Dr. Prasad S. Thenkabail, PhD, is a Senior Scientist (ST) with the U.S. Geological Survey and a globally recognized leader in remote sensing science. Over more than four decades, he has made pioneering contributions to hyperspectral vegetation modeling, global cropland mapping, agricultural water‑use assessment, and satellite‑based food and water security. He led the creation of the world’s first 30 m Global Cropland Extent Product (GCEP30) and the Global Rainfed and Irrigated Area Product (LGRIP30), now used by nearly 100 countries. His leadership of NASA’s GFSAD program has advanced petabyte‑scale cropland mapping using Landsat and Sentinel time series, machine learning, and cloud computing. A world authority in hyperspectral science, he has shaped optimal band selection, vegetation indices, and full‑spectrum analysis, earning the 2025 ASPRS Outstanding Technical Achievement Award. He is Editor‑in‑Chief of Remote Sensing and editor of 15 major books, including the six‑volume Remote Sensing Handbook. Ranked among the world’s top 1% of scientists, he has authored over 202 publications with more than 19,600 citations. His career includes major NASA awards, global field experience across 28 countries, and leadership roles on the Landsat Science Team and NASA SBG Applications Group. Full biography at https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/prasad-s-thenkabail