FA7000-21-S-0001 (formerly USAFA-BAA-2021) Amend 0001.pdf

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)

1. Agency Name – United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), US Air Force Academy, CO

2. Funding Opportunity Number – FA7000-21-S-0001 (formerly USAFA-BAA-2021)

3. Funding Opportunity Title –Research Interests of the United States Air Force Academy

4. Types of Instruments Awarded – Research and development contracts, grants, cooperative agreements and other types of agreements

5. Announcement Type – Amendment 0001

6. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers – 12.800

7. Opportunity Overview

USAFA’s Dean of Faculty Research Office is announcing to business and academia the intent to solicit white papers/proposals for USAFA research efforts through this BAA. This strategy provides USAFA an acquisition tool with the flexibility to solicit proposals and make awards to develop technologies to meet present and future Air Force research needs as technology issues are identified. USAFA invites white papers and proposals for research in many broad areas. These areas are described in detail in Section I, Funding Opportunity Description. Additional information regarding USAFA Research Centers, Departments and Institutes may be found at www.usafa.edu.

USAFA is seeking unclassified research white papers and proposals that do not contain proprietary information. Requests for white papers/proposals are also transmitted via calls which may be published separately from the BAA at various times during the open period of the BAA.

It is anticipated awards will be made in the form of any appropriate contract type under the FAR or Non- FAR instruments (i.e., Other Transaction (OT) for research efforts, or grants and cooperative agreements).

USAFA reserves the right to select and fund for award all, some, or none of the white papers/proposals in response to this announcement. All awards are contingent upon funds availability for the program areas identified. Unless specifically indicated in a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a call, cost sharing is permitted and encouraged, but not required.

Awards based on responses to this BAA are considered to be the result of full and open competition. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, unless otherwise stated in the BAA amendments shall be: 541714, Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) and 541715, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology).

Interested offerors should be alert for any BAA amendments, calls, or other changes to the requirements of this BAA or its subsequent amendments. Amendments to and/or calls on this BAA will be posted to the beta.sam.gov and Grants.gov website and published when they occur. Interested parties are encouraged to periodically check these websites for updates and amendments. White papers and proposals submitted in response to this BAA shall be in accordance with the requirements of this BAA and its appropriate amendments.

USAFA will not issue paper copies of this announcement. The costs of white papers and/or complete proposals in response to this BAA are not considered an allowable direct charge to any award resulting from this BAA or any other award. Technical and cost proposals, or any other material, submitted in response to this BAA will not be returned.

This publication constitutes a competitive BAA as contemplated in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 35.016, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFARS) 235.016, FAR 6.102(d)(2) and the DoD Grants and Agreements Regulation (DoDGARs) Subpart 22.315(a), 2 CFR 200.319.

This BAA supersedes USAFA-BAA-2015, which limited research to basic and applied, fundamental studies.

FA7000-21-S-0001 (formerly USAFA-BAA-2021) uses DFARs 235.016 to expand research areas to the following:

1. Basic Research (budget activity 6.1)

2. Applied Research (budget activity 6.2)

3. Advanced technology development (budget activity 6.3)

4. Advanced component development and prototypes (budget activity 6.4).

8. Response Dates

This announcement remains open until superseded. White papers are reviewed and evaluated as they are received and may be submitted at any time. The white paper/proposal submission process is discussed in sections IV and V of this BAA. Proposals will be due according to specific instructions contained in a separate RFP notice resulting from favorable white paper evaluations or calls issued against this BAA. Calls may be placed against this BAA and specific information related to due dates will be provided in each call.

Proposals or white papers submitted in response to calls should be submitted according to directions contained within each individual call and in accordance with this BAA. Late bid and proposal provisions in accordance with (IAW) Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 52.215-1(c) (3)) will apply to this BAA.

Table of Contents

I. OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

a. Research Centers

1. Aeronautics (Aeronautics Research Center)

2. Aeronautics (High Performance Computing Research Center)

3. Aeronautics (Hypersonic Vehicle Simulation Institute)

4. Astronautics (Space Systems Research Center)

5. Biosystems and Natural Materials (Life Sciences Research Center)

6. Chemistry (Chemistry Research Center)

7. Computer Science (Academy Center for Cyberspace Research)

8. Mechanical Engineering (Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension)

9. Laser and Optics Research Center (LORC)

10. Space Physics & Atmospheric Research Center (SPARC)

11. Physics Education Research

12. Academy Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research (UAS)

13. Civil and Enviromental Engineering Research

14. Electrical and Computer Engineering Research

15. Center for Space Situational Awareness Research (CSSAR)

b. Research Institute

1. Institute for Information Technology Applications

2. Institute for National Security Studies

3. Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies

c. Other

1. Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership

2. Department of Foreign Languages and the Office of International Programs

3. Air Force CyberWorx 4 Digital Humanities Center

5. Military and Strategic Studies (Center for Airpower Studies)

6. Nuclear Enterprise Research Center (NERC)

II. AWARD INFORMATION

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

I. Opportunity Description

The USAFA invests in an active research program for three main reasons. First and foremost, research significantly enhances the cadet learning experience. Our research is done by, for and with cadets who work alongside fellow cadets and faculty mentors. Research provides cadets with rich independent learning opportunities as they tackle ill-defined problems and are challenged to apply their knowledge and abilities.

Second, our research program provides opportunities essential for faculty development. Research broadens and deepens the experience base of the faculty. This infuses current, relevant, state-of-the-art and cutting-edge applications and examples into the curriculum. This also helps our faculty remain current in their respective fields.

Third, at USAFA we strive to conduct research to enhance the ability of the Air Force to perform its mission. There are ongoing research projects spanning topics as diverse as super hypersonics, cyber security, spatial disorientation, athletic performance and homeland defense. This BAA offers a vehicle for research to be performed to satisfy these three objectives, while also meeting research needs of industry counterparts/serve a public purpose. USAFA’s partnerships with non-Government firms enables development in the public arena, stimulating the studies in the greater technical community. All awards issued against this BAA must serve to benefit the objectives identified above.

a. Research Centers

1. Aeronautics (Aeronautics Research Center)

The Aeronautics Research Center (ARC) performs a range of aeronautical research tasks in support of Air Force (AF), Department of Defense (DoD), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other government and commercial sponsors. Making use of the highly diverse and advanced experimental facilities housed in the USAFA Department of Aeronautics, the ARC pursues a range of aeronautic and propulsion research efforts. The research program in this center is geared toward providing all undergraduates with a rich, relevant research experience while answering critical research needs of our highly varied customer base. Researchers may expect extensive access to premier facilities, tremendous latitude of pursuits and single-minded focus on research tasks, but must seek to incorporate student participation in their projects, typically two to four students per semester. Substantial effort in this center is directed toward the solution of multi-disciplinary problems which may require skills beyond classical aeronautics disciplines, including plasma and laser physics, optics, automatic controls and applied mathematics. The ARC, in partnership with the USAFA High Performance Computing Research Center, is a leader in the complementary employment of experiment and simulation to solve complex fluid, aerodynamic and control problems.

Current research strengths include several complementary thrusts. Closed loop flow control efforts focus on aero-optic control and control of flexible structures under aerodynamic loading. There is extensive effort in the development of automatic control algorithms and techniques, experimental flow control methodologies, fluid-structure interactions and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Well-developed and modern force and moment measurement capabilities in low speed (M < 0.1) and subsonic (up to Mach 0.6) wind tunnels are employed in the investigation of numerous air vehicle modifications as well as development of new aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) designs. Flight test of small air vehicles using USAFA facilities is a strength of the program.

A Mach-6 Ludwieg tube is now available, complementing an existing Mach 4.4 blow down facility for supersonic and hypersonic investigations, emphasizing shock wave-boundary layer interactions.

Operating engines, including an F-109 turbo fan and several internal combustion engines, are used for fuels and flow quality investigations, with a current emphasis in ejectors, ducted fans, and propellers for small air vehicles. Researchers are encouraged to propose topics in these areas and other allied aeronautics subjects. USAFA is a pioneer in arranging for wind tunnel concepts to be field tested in flight vehicles, both “test mules” and small air vehicles designed and built in-house.

Vehicles are then flown in USAFA-controlled airspace.

A list of current and available research facilities can be found at www.usafa.edu.

Dr. Matthew Munson Director, Aeronautics Research Center USAFA Department of Aeronautics Phone: (719) 333-2613 Email: matthew.munson@afacademy.af.edu

2. Aeronautics (High Performance Computing Research Center)

The High Performance Computing Research Center (HPCRC) is a multi-disciplinary center that shares a dual mission of providing high performance computing resources to USAFA cadets and research/teaching personnel, as well as conducting physics-based modeling and simulation research tasks in support of AF, DoD, NASA and other government and commercial sponsors. Making use of distributed/shared memory computing systems and a dedicated research network, the Center pursues a range of computational research efforts. The research program in this center is geared toward providing undergraduates with scientific computing experience supported by the DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program and projects that answer critical research needs of our highly varied customer base. Researchers may expect extensive access to premier facilities, tremendous latitude of pursuits and single-minded focus on research tasks, but must seek to incorporate cadet participation in their projects, typically two to four cadets per semester.

The HPCRC, in partnership with the USAFA Aeronautics Research Center, is a leader in the complementary employment of experiment and simulation to solve complex fluid, aerodynamic and control problems. Current fluid/aerodynamic research interests include:

Massively-separated flow aerodynamics, including turbulence modeling Reduced-order modeling for aircraft stability and control characterization Fluid-structure and fluid-thermal-structure interaction as applied to aero-elasticity at all speed regimes Hypersonic and non-equilibrium gas dynamics typical of high-altitude, rarefied flows Aerodynamics of gas turbine propulsion devices (including inlets, compressors, turbines and nozzles), high-speed propulsion devices such as ramjets and scramjets Other topics of interest involving the use of high performance computing resources for the solution of complex scientific and engineering problems

The HPCRC also works in partnership with other USAFA academic departments and research centers to develop computational simulation capabilities using high performance computing (HPC) resources. Current research interests in this area include:

• Development of tools and techniques to ease the delivery of HPC services to users and researchers without a significant computational background (including undergraduate students)

• Development of software methods, processes, tools and utilities to solve complex science and engineering problems using HPC resources (including General Purpose Graphical Processing Units or GPGPUs)

• Development of parallel software processes and tools to improve maintainability, efficiency and scalability

Engagement with the center director prior to submitting a white paper is highly encouraged.

Jürgen Seidel, Ph.D.

Director, High Performance Computing Research Center USAFA Department of Aeronautics Phone: (719) 333-9526 Email: jurgen.seidel@afacademy.af.edu

3. Aeronautics (Hypersonic Vehicle Simulation Institute)

The Hypersonic Vehicle Simulation Institute (HVSI) funds and performs a range of hypersonic research tasks in support of the DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP). HPCMP desires to improve computational simulations of hypersonic vehicles in support of Department of Defense goals by accelerating the successful development of HPC software and hardware. HVSI has the objectives to: facilitate the development and documentation of a national vision for hypersonic vehicle simulation; co-fund projects in the gaps of current DoD, DoE, NASA, and Industry research efforts critical to achieving DoD hypersonic vehicle simulation; facilitate transition of hypersonic research into production quality simulation software available to government, academic, and industry acquisition partners; create a national repository for hypersonic simulation verification and validation data; provide computational resources to provide a measurable leap forward in hypersonic system simulation capability for DoD hypersonic system acquisition. The HVSI improves computational simulation approaches including numerical methods, modeling approaches, and simulation of a variety of aerothermodynamic and propulsion aspects of hypersonic flight. Specific science and technology areas include turbulence, boundary layer transition, fluid-structure-thermal interactions, non-equilibrium chemistry, ablation, and combustion, among others.

Russell M. Cummings, Ph.D.

Director, Hypersonic Vehicle Simulation Institute USAFA Department of Aeronautics Phone: (719) 333-9223 (office) or (719) 306-9827 (cell) Email: russ.cummings@afacademy.af.edu

4. Astronautics (Space Systems Research Center)

The Space Systems Research Center performs a wide range of activities involving the design, assembly, integration, test, launch and flight of small satellites to conduct research for the AF and the DoD. The goal of the SSRC is to provide opportunities for cadets to “learn space by doing space” and to facilitate on-orbit technology demonstration. This unique program blends science, technology and organizational skills like none other at the USAFA. The Center is currently operating FalconSAT-6 (launched 2018) and FalconSAT-8 (launched 2020) and developing FalconSAT-

X. All three spacecraft host experiments sponsored by the Air Force Research Lab. Other research areas are educational nanosatellites of the CubeSat form factor. Designing a satellite is a complex, multi-disciplinary undertaking requiring expertise across a number of technical disciplines.

Department of Astronautics, in partnership with the Space System Research Center, aims to extend this expertise through researching and applying design experiences and examples to support the AF and DoD.

Currently available facilities, instrumentation and research efforts can be found at www.usafa.edu.

Lt Col Daniel Showalter, Ph.D.

Director, Space Systems Research Center USAFA Department of Astronautics Phone: (719) 333-3315 Email: daniel.showalter@afacademy.af.edu

5. Biosystems and Natural Materials (Life Sciences Research Center)

The Life Sciences Research Center (LSRC) primary mission is to support United States Air Force (USAF) and Department of Defense (DoD) research directives, especially those within the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) and Air Force Research Laboratories (AFRL). Within the Department of Biology at USAFA, LSRC is seeking research partnerships to investigate changes in bacterial, viral, parasitic, or fungal metabolism in response to natural and man-made stressors that may lead to increased resistance profiles. Probing the cellular genetic and phenotypic response to stress and the subsequent development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is very important basic science research relevant to cellular metabolism and the biological basis for the development of multidrug resistant infections. Our center also wishes to uncover unique adaptation properties of select organisms in terms of providing natural materials with a particular emphasis on bio-cementation in austere environments including space (Lunar and Martian environments). Additional studies may include molecular biological/genetic engineering methods, which allow for further insights concerning property/structure relationships to enhance biomaterial products.

Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent threat to public health, causing at least 700,000 deaths worldwide each year. The United States (US) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have reported that each year >2 million Americans are infected with antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, resulting in 23,000 deaths and up to $20 billion in excess direct healthcare costs. Public health agencies around the world have highlighted antibiotic, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antiviral-resistant pathogens of concern as they are growing increasingly resistant to existing therapeutics with few novel drugs in development to take their place. As a globally positioned force, the U.S. military is at increased risk of exposure to AMR organisms. Multi-drug resistant organisms have been identified as contaminants of wounds of injured U.S. personnel in military treatment facilities and in the field, demonstrating that robust scientific efforts are necessary to better understand and prevent these exposures.

The LSRC is also intrigued by biomaterials found in nature, which use unique biologic design principles and processes to form novel structures. In certain instances, these novel structures are the basis for highly resilient biomaterials capable of withstanding harsh environmental conditions. For example, the USAF requires lighter, tougher materials, which can hold up under extreme temperature, humidity, pressure, loading conditions, and ultraviolet radiation. Research would essentially reveal mechanisms of existing natural systems, methods to incorporate present biological materials in nature, or disclose new capabilities within existing systems and/or materials. Unraveling the complexities behind the aforementioned areas could potentially be accomplished through molecular biology/genetic engineering, which may lead to more expedient understanding of property and structure/function relationships within the biomaterial.

Research activities in this area could be carried out by a commercial or academic partner with experience in conducting and participating in R&D relating to the previously mentioned areas along with placing an exceptional research scientist at USAFA. Applications for on-site USAFA research are encouraged from individuals from a variety of backgrounds, microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetic engineering, anatomy, and materials science. We are currently examining select microorganisms that have resilient proteins which help form the basis of many biomaterials.

Our scientists are centered on isolation and identification of these robust microorganisms and are developing methods for making them tractable to genetic manipulation. These research thrusts have applications for the USAF ranging from protein stability under harsh conditions to the development of biosensors for threat detection and mitigation. Collaboration should include leadership and guidance on the proposed research areas for laboratory technicians/students, partner scientists, biologists, chemists, anatomists/functional morphologists, and engineers on experimental work at the intersection of chemistry, biology, anatomy, and biochemistry. Because of the USAFA mission to prepare young men and women for leadership positions within the Air Force, cadet participation with researchers is expected as part of our independent study projects (499s) and cadet summer research program (visiting partner labs). Additionally, there is potential for cross-disciplinary involvement from several academic departments across the academy, such as Chemistry (Biochemistry), Engineering (model development), and Management (project analysis). There are also potential collaboration opportunities with other academic institutions, private companies, and other Air Force research agencies. Interested inquiries should contact the LSRC POC before submission to ensure proposals are feasible for funding and of technical interest to the Air Force and the DoD.

Dr. Armand L. Balboni Director, Life Sciences Research Center USAFA Department of Biology Phone: (719) 333-9670 Email: armand.balboni@afacademy.af.edu

6. Chemistry (Chemistry Research Center)

The opportunity to participate in basic and applied research by faculty, staff, and cadets is important to the overall mission of the Air Force Academy. The Chemistry Research Center (CRC) provides for professional development of faculty members and resident researchers in addition to enhanced education of cadets through research programs in support of the Air Force as well as DoD R&D directives. In order to accomplish a portion of this, the CRC has had proven success by external partnering with academia, industry, and national laboratories in order to leverage an expanding technology base.

Current topics of interest in the CRC are renewable materials, light harvesting organic electronics, fluoropolymers, energetic composites, smart coatings, liquid crystalline elastomers, and high temperature composite resins and fibers. Research partnerships usually take place on-site using the laboratories and analytical instrumentation located in the Department of Chemistry at USAFA.

Interested inquiries should contact the CRC POC before submission to ensure proposals are feasible for funding and of technical interest to the CRC.

A short description of the CRC research and capabilities is available at www.usafa.edu/research/research-centers/chemistry-research-center/

Scott T. Iacono, Ph. D.

Director, Chemistry Research Center USAFA Department of Chemistry Phone: (719) 333-6005 Email: scott.iacono@afacademy.af.edu

7. Computer Science (Academy Center for Cyberspace Research)

The Academy Center for Cyberspace Research (ACCR) conducts research in a wide range of areas within the fields of Computer and Cyber Science in support of the AF, DoD and other government and commercial sponsors. Cadets in the Computer Science and Cyber Science majors receive research experience through independent studies, course projects and summer research opportunities.

ACCR has four primary research focus areas: system security analysis, immersive environments (e.g., augmented, virtual reality, and ubiquitous/pervasive computing), artificial intelligence and autonomy, and big-data analytics. In addition to these four primary focus areas, ACCR also conducts research in topics related to the field of Computer and Cyber Science provided there is sufficient faculty and cadet interest. State of the art facilities are available to students and researchers providing capabilities for network and platform vulnerability analysis; industrial control system/supervisory control and data acquisition security analysis and development; provably secure software development; network security stack analysis; virtual and augmented reality applications; high-performance computing; robotics and unmanned systems design, analysis, and operation; unmanned aerial swarms and multi-vehicle cooperation. ACCR is especially interested in research that incorporates proposed student projects. Current topics of research include operational network penetration testing techniques and tools, provably secure network applications, network security stack capability and shortfall analysis, virtual reality exposure therapy, augmented reality for distributed command and control, emergency response augmentation through virtual reality, counter-unmanned aerial systems swarm techniques, unmanned aerial swarm behaviors, business process automation, brain control interfaces, noninvasive methods for cognitive analytics, cognition and context-aware computing, autonomous systems education, and pervasive sensor and networked-connected IoT devices. Researchers are encouraged to propose topics in these areas as well as other cyberspace and computer science topics.

Before submitting to this call, please contact the ACCR Director to discuss opportunities. Currently available facilities, publications and research efforts can be found at www.usafa.edu/research/research-centers/academy-center-cyberspaceresearch/.

Maj Justin Wilson Director, Academy Center for Cyberspace Research USAFA Department of Computer Science Phone: (719) 333-8321 Email: justin.wilson@afacademy.af.edu

8. Mechanical Engineering (Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension)

The Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension (CAStLE) has a two-fold mission in support of the safe, economical sustainment and improved readiness of aging systems and other material degradation related fields.

The first aspect of the CAStLE mission is to perform a wide range of research and technology development projects focused on delivering science and technology (S&T) products required to understand material degradation in structures and systems to various government and commercial sponsors. Making use of the extensive experimental and computational facilities housed in the USAFA Department of Mechanical Engineering and elsewhere, CAStLE pursues a range of research projects in a wide variety of fields. CAStLE places more emphasis on applied research and that part of development not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement.

CAStLE is a leader in the complementary employment of experiment and simulation to solve complex static stability, static strength and fracture mechanics problems. Current research strengths include advanced barrier coatings; static strength and static stability design; corrosion modeling, prevention and control; validation testing, analysis and methods development; computational structural and fracture mechanics; root-cause (failure) analysis; flight data acquisition system development, installation, maintenance and data analysis; educational curriculum research and development; structural risk analysis; forensic structural teardown analysis and research tied to the USAF Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP). The interaction between corrosion, cracking, and other material degradation/damage mechanisms and their effect on structural integrity has been a long-standing interest of CAStLE. There is DoD-level interest in material degradation in structures— to include corrosion, cracking and other service-related damage mechanisms.

The second and no less important aspect of the CAStLE mission is to educate, train, inspire, and otherwise prepare future generations that might become the core of the S&T community within the government and the general professional population. To this end, CAStLE seeks to leverage research and S&T products to provide inspirational educational experiences in relevant fields that support obtaining solutions to material degradation issues in structures. Past research programs have provided cadets and faculty with rich, relevant research experiences while answering critical research needs of our highly varied customer base. New research projects must likewise seek to directly incorporate students or in some way educationally benefit students. Besides student participation elements in our S&T product development projects, CAStLE has education-based projects in distance learning, primary education curriculum research, science center education programs, and the creation of a wide variety of web-based video-delivered educational products. Producing individuals to form the material degradation technical core naturally requires those individuals to be prepared in the sciences, math and other technical areas related to engineering and technical topic areas, which are appropriate to the age and background of the target audience. There is DoD-level interest in educationally preparing and inspiring future generations to pursue careers in material degradation of systems—to include corrosion, cracking and other service-related damage mechanisms.

Engagement with CAStLE prior to submitting a white paper is highly encouraged.

Gregory A. Shoales, Ph.D., P.E., Director, Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension (CAStLE) USAFA Department of Mechanical Engineering Phone: (719) 333-6213 Email: gregory.shoales@afacademy.af.edu

9. Laser Optics Research Center (LORC)

The Laser and Optics Research Center (LORC) performs a range of research tasks in support of the AF, DoD, DARPA, National Science Foundation and other government and commercial sponsors.

Making use of the extensive experimental facilities housed in the USAFA Department of Physics and Meteorology, the Center pursues a range of research efforts. The research programs in this center are geared toward providing all undergraduates with a rich, relevant research experience while answering critical research needs of our highly varied customer base. Researchers may expect extensive access to premier facilities, tremendous latitude of pursuits and single-minded focus on research tasks, but must also seek to incorporate student participation in their projects, typically one to four students per semester.

The Laser and Optics Research Center at the Air Force Academy is involved in a variety of experimental AMO physics basic research. Current projects include precision measurement of atomic lifetimes, atomic polarizabilities and matrix elements of atoms, laser cooling of metastable inert gases, diode pumped alkali lasers (DPAL), and nuclear spectroscopy of Th 229m. Future possible projects might include high harmonic generation, atom interferometry and quantum computing. Research projects are dependent on obtaining external funding.

Interested inquiries should contact the LORC POC before submission to ensure proposals are feasible for funding and of technical interest to the LORC. Researchers are encouraged to propose topics in the above areas and other related subjects.

Lt Col Casey Pellizzari USAFA Department of Physics and Meteorology Phone: (719) 333-6326 Email: casey.pellizzari@afacademy.af.edu

10. Space Physics & Atmospheric Research Center (SPARC)

The Space Physics and Atmospheric Research Center (SPARC) studies the natural environment from the troposphere to the sun in support of AF, DoD, NASA, NSF and other government and commercial sponsors. Making use of the extensive experimental facilities housed in the USAFA Department of Physics and Meteorology, the SPARC pursues a range of efforts. The research program in this center is geared toward providing all undergraduates with a rich, relevant research experience while answering critical research needs of our highly varied customer base. Researchers may expect extensive access to premier facilities, tremendous latitude of pursuits and single-minded focus on research tasks, but must seek to incorporate student participation in their projects, typically two to four students per semester. Substantial effort in this center is directed toward the solution of multi-disciplinary problems which may require skills beyond classical physics disciplines, including plasma and laser physics, advanced miniaturization techniques, use of Micro-Electro-Mechanical- Systems, development of miniaturized automated satellite constellations and advanced data mining techniques for large data systems. The SPARC is a leader in the development of miniaturized payloads for small satellites, and the application of data provided by these payloads to relevant Department of Defense problems. SPARC research interests vary depending on the sponsoring agencies interests.

Current research strengths include several complementary thrusts. Space physics and space weather study the relationship of the space environment and the effects this environment have on mankind.

Topics in space weather can range from experimental, such as developing new instrumentation to measure the space environment, to theoretical, such as developing assimilative models which can be used to predict the space environment into the future. Linked with space physics and space weather, the micro- and nano-satellite thrust develops aggressively miniaturized spacecraft for use in small inexpensive constellations devoted to exploiting the entire range of space activities of interest to sponsors. The applied physics thrust considers all applications of physics to the practical applications of technology of interest to sponsors. In the past, research has included studies of plasma actuators, high speed spectroscopy in support of brief duration phenomena in the troposphere, mesosphere and the ionosphere, studies of the aurora and applications of weather modeling to highly dynamic small scale areas such as the USAFA. Finally, the Department supports a wide range of basic research in astronomy and astrophysics in support of the USAFA observatory.

Matthew G. McHarg, Ph.D.

Director, Space Physics and Atmospheric Research Center USAFA Department of Physics and Meteorology

Phone: (719) 333-2460 (Desk) or (719) 333-3510 (Front Office) Email: matthew.mcharg@afacademy.af.edu

11. Physics Education Research

The Center for Physics Education Research (CPER) existed from 1994-2021 to build a USAFA center of gravity providing impetus, opportunities, and pedagogical tools for physics faculty at USAFA. While no longer a center, the Physics Education Research effort at USAFA engages in and applies Scholarship of Teaching and Learning-like (SoTL) research activities within the Department of Physics and Meteorology and across the institution, to include science and mathematics faculty at the Preparatory School. This effort maintains ties and collaborations with similar research programs nationwide.

The primary goals of USAFA’s Physics Education Research are to:

• Engage in research initiatives that quantify gains in student understanding and appreciation of physics. Efforts in this category leverage the random assignment of students within Core Physics sections to categorize and assess student learning gains in performance within a single semester and across multiple semesters. In addition to analyzing performance on standardized assessments, there is considerable interest in analyzing student response patterns, developing assessment rubrics and understanding prior student knowledge and correlating learning gains with other metrics such as instruction techniques and student engagement.

• Develop and share tools for enhancing teaching and student learning in physics. Of particular interest is the research and development related to pedagogical techniques and supporting tools for the Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) pedagogy, which is a core competency within the Department of Physics and Meteorology. This effort includes the extension of JiTT to develop student self-explanations under a Worked Example model of instruction.

Additional efforts include the development of Worked Example tutorials (to include computer simulations) for both introductory and advanced physics students.

• Maintain a connection between course and curriculum development (i.e., content, assessment methods, pedagogical approach) and physics education research. This effort is actively and intimately involved with several national level efforts to engage in collaborative education research and bring proven research results into classroom, both nationally and at USAFA, as soon as warranted by the assessment results.

Current projects:

Investigating predictors for students who switch from a STEM major to a non-STEM major and vice versa.

Evaluating math interventions to improve success rates in introductory physics courses.

Developing physics modules that incorporate engineering design scenarios.

Proliferating lessons learned on a national level by disseminating research results through conference presentations, workshops and publications.

Compiling and publishing JiTT content for global distribution via Open Educational

Resources (OER).

Improving meteorology education. Of particular interest is evaluating the utility of textbooks for the Physics of Space Weather and designing/testing an assessment of student learning gains in general meteorology courses.

Researchers and faculty are encouraged to propose research topics in these areas and other related subjects.

Capt Joshua Key Physics Education Research Liaison USAFA Department of Physics and Meteorology Phone: (719) 333-3661 Email: joshua.key@afacademy.af.edu

12. Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research (UAS)

The USAFA Center for UAS Research educates cadets as they prepare to become AF Officers, develops premiere UAS research capabilities and faculty and provides world-class UAS research facilities, supporting a real-world experience for our cadets and producing needed research solutions for our military partners and sponsors. The research in support of this Center focuses on providing autonomous, decentralized solutions for systems of UAS that may also incorporate the use of land and water assets. Researchers may expect access to premier facilities, including lightweight UAS vehicles with supporting command and control infrastructure and test and development equipment.

Current research areas support the Center’s goals. These include control system algorithms to direct autonomous vehicles; robotic control and navigation; robust communication systems that meet the challenges of dynamic and unpredictable network topology changes; inexpensive sensor network designs that incorporate fusion techniques for target identification, localization and tracking; and event-driven, multithreaded software architectures. The center is also interested in research related to Sense and Avoid, GPS-denied navigation, and Counter-UAS. Researchers are encouraged to propose topics in these areas or in areas they feel will complement the Center’s work.

George York, Ph.D.

USAFA Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Phone: (719) 333-4210 Email: george.york@afacademy.af.edu

13. Civil and Environmental Engineering Research

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering performs research to help cadets learn how to solve complex problems within the fields of civil and environmental engineering. Our interests include interdisciplinary topics, and reflect the interests of individual faculty members. White papers that demonstrate a link to DoD civil and environmental engineering needs will be considered. Cadet involvement is highly prioritized.

Current topics of faculty research interest are:

Engineering education Subsurface contamination by a variety of contaminants with a focus on modeling (e.g., chlorinated solvents, radionuclides, firefighting foam fluorosurfactants) Sustainable design and construction Design and construction in developing countries Building energy modeling Near-surface geothermal energy topics Soil classification techniques and refinements Laboratory pavement testing Critical infrastructure protection Static testing of structural components Dynamic testing of building and pedestrian structures Vibration serviceability.

On-site research is desired. USAFA has a large field site with heavy construction equipment that may be used to construct experimental earth structures and test beds. At this field site, USAFA has an operational Energy Pile system, consisting of 8 energy piles with 3 of the piles heavily instrumented for observation of thermo-mechanical response of the foundations under both service and artificially high thermal loading. The facility also has instrumentation related to optimizing performance, including measurement of inlet/outlet temperatures, current to HVAC equipment, and temperature and moisture content of the soil surrounding the piles. USAFA also has a fully functional soils laboratory. The department has a 30-ft by 60-ft bay with a 19-ft clear height beneath a 5-ton crane and multiple universal testing machines, including one with a capacity up to 300 kips.

A structural component static testing capability is provided by a 25-ft-long, 8-ft gage width, reaction floor with an MTS hydraulic system and multiple 55-kip actuators. We have access to DoD’s High- Performance Computing Center, which can be used to solve a computationally intensive problem in several civil and environmental engineering disciplines (e.g., discrete element modeling of airfield pavements, flow and transport modeling of contaminants in the subsurface, etc.).

Thomas J. Phelan, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE USAFA Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering Phone: (719) 333-2516 Email: thomas.phelan@afacademy.af.edu

14. Electrical and Computer Engineering Research

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (DFEC) conducts research to produce needed solutions for our military partners and sponsors while providing real-world engineering experience for our cadets and aiding in the professional development of our faculty. Research in the areas of energy security and smart grid technology are sought to include concepts associated with effective demand management, integration of multiple generation sources and communication of energy events.

The DFEC research program currently includes investigations in the following areas:

RF measurement and systems development Circuit development Robotics Renewable energy.

Examples of existing research include improvised explosive device (IED) detection, radar cross section (RCS) analysis, antenna design, portable wind power generation and autonomous robot algorithms. Researchers are encouraged to propose topics in these areas or in areas they feel will complement the department’s work. Engagement with this center prior to submitting a white paper is highly encouraged.

LtCol Neil Rogers

USAFA Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Phone: (719) 333-9472 Email: neil.rogers@afacademy.af.edu

15. Center for Space Situational Awareness Research (CSSAR)

The Center for Space Situational Awareness Research (CSSAR) in the Department of Physics and Meteorology (DFPM) conducts research across a variety of areas in support of the USSF, USAF, DoD, NASA, and other government and commercial sponsors. Making use of USAFA’s extensive facilities, DFPM pursues a range of research efforts. The Space Situational Awareness (SSA) relevant research program is geared toward providing all undergraduates with a rich, relevant research experience while answering critical research needs of our highly varied customer base.

Researchers may expect extensive access to premier facilities, tremendous latitude of pursuits and single-minded focus on research tasks, but must seek to incorporate cadet participation in their projects, typically one to two cadets per semester.

With more nations and commercial companies building, launching, and operating satellites, space has become increasingly congested, contested and competitive. SSA is thus a vital component of U.S. national security due to the role space and cyberspace play in our military operations. CSSAR is developing world-class SSA capabilities and facilities at USAFA to include a 1-meter telescope, the Falcon Telescope Network (FTN), and the command and control services to operate these telescopes in an automated fashion. The FTN is a global network of small aperture optical telescopes focused primarily on satellite characterization through simultaneous observations from multiple illumination geometries. It can also be used for testing handoff and cueing techniques as well as smart network and resource management.

Current research areas of emphasis include space object characterization via resolvable and non-resolvable imaging using various optical remote sensing modalities (e.g., photometry, spectroscopy, and polarimetry), fusion of disparate data sources to maximize the situational awareness, and development of optical sensing capability. Researchers are encouraged to propose topics in these areas and other related subjects. Engagement with CSSAR prior to submitting a white paper is highly encouraged.

Francis K. Chun, Ph.D.

Professor and Director, Center for Space Situational Awareness Research Phone: (719) 333-2601 (Desk) or (719) 333-3510 (Front Office) Email: francis.chun@afacademy.af.edu

b. Research Institute

1. Institute for Information Technology Applications

The Institute for Information Technology Applications (IITA) is an Air Force research institute operating at USAFA with core-funding from AFRL Information Directorate (AFRL/RI). The driving concept of the institute is to provide opportunities for multidisciplinary research that will be of value in solving immediate operational problems for the Air Force, Space Force and Department of Defense, at novel price points.

IITA's vision is to serve as a renowned Air Force research institute for operational and educational information technology application. The IITA seeks proposals in the following relevant areas of research:

AI/Machine Learning (AI/ML): organic algorithms used to inform and improve machine decision making.

Human and Robot Teaming: optimization of swarm search methods and teaming with ground-based humans/robots.

Air and Ground Robotic Autonomy: algorithms to improve decision making and awareness of small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS).

Counter-UAS technology: sensor fusion and related technologies to find, fix, ID, track, and mitigate one or more sUAS.

RF datalink mitigation: detection, identification, and mitigation of RF datalinks.

Data Integration: algorithms for consumption, processing and distribution of and from disparate data sources Visualization: presentation of information in user-defined methodologies that enable intuitive and rapid-decision making Trust and Autonomy: verifiable data integrity coupled with increased adaptation of operational and environmental conditions without human interaction

Research agreements with outside agencies are common. Researchers are encouraged to propose topics in these areas and other related subjects.

David P. Blanks Director, Institute for Information Technology Applications (IITA) Phone: (719) 333-4195 Email: david.blanks@afacademy.af.edu

2. Institute for National Security Studies

The United States Air Force Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) is a strategic policy research institute located within the faculty at the US Air Force Academy. It supports HQ USAF/A10 (Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and other members of the DoD strategic community, as well as other US Government organizations that have strategic interests. INSS serves as a locus for primarily DOD research related to national strategic security policy studies, emphasizing topics in the fields of enduring and emerging strategic security issues, developments shaping the strategic security environment, nuclear deterrence and arms control, nonproliferation/counter-proliferation, evolving concepts of integrated strategic conflict, and the broad changing context of US national security. In addition to its research efforts, the Institute conducts a broad range of other activities, including workshop planning and organization, curricula development and delivery, and scholarly publications.

This announcement specifically addresses additional research and analysis that INSS is conducting internally, through the USAFA and broader military academic communities, and externally as required to meet USAF, DoD, and USG needs. INSS research and analysis focuses on discovering, disseminating, and applying new or expanded traditional and multi-disciplinary knowledge relevant to current and future deterrence and national security strategy and policy. INSS will focus its current efforts on the following areas:

Strategic Security Current and future deterrence challenges Regional/limited strategic conflicts involving at least one nuclear actor Extended deterrence and assurance today and into the future Adversary and ally perceptions of United States extended deterrence and assurance Arms control and cooperative security measures Countering weapons of mass destruction.

Nation…