the physical sciences and astronomy, within higher education, the workforce, and in society.

Before joining AIP and SPS Alejandro delivered analysis and decision support as an Operations Research Analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation. He also led his organization’s summer internship program to expand and strengthen the pipeline of analysts for the Department of Defense and in the public sector. In this capacity, Alejandro developed curriculum to support students in different stages of their academic careers. Lastly, Alejandro led critical digital transformation and process improvement initiatives to catalyze optimal workflows to better support the missions of the program evaluation and cost assessment communities in the Department of Defense.

In close to 5 years in the Department of Defense, Alejandro developed data and analytic strategies for the Office of Personnel and Readiness and introduced new assessment processes that have been implemented within program evaluation and budget processes in the Department of Defense.

Previously, Alejandro served as Associate Director of Science Alliance at the New York Academy of Sciences. In this role, he developed and delivered career development programs and opportunities for graduate students and early career professionals. During his tenure, Alejandro delivered a one of its kind leadership development program for graduate students in the NYC metro area. This training allowed students to experience the transformative power of leading from your own uniqueness and strength.

After spending over 8 years carrying out research in theoretical physics with collaborators around the globe, Alejandro started his career in public service working in education policy and programs as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship in the Education and Human Resources Directorate at the National Science Foundation. Alejandro’s passion is to empower STEM students and professionals, through mentorship, developmental programs, and career opportunities, to achieve their full potential while increasing diversity and inclusivity in the STEM career ecosystems in the U.S. and globally. Alejandro received his bachelor’s and master's degrees in physics at Florida International University and his PhD at the University of Notre Dame du Lac. Alejandro is a student of the jazz art form; his goal is to become proficient in Jazz and play music with others. Alejandro loves to spend time outdoors and travel to national parks and forests with his wife and daughter, and their two dogs.