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  • Wright State University student intern Alexander Vehre explains his poster. Vehre is an undergraduate majoring in mechanical engineering. (U.S. Air Force photo/Micah Hung)

    AFRL interns showcase their work in annual poster session at Wright-Patterson

    After canceling 2020’s event because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate’s annual student poster session was back on again for 2021. In previous years, as many as 70 student researchers have participated; however, this year’s event was considerably smaller. Because COVID-19 is still with us, this year’s event was a “hybrid” one to ensure safe social distancing, with 27 students distributed over two in-person sessions, and 11 presenting virtually.
  • Capt. Cristian Hernández-Rivera’s wife, Joanne Ortiz Merced, places his new Space Force insignia on his sleeve. (U.S. Air Force photo/Spencer Deer)

    First Guardians from AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate inducted into Space Force

    Two Air Force Research Laboratory Company Grade Officers were recently inducted into the U.S. Space Force, the nation’s newest branch of the military. On July 23, Capts. Kenneth Ehrenberg and Cristian Hernández-Rivera became Guardians in the Space Force during a swearing-in ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
  • From left to right, AFRL Vice Commander Col. Paul Henderson, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate Chief Scientist Dr. Richard Vaia, and Deputy Director Col. Michael Warner cut the ribbon to open the renovated Materials Characterization Facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Spencer Deer)

    AFRL Materials Characterization Facility pushes state of the art

    The Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has recently renovated their materials characterization facility (MCF) to meet the ever-advancing needs of materials research. By renovating 3,700 square feet of existing laboratory space, the facility has been designed to keep pace with analytical research technology, thereby “future-proofing” it for the next generation of instrumentation, according to program manager Dr. Todd Butler. A ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 26 officially opened the new facility.
  • This image taken by NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance shows tracks from the rover’s first drive. It also shows an area that was scoured clean by the craft’s descent stage rockets — the lighter-colored area shown near the center-top. Testing done at AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing ensured the landing craft’s protective coating would survive being blasted by that debris. (Photo courtesy of NASA)

    Testing done at AFRL made Perseverance and the search for life on Mars possible

    On February 18, 2021, NASA’s rover Perseverance touched down on the surface of Mars to begin searching for evidence of past life. The success of this touchdown would not have been possible without the work of a team of researchers who operate unique erosion testing equipment in a windowless bunker at Wright-Patterson’s Air Force Research Lab. And this is not the only Dayton connection to this particular Mars mission.
  • Diane Buhrmaster, engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, received the 2020 Brigadier General Wilma Vaught Visionary Leadership Award in the Civilian Category. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

    Air Force Research Laboratory engineer receives Vaught Visionary Leadership Award

    Ms. Diane Buhrmaster, Coatings Technology Team Lead for AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, has received the 2020 Brigadier General Wilma Vaught Visionary Leadership Award in the Civilian Category. This annual award was created in honor of General Vaught for her outstanding service and dedication to the Air Force and the nation. It is presented to an officer (O-6 and below), enlisted person (E-9 and below) and a civilian (GS-15 and below) to recognize that individual’s visionary leadership, innovative efforts and beneficial effect on the U.S. Air Force.
  • Dr. Chad Husko, CEO and founder of Iris Light, holds a 300 mm silicon wafer. (Courtesy photo)

    AFRL approves Cooperative Research and Development Agreement for silicon photonics

    The Air Force Research Laboratory recently approved a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between its Nanoelectronic Materials Branch and Iris Light Technologies. The collaboration will be working to develop hybrid silicon lasers. Sometimes called the “holy grail of optoelectronics,” these miniature lasers are part of a broader field of technology known as silicon photonics.
  • From the left to right, Drs. Derek A. Bas, Piyush J. Shah and Michael R. Page. In the tweezers, Bas is holding a chip that contains an array of four isolators. A state-of the-art commercial RF isolator has a much greater size and weight than the AFRL device. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dr. Michael Wolf)

    AFRL researchers demonstrate record-breaking RF isolator performance in ultra-compact device

    As the USAF continues with the unrelenting pursuit of driving down the size, weight and power of radio frequency (RF) components, the inherent challenges in these types of technologies are compounded. The typical difficulties of making smaller mechanical and physical components, however, are dwarfed by the challenges posed by making the required onboard electronic equipment smaller, lighter, and less power-hungry.
  • During COVID-19 restrictions, the research team established protocols and routines that allow remote sample manipulation and data acquisition. From left to right: Dr. Hilmar Koerner, Cornell staff scientists Drs. Louisa Smieska and Arthur Woll, and AFRL Materials and Manufacturing research scientists Dr. Edward Trigg and Mr. Andrew Abbott. The black command window with code lines (upper left) shows the UNIX-based software package for instrument control and data collection SPEC. Users can run their own software packages written in the programming language python to position the sample stage and to program automated sample movement. The camera image (AXIS) in upper right shows a close-up of the sample stage in the beamline hutch. While beamline staff mount the samples, everything else is being done remotely from the comfort of either office or home. (Courtesy photo)

    AFRL partners with Cornell to use micro-beam scanning technology for inspecting composite materials

    The Air Force research Laboratory, in partnership with the Materials Solutions Network at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) of Cornell University, has developed a tool that can look directly inside of and instantaneously inspect the structure of composite components while they are being manufactured. This new technology uses a combination of phase contrast imaging and micro-beam scanning to produce real-time X-ray scattering images of the component during and post production. The process is expected to save the Air Force millions of dollars in qualification and certification of composite parts used in advanced unmanned aerial vehicles and satellite systems.
  • X-ray footprinting is done at the National Synchrotron Light Source II at Brookhaven National Laboratory, using a specialized beamline designed and operated by Case Western University. (Courtesy photo)

    AFRL launches collaborative biosensor effort to detect stress and fatigue biomarkers

    The Air Force Research Laboratory recently kicked off a $2M partnership with Case Western Reserve University. The joint project will accelerate biosensor development, with an emphasis on the detection of biomarkers for stress and fatigue.
  • Capt. Joseph Ellis. (Courtesy photo)

    AFRL Sensors Directorate officer selected for education program

    U.S. Air Force Capt. Joseph Ellis, an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Sensors Directorate executive officer, was selected for the 2021 Developing the Airmen We Need-Education (DAWN-ED) Program.
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