Background:Following completion of his post-doctoral research at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Dr. Lawrence Grimes joined the Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, NM. He devoted 27+ years performing research in HEL and HPM vulnerability effects and assessments important to the Air Force. Dr. Grimes established the Systems Engineering and Analysis Branch within the AFRL DE Directorate which developed and analyzed DE concept issues from broad points of view relating to technology readiness, technology tradeoffs, mission effectiveness, military utility, and role in system architectures. Dr. Grimes later served as the Product Line Leader for Precision Engagement, team lead for AFRL's #3 ranked strategic goal (Deliver Precision Effects - Electric Laser Weapon System) and acting PM for AFRL's SAF special interest program - Electric Laser on a Large Aircraft (ELLA).
Dr Grimes has twice served as the DE Staff Specialist for OUSD(R&E). In this role he assisted the Director for Weapons Systems in the strategic planning, assessment, and defense/advocacy of the (DoD) DE Weapons Technology Areas and represented DoD at appropriate working group meetings in support of the Weapons Technology assessments, DoD Technology Focus Team assessments, and Technical Program reviews.
Dr. Grimes served 8+ years as director of the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office (HEL JTO), later renamed to the Joint DE Transition Office (DE JTO). As director, Dr Grimes established and maintained the DoD Technology Plan for HEL. In coordination with DoD Services and Agencies he organized and lead the DoD Technology Area Working Groups for establishing priorities and monitoring research progress in high energy laser S&T throughout the Department of Defense. Under his leadership the JTO: delivered the first SBC HEL to SMDC under the RELI program; completed the Joint Laser Deconfliction Safety System (JLDSS); initiated the Advanced Beam Control for Locating and Engaging (ABLE) program (advancing technology development in adaptive optics and tracking; documented a Beam Control Initiative in support of next-gen HEL (HELSI); initiated / proposed employment of modular open systems approach for HEL weapon systems; established a database of HEL / HPM vulnerability information; completed a five year project arrangement with the United Kingdom (UK) on the effects of HEL, and served on two NATO research task groups and a research lecture series, to name a few.
Currently a Sr. technical advisor for AFRL's mission planning and analysis division, Dr. Grimes provides corporate level recommendations, leadership, planning, and counseling to develop, integrate, and transition tactical high energy laser and beam control science and technology in support of the DE mission. He will serves as the focal point for the DE directorate's NATO on-going activities, as well as serves as chair for the NATO SCI-340 Research Lecture Series and SCI-316 Research Task Group.
Candidate's Statement: I have been working in the DE community for over 35 years. I began my career in Air Force Weapons laboratory as a technical advisor in HEL laser vulnerability research and assessments, responsible for mentoring newly commissioned AF officers, college interns and young civil servants. My research responsibilities included: developing novel approaches for determining the susceptibility/vulnerability of targets of interest to the USAF; new approaches in experimental planning, execution, analysis, and model validation/verification. I have been a DEPs member since its inauguration and have only missed two meetings, one was during 9/11. Over the years have given technical presentations, plenary talks, and short courses and served multiple times as session chair at DEPS and SPIE conferences. I was an inaugural member of the Lethality and M&S technical area working groups (TAWGs) when the HEL JTO was established.
My leadership positions: technical advisor, deputy branch chief, deputy FLTC lead, product line lead for precision engagement, acting program manager for the ELLA program, DE staff specialist for OUSD(R&E), and director of the HEL JTO / DE JTO have afforded me a broad perspective of the DE R&D across the laser community. This includes US Services (military) & Agencies, industry, and academic institutions as well as current efforts in the international community (NATO and FIVEYES partners). I am widely recognized in the DE community, have advised, and directed many laser programs within AFRL, and participated on many governmental committees in DoD on laser technology, applications, and effects.
I see history about to repeat itself - when the High Energy Laser Executive Review Panel (HELERP) recognized that most of the DoD investments in HEL were for the development of expensive large scale demonstration programs like THEL, EMRLD, and ABL, they recommended the development of a HEL roadmap for S&T research. As a result of the HELERP report and HEL Roadmap recommendations the DEPS and HEL JTO were formed. The goal was to reinvigorate basic and applied research within the Service & Agencies, industry (specifically small businesses) and academic institutions. The HEL JTO was instrumental in focusing research in areas of joint-Service interest, avoiding duplication of efforts and allowing meager investments go farther. The focus of DE research in the past years has reverted more to development/deployment of prototype systems and less on the basic & applied research necessary for the next generation systems.
DEPS has been and continues to be the premier organization for attracting and providing a collaborative environment for directed energy professionals. Much like many technical professional societies, the membership continues to age presenting an issue for our workforce and community in general. If elected as a DEPS board member I will strive to help create an environment that encourages a pipeline to a younger and stronger membership base to help invigorate the organization. I see building new leadership opportunities for the newest members including providing mentorship in presenting new innovative presentations at events, enhancing publication opportunities in the JDE, and expanding the events with think-tank type sessions in order that the earlier career individuals have a place to voice their thoughts. I think it is important to continue to build strong and relevant programs for students and early career Service and industry personnel. This means a strong mentoring program and greater focus on the annual educational workshops as well as additional opportunities. I think it is important to expand and improve DEPS' international participation and membership as well as partnerships with other professional societies and I will strive to help the DEPS staff in this way. I also want to help identify important topics DEPS needs to bring awareness to and address, for example: issues concerning the industrial base, modular open system architecture (standards?), next-generation beam control technology development, a balanced basic / applied research vs advanced research / demonstrations, health of the small business community, a common repository (data base) of relevant data / documentation available to the whole DE community, to name a few.
Joe Grobmyer, U.S.Army RCCTO
Background: Mr. Joe Grobmyer has over 30 years experience with Army Electro Optical & Infra-Red (EOIR) and Laser systems. In his early career he was the Lead EOIR Engineer on multiple seeker (SAL, IR & LIDAR) efforts for various programs (HELLFIRE, BAT, LOCAAS, & HIQUAMS). He next served as the Lead Engineer for the Loitering Attack Missile (LAM) at the Non Line Of Sight (NLOS-LS) Project Office. He later served as the Quick Reaction Cell (QRC) Chief for the Aviation and Missile RDEC team responding to Operational Needs Statements (ONS) and Joint Urgent Operational Needs Statements (JUON) from theater. In 2010 Mr. Grobmyer deviated from his engineering roots and was tasked to establish the AMRDEC G-Staff and subsequently serve as its Operations Chief (G3). In 2016 Joe returned to engineering, supporting the Army's High Energy Laser efforts serving as the program lead for the demonstration of High Energy Laser Mobile Tactical Truck (HELMTT) and then as the High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator (HEL TVD) lead engineer, a position he continued to hold through the transition of the Army's HEL programs to the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) and HEL TVD to Integrated Fire Protection Capability - High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL). Additionally Joe served as the lead engineer for the newly created Directed Energy Manufacturing and Industrial Base (DE MIB) program, supporting the manufacturing and transition DE technology. In 2022 Mr. Grobmyer became the DEMIB program lead.
Candidate's Statement: I believe I would bring a valuable and unique perspective to the DEPS board because of my extensive experience in the S&T, prototype, and Program of Record domains. Over the last 6 years I have dedicated myself to building, improving, testing and now the manufacturing HEL components and systems. I am very excited to be a part of the Army's desire to transition these systems to the solider. I believe DEPS will continue to support the growth and development of DE including the transition.
Martin Hubbard, Dstl
Background:Martin is the Dstl Chief Scientist Directed Energy (RF) and Principal Adviser for RF Directed Energy at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory of the United Kingdom.
He has a BA(Hons) in Physics from the University of York (1975), an MSc in the Science and Application of Electric Plasmas from the University of Oxford (1976) and a DPhil in Laser-Plasma Interactions, also from the University of Oxford (1981).
Since 2011 he has been a Visiting Professor at Loughborough University in the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering and works with the Pulsed Power Group in that School in its capacity as a key member of the UK RF-DE community
He has worked as a government scientist since 1979 in a variety of research, analysis, advisory and management posts including a 3 year tour with the British Defence Staff, Washington as the Directed Energy desk officer.
His career can be characterised as one in which he has provided scientific and technical advice and consultancy to research communities, users, equipment procurers and decision makers based on his broad spectrum of knowledge of, and interaction with, the relevant national and international communities.
He was made a Fellow of the Directed Energy Professional Society in Nov 2010, the first time this honour has been awarded to a non-US citizen, and was made a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology in Aug 2011.
Candidate's Statement: I have been a member of the UK's Directed Energy community for over 35 years and, during all of that time, I have witnessed the mutual benefits of UK/US cooperation and have actively encouraged the expansion of this cooperation.
I was honoured to be elected as the first non-US Fellow of the Directed Energy Professional Society in 2010 for "personal efforts to foster closer ties between the United States and the United Kingdom [which] have resulted in a long string of mutually beneficial joint programmes". In 2014 I was elected a HPEM Fellow of the Summa Foundation "for the provision of capability advice, the coordination and leadership of research and the facilitation of international cooperation, across the UK's HPEM activities".
I encouraged the expansion of the regular bilateral HPM meeting into the RF and Laser workshop at Shrivenham, which I am proud to co-chair, and which with invaluable DEPS support, recently recorded its most successful event - registration had to be suspended as numbers neared venue capacity.
Building on the years of detailed research and recognising the achievements of those illustrious US and UK experimentalists who laid the foundation, we have now begun the transition from Research into Acquisition and my goal is to continue to support, as best I can, the provision of our unique and game changing products into the hands of the user.
If elected as a DEPS board member, I will continue to push for greater collaboration both through the information exchange agreements that are in place but also through the project arrangements that facilitate joint activity. In this way we will be better able to quantify the benefits, mitigate the threats, improve the performance, complement the existing inventory and ultimately turn what is currently "novel" into "business as usual".
Mike O'Connor, nLIGHT
Background: Mike O'Connor is the General Manager of nLIGHT Defense, a vertically integrated business unit which offers semiconductor lasers, fiber amplifiers, and laser systems to the U.S. DOD and U.S. allies. Mike's history in U.S. Defense started in the late 1980's when he served in the Army Special Forces. Mike then attended the University of Massachusetts on the GI Bill and earned a B.S. in Physics and a M.S. in Geology (Geophysics). After several years working in the telecommunications optical fiber industry at Lucent Technologies, Mike joined Nufern (now Coherent) in 2001 and became Director of Business Development for Defense, focusing on developing high power fibers for Directed Energy applications. In 2008 Mike joined IPG Photonics as Director of Advanced Applications, serving the defense, scientific, and medical markets. Mike transitioned to nLIGHT in 2016, first serving as G.M. of Components and later becoming G.M of nLIGHT Defense, with a focus on Directed Energy.
Candidate's Statement: This is a critical time for our Directed Energy community, as we transition from S&T to field demonstrations, and to programs of record. Our DEPS organization is also transitioning in order to continue to meet the need of the DE Community. I have been fortunate to have been a member of this vibrant, patriotic community for more than 20 years. I have benefited considerably, both personally and professionally, as so many of us have. I have considered it a privilege to try to give back as a DEPS Board Member over the last 3 years. I have learned much, and as an industry veteran with a broad DE background, I hope I have helped to broaden our board membership with an industry perspective. I would be honored to serve a second term with the DEPS Board in service to our community.
Greg Quarles, Applied Energetics
Background: Dr. Gregory Quarles was hired as the CEO and Board member for Tucson-based Applied Energetics, Inc, in May 2019, a recognized leading company developing ultrashort-pulse lasers, frequency agile optical sources, and laser guided energy technology, all focused in the Directed Energy sector. He had previously served on the AE Scientific Advisory Board. Prior to joining Applied Energetics, Dr. Quarles served as the Chief Scientific Officer for Optica (formerly The Optical Society of America) since November of 2015. He is an experienced Chief Executive Officer, Board Member and renowned physicist with 25 years of experience driving cutting-edge laser, optics and photonics technology development and operations within optical materials and defense-related companies. Greg is a globally recognized leader for his strategic partnerships with the Department of Defense, the U.S. Congress, and his innovative work in the progression of optical materials research, specifically developing new laser devices for medical, national security and industrial applications. He has also spent the past ten years interacting with global leaders in the optics, photonics, industrial and academic communities discussing policy and funding opportunities. Greg has been awarded five patents related to his research in solid-state lasers, has twelve pending, and has published over 120 peer-reviewed and conference publications.
Greg was a founder, COO and Managing Partner of EdgeLight Incorporated, a start-up enterprise pioneering wearable light therapy in Tucson, AZ. He has also managed his own consulting firm since 2013, as President and CEO of Opto-Electronics Management Network, specializing in the contributing direction to the lasers and materials industry, with his primary focus on the defense, aerospace, and the nanomaterials sectors. Prior to starting this consulting business, Greg served as the CEO at B.E. Meyers & Co., Inc., a pioneering company in the development and manufacturing of opto-electronic technology and related products used in defense and law enforcement applications. His previous experience includes serving on 8 Corporate and not-for-profit Boards, including the Optica Board of Directors, working at II-VI Incorporated for 18 years as the Director of R&D and Director of Government Relations, and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory for 5 years where he was a part of the first team in the DOD to develop a diode-pumped IRCM platform. Greg has served the past 8 years on the Department of Commerce’s SITAC Committee (Sensors and Instrumentation Technology Advisory Committee) advising on export control revisions for the lasers and directed energy sectors, and served as the laser and materials expert on the DOD committee for Military Critical Technologies List. Dr. Quarles is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and holds a Ph.D. and MS in Physics, and a dual BS in Math and Physics. He has served as Assistant Editor for both Optical Engineering and the IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics and is a Fellow of both the Optical Society and SPIE and a Senior Member of IEEE.
Candidate's Statement: I am honored to have been a part of this Directed Energy community for nearly my entire career. My PhD research was funded by a fellowship by what was then the Air Force Weapons Lab in Albuquerque, and my involvement has continued to my position today, some 35 years later. My DEPS engagement has included being actively involved as a committee member for the DEPS and SSDLTR meetings for over a decade. I have witnessed the emergence and deployment of solid-state DE laser platforms exceeding 100 kW and have been involved in the development and delivery of component level technologies which have included high-damage threshold optics, thin disk gain media, and ceramic laser hosts previously while at II-VI Incorporated. Part of my experience has included leading BE Meyers to production hardening and delivering high volume optical disrupter and dazzler technology for SOCOM, the Marines, and Army Programs of Record. Currently at Applied Energetics, we are developing the next disruptive directed energy system utilizing ultrashort pulse optical systems. I am asking for your support as a Board member because I understand that offering a directed energy solution is often just one step of the process. I see an opportunity to incorporate greater outreach to improve the testing and acceptance of a multilayered set of technologies for threat intercept. This starts with increasing the visibility of Directed Energy opportunities to students that can possibly hold clearances during graduate school and post-graduation. I am currently a mentor for two of the DEPS DE Graduate Scholars for 2022-22, and this is a tremendous program begun by DEPS that needs to be expanded and sustained. Filling this pipeline with qualified scientists and engineers is necessary to continue to make strides to keep the US in a leadership position in global DE systems. Secondly, my breadth of experiences in cross-society interactions and joint activities will allow me to assist DEPS in expanding prominence and teaming opportunities with other parallel and complimentary societies, such as MSS, Optica, LIA and SPIE to increase visibility to future members and contributors to DEPS. Finally, I support a dedicated effort of public policy and advocacy for continuing the double-digit year over year growth in the federal budget for all aspects of Directed Energy platforms from the basic R&D level to the program of record and acquisition line items. I have demonstrated over 20 years of experience in briefings and testimony to various congressional committees and subcommittees on a multitude of topics spanning STEM outreach, education policy, small business focused grants and contracts, and specifically technology insertion programs and initiatives that have received funding increases and appropriations for highly specialized needs as identified by multiple agencies. Continuing education for both the defense department leadership to the congressional appropriators is imperative for sustaining this growth and acceptance of DE platforms as a necessity for national security. My experience, insights and relationships across a wide-range of research, developmental, operational, strategic, and advocacy teams will enable me to be an effective board member for DEPS and allow me to facilitate implementation of solutions for our members. If elected to the DEPS Board of Directors, I commit to taking an active role supporting all steps of expanding the visibility and highlighting the necessity of directed energy solutions for our national security requirements and to fight to increase funding and capabilities to protect our troops at home and abroad.
Craig Robin, EO Solutions
Background: Dr. Craig A Robin is the Chief Executive Officer and owner of EO Solutions. Founded in 2022, EO Solutions is a physics and engineering company with technical and programmatic expertise in providing emerging technology solutions for multi-domain warfighting capability gaps.
Prior to starting EO Solutions, Dr. Robin was appointed as a Senior Leader (SL) in March 2020, and served as the Director of the Directed Energy Project Office within the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), Redstone Arsenal, Al. In that position, Dr. Robin was responsible for oversight and execution of research, development, prototyping, test, evaluation, procurement and fielding directed energy technologies and capabilities that address immediate, near-term, and mid-term threats, consistent with the Army's modernization priorities.
Dr. Craig A. Robin was appointed as a Senior Scientific Professional (ST) in August 2017, and served as Senior Research Scientist (Directed Energy Applications), Technical Center, United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command/ Army Forces Strategic Command. In this role, Dr. Robin was responsible for the overview, execution, and coordination of programs in basic research, exploratory development, advanced development, and system integration in the technological and functional areas of directed energy weapons necessary to advance the pioneering development of revolutionary military systems and equipment.
Dr. Robin previously worked with Lockheed Martin Laser and Sensor Systems in Bothell, Washington as a Research Scientist from October of 2013 to August of 2017. Prior to that, Dr. Robin spent 10 years, from 2003 to 2013, as a Research Physicist and graduate student with the Air Force Research Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Dr. Robin holds a bachelor's degree in Physics from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon; a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico.
Dr. Robin holds the faculty title of Research Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico. He is a member of the Directed Energy Professional Society, the Optical Society of America, the International Society for Optics and Photonics, and the Association of the United States Army.
Candidate's Statement: My professional life began within the DEPS community and evolved with the changes we've seen over the past 20 years. I started as a research scientist at the Air Force Research Laboratory working on basic and applied research efforts in high energy lasers. I took the knowledge I gained there and transitioned to the defense industry where I could be part of a team focused on maturing DE technology into products for demonstration. I left industry and went back to the government at an executive leadership level to help shape DE technology for transition to the Warfighter. My time in the government coincided with a major shift in the National Defense Strategy from an emphasis on counterterrorism to Near-Peer competition. This new direction gave rise to three focus areas for emerging technology: 1) Rapid prototyping with military utility, 2) Organize for innovation, 3) Stress affordability. DE technology is poised to be a solution for many Warfighter capability gaps enabled by the work of this community, but we're not there yet. I left the government and started a company because I see the need for industry to respond to this new directive.
Our world is expanding. We are no longer in a "technology push" environment. Emerging technologies like Directed Energy are being pulled to the forefront to solve national defense challenges, and our community must respond in kind. I have a unique combination of experience in industry and government that informs this discussion and would be honored to be part of the team that helps guide DEPS into the future.
Mark Spencer, AFRL/DE
Background:Dr. Mark Spencer is currently the Directed Energy Staff Specialist at Headquarters US Indo-Pacific Command as a liaison from the Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Optical Sciences and Engineering at AFIT within the Department of Engineering Physics. Mark is a fellow of SPIE and is a senior member of Optica.
Candidate's Statement: Serving on the DEPS Board of Directors would give me the vehicle needed to champion and grow the sense of community that DEPS is known for, as it is essential to the future of directed energy. Over the last 15 years, DEPS has been there for me, as it has been there for many of you in this small, yet flourishing field. Simply put, without DEPS I would not be where I am currently at in my career. To back up this claim, let me share a few examples of how DEPS has been there for me. My hope is that many of you can relate to these examples.
My first-ever technical conference was in 2007 at the 10th Annual Directed Energy Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama. At the time, I was finishing my BS degree in physics and had just completed a Directed Energy Summer Internship at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). I knew I wanted to go to graduate school, but I was still figuring out what I wanted to study. After giving my very first conference presentation in the Directed Energy Student Workshop, it was clear that directed energy was the right home for me. With that said, DEPS has been at the center of this home for 15 years now.
Looking back, I owe a lot of my success to opportunities afforded by DEPS. For example, DEPS supported me in my graduate studies with 3 Graduate Scholarships. These awards were instrumental in helping me finish my MS and PhD degrees at AFIT (as a civilian student) in optical sciences and engineering in 2011 and 2014, respectively. In addition, DEPS provided the backbone needed to write the 2nd Edition of "Beam Control for Laser Systems" with my friend and colleague, Dr. Paul Merritt. I had the privilege of nominating Paul for DEPS fellow in 2018 after the completion of this best-selling title.
To date, DEPS symposia have given me the opportunity to share the outcomes of my research with 23 presentations and 7 short courses. In fact, after writing this candidate statement, I plan to submit an abstract to the 25th Annual Directed Energy S&T Symposium. I also plan to pack my bags to give a DEPS-inspired short course on "Deep-turbulence Limitations" to scientists and engineers at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in Dahlgren, Virginia. A week ago I was at the Army Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Alabama giving the exact same course, and it is my belief that neither of these opportunities would have manifested without the sense of community that DEPS sustains.
If you can relate to the above examples, then please put your vote towards me to serve on the DEPS Board of Directors. I promise to work for you to champion and grow this aforementioned sense of community. The future of directed energy is bright and I hope to make it brighter.
Edward Trzcienski, BlueHalo LLC
Background: Since joining BlueHalo in 2012, Mr. Trzcienski has led BlueHalo's autonomous systems and test instrumentation efforts ranging from autonomous UAS swarming to characterizing directed energy weapon systems to building surrogate MANPAD missiles to test aircraft survivability equipment. Recently he led the acquisition and integration of an UAS manufacturer and investment in key autonomy and sensing technologies to develop autonomous offensive UAS swarming systems which will transform close engagements by our warfighters. Mr. Trzcienski is active in the DE community through his participation in the Directed Energy Professional Society (DEPS) as the co-chair, since 2017, of the joint DEPS and ITEA Conference on Test and Evaluation. During his tenure as co-chair, the Conference has made Albuquerque its permanent home, and introduced the successful STEAM Competition, allowing local middle and high school students to compete in a judged machine building event and engage with the Conference attendees. Mr. Trzcienski has over 25 years of technical and management experience, leading complex systems integration and implementation projects for the DoD, DoE, and commercial/industrial customers in industries ranging from telecommunications, pharmaceutical, manufacturing to defense. He is an experienced leader with success building, improving, and managing businesses, encompassing business development, contract negotiation, profit and loss (P&L) accountability and management, financial reporting, and complex technical task execution.
Mr. Trzcienski has held a leadership role in BlueHalo's DE efforts throughout his tenure at BlueHalo, including efforts ranging from DET S&T to systems integration and test and evaluation (T&E). His team is currently building a Laser Integrated Diagnostic Suite (LIDS) for several test ranges following a successful deployment of the LIDS Prototype system to HELSTF in late 2022. This TRMC funded effort is delivering a first of its kind static testing capability for High Energy Laser weapons to include government developed key performance measures of both laser performance and atmospheric effects. He led efforts to develop novel sensors and instrumentation to characterize laser beam performance under two BAA and two SBIR Phase II efforts for TRMC, AFRL and the 96th (now 704th) TW. As a direct result of these efforts, HELJTO funded efforts to design, integrate and demonstrate the first in-situ measurements of laser performance at relevant tactical ranges (2km - 7km up to 14,000' MSL) at the White Sands Missile Range engaging the JHPSSL, using BlueHalo's novel sensor technology. Mr. Trzcienski led BlueHalo's participation in a program jointly sponsored by HELJTO and TRMC to address a significant T&E gap in HELWS testing - calibration of instrumentation for laser beam and atmospheric characterization, working with NSWC Corona Metrology, NIST, and with tri-service representatives. The goal is to give HELWS programs confidence in the results of their T&E efforts.
Ed has worked closely with BlueHalo customers including RCCTO, AFRL, TRMC, SMDC, NIWC, DEJTO, PEO-STRI and others.
Ed lives in Albuquerque and has two grown children with his wife of over 30 years, Lee Ann. In his spare time he is an active trail runner, backcountry skier and ski mountaineer, having completed numerous ultra-running events including the Leadville 100 Trail Run, and last spring summited and skied Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France.
Candidate's Statement: Since first engaging with the Directed Energy community when I came to AEgis Technologies, I immediately joined the Directed Energy Professional Society and benefited from mentorship, networking, and technical interchange, building personal and professional relationships with many members. Actively participating in the key DEPS Conferences since joining, I focused on and benefited from continuing education, technical excellence, and continued to build relationships. In 2017 I took on Conference Co-Chair leadership for the DE T&E Conference, moving it to Albuquerque in 2018 and focusing on growing and improving the plenary and technical sessions. Over the past six years we've continued to grow the Conference, with record attendance this year and the strongest technical program to date. We added the STEAM competition in 2018, welcoming middle and high schools for an annual Rube Goldberg inspired competition. For most of these students, this is the first time they've been able to interact with so many science and engineering professionals, and it is an eye opening experience for many that may shape their ambitions and desire to pursue a STEAM education. If elected to the Board, it will be my honor to continue to serve the Society with an ongoing focus on continuing technical education, collaboration across services, industry and academia, and chairing the DE T&E Conference. I bring both an in-depth understanding of the DEPS organization, planning and managing a key Conference, as well as the strength and depth of BlueHalo, as we are working on developing and fielding multiple DoD DE weapon systems ranging from Locust to RCCTO's PHEL and DE MSHORAD programs.
