usafa-baa-2009-1 conformed through amendment 0004.pdf

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)

Amendment 0004

1. Agency Name

United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Colorado Springs, CO

2. Funding Opportunity Number

USAFA–BAA-2009-1

3. Funding Opportunity Title

Research Interests of the United States Air Force Academy

4. Types of Instruments Awarded

Research and Development contracts, grants and cooperative agreements

5. Announcement Type

"Amendment 0004 to Initial Announcement"

6. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers

12.800

7. Due Dates

This announcement remains open until superseded. White papers and proposals are reviewed and evaluated as they are received and may be submitted at any time; however, there is an initial preference for White papers over full applications/proposals. The White paper submission process is discussed in sections IV and V of this BAA. Proposals will be due according to specific instructions contained in a separate Request for Proposal (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. The calls may also include specific terms which apply to the call such as further technical details, cut-off date for White paper and/or proposal submission and any pertinent clauses, such as available Government Furnished Property (GFP) or specific Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) requirements. 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 (IAW FAR 52.215-1(c) (3)) will apply to this BAA.

8. Additional Overview

USAFA’s Dean of Faculty (DF) is announcing to business and academia the intent to solicit proposals for basic and applied research through this BAA. This strategy provides USAFA/DF 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 http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfe/dfer/?catname=research.

USAFA is seeking unclassified, fundamental 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 (note: the first Call may be published with the BAA).

It is anticipated awards will be made in the form of grants, cooperative agreements or contracts. USAFA reserves the right to select and fund for award all, some, or none of the White papers and/or proposals in response to this announcement. All awards are contingent upon the availability of funding for the program areas identified. Unless specifically indicated in a RFP or a call, cost sharing is permitted and encouraged but not required. This announcement will remain open until replaced by a successor BAA or until it is cancelled. White papers and proposals may be submitted at any time.

Awards based on responses to this BAA are considered to be the result of full and open competition. Small businesses are encouraged to submit White papers against any Research Center’s Areas of Interest (solicitations) described within this BAA. The NAICS code, unless otherwise stated in the BAA amendments shall be: 541711, Research and Development in Biotechnology and 541712, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology). The size standard for both NAICS codes is 500 employees. White papers and proposals submitted in response to this BAA shall be in accordance with the requirements of this BAA and its appropriate amendment(s).

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 FedBizOpps.gov and/or Grants.gov website and published when they occur. Interested parties are encouraged to periodically check these websites for updates and 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.

http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfe/dfer/?catname=research http://www.fedbizopps.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/

Table of Contents

I. Funding Opportunity Description

a. Research Centers

1. Aeronautics (Aeronautics Research Center)

2. Aeronautics (Modeling and Simulation Research Center)

3. Astronautics (Space Systems Research Center)

4. Biosystems, Microbial Fuel Cells/Microbial Solar Cells and Biomimetics

5. Chemistry (Chemistry Research Center)

6. Computer Science (Academy Center for Cyberspace Research)

7. Engineering Mechanics (Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension)

8. Laser and Optical Physics (Laser & Optics Research Center)

9. Physics (Space Physics & Atmospheric Research Center)

10. Center for Physics Education Research (CPER)

11. Academy Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

12. Center of Innovation (COI)

13. Electrical and Computer Engineering Research

14. K-12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Outreach & Research

15. Center for Space Situational Awareness Research (Department of Physics)

16. Human Performance Lab

b. Research Institute

1. Institute for Information Technology Applications

c. Other

1. Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership

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

3. Interdepartmental Program of Operations Research and Analytics

II. AWARD INFORMATION

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

I. Funding Opportunity Description

The Air Force Academy 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 for essential 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 is located at the FedBizOpps.gov and Grants.gov website(s). Research areas of interest to the Air Force Academy’s Research Center Directors are described in detail in the sub-sections below.

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, Department of Defense (DoD), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other government and commercial sponsors.

Making use of the extensive experimental facilities housed in the USAFA Department of Aeronautics, the ARC pursues a range of aeronautic and propulsion research efforts, with equal emphasis on basic and applied research. 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 Modeling and Simulation 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 and high bandwidth flight control, with extensive effort in the development of automatic control algorithms and techniques, experimental flow control methodologies, fluid-structure interactions and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Plasma actuator development continues in collaboration with the USAFA Physics Department, investigating basic phenomenology while investigating high-leverage applications for these and other flow control actuators. 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 UAS designs. Flight test of small air vehicles can be arranged. 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 and inlets. Researchers are encouraged to propose topics in these areas and other allied aeronautics subjects.

Currently available facilities and instrumentation can be found at http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfan/research_centers/aero_research_center.cfm.

Thomas E. McLaughlin, Ph.D.

Director, Aeronautics Research Center Department of Aeronautics

PH (719) 333-2613

E-mail: tom.mclaughlin@usafa.edu

2. Aeronautics (Modeling and Simulation Research Center)

The Modeling and Simulation Research Center (M&SRC) is a multi-disciplinary center which shares a dual mission of providing high performance computing resources to USAF Academy cadets and research/teaching personnel, as well as conducting modeling and simulation research tasks in support of Air Force, 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, with equal emphasis on basic and applied research. 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 which answer critical research needs of our highly varied customer base. Researchers http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfan/research_centers/aero_research_center.cfm 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 M&SRC, 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 efforts include: 1) closed loop flow control focused on aero-optic and energy extraction, 2) plasma actuator development, in collaboration with the USAFA Physics Department, 3) chemical, oxygen, iodine laser operation optimization, 4) fluid-structure interaction as applied to aero-elasticity and cargo airdrop operations,

5) massively-separated flow aerodynamics, including turbulence modeling and 6) electrostatic force enhancement of aerosol processes. The M&SRC, in partnership with the USAFA Center of Innovation, is also a leader in the complementary employment of web 2.0/3.0 experiment and simulation on “intelligent networks” including the Flexible Distributed Control/Coordination (FDC) process. FDC has the desired effect of changing and improving decision making within a Command and Control (C2) hierarchy by adding a collaborative element to the decision making process and it may also be able to align social networking to achieve desired effects. This is a complementary thrust with the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS).

Currently available facilities, resources and research efforts can be found at http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfan/research_centers/modeling_and_simulation_center/m odeling_and_simulation.cfm.

Andrew Lofthouse, Lt Col Director, Modeling and Simulation Research Center Department of Aeronautics

PH (719) 333-9526

E-mail: Andrew.Lofthouse@usafa.edu

3. 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 and sounding rockets to conduct research for the Air Force and the Department of Defense. This unique program blends science, technology and organizational skills like none other at the Air Force Academy. The Center is currently operating FalconSAT-3 (launched 2007) and developing FalconSAT-6 (to launch 2015), which hosts DoD Space Experiments Review Board-approved experiments. 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.

http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfan/research_centers/modeling_and_simulation_center/modeling_and_simulation.cfm http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfan/research_centers/modeling_and_simulation_center/modeling_and_simulation.cfm

Currently available facilities, instrumentation and research efforts can be found at http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfas/Research/research.cfm?catname=dfas.

David Barnhart, Lt Col, Ph.D., PE Director, Space Systems Research Center Department of Astronautics

PH (719) 333-3315

E-mail: david.barnhart@usafa.edu

4. Biosystems, Microbial Fuel Cells/Microbial Solar Cells and Microbial

Extremophiles (Life Sciences Research Center)

The Life Sciences Research Center’s (LSRC) primary mission is to support the Air Force’s research programs at Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) and Air Force Research Laboratories (AFRL) through faculty and cadet research efforts.

The USAFA has a long-term vision to establish a multi-year alternative energy program of planning, research and infrastructure investment. The vision involves a mix of research and alternative energy production facilities in solar electric, fuel cells, waste-to-methane and other multiple conservation efforts. Very little data exist regarding the full elucidation of energy transformation within biosystems.

Heretofore, an elegant model has not existed which could be further examined at the omics level in terms of augmenting energy production in microorganisms. A deeper comprehensive investigation of the means by which photosynthetic organisms can be harnessed while capturing solar energy for conversion to chemical energy would be of value in emerging technologies such as bioelectrochemical systems. Such systems would include microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and Microbial Solar Cells (MSCs). This research would be in direct support of the Air Force research objectives which include the “exploration of natural and synthetic processes, mechanisms and/or pathways for understanding energy production in biosystems.”

Given the recent high interest in the use of microbial fuel cells (MFC) in alternative energy production, our Life Sciences Research Center within the Department of Biology has developed a growing MFC research program. To this end, we are seeking research partnerships in developing the growth and metabolic properties of certain microbial organisms for the purposes of optimizing MFC energy production.

Ultimately, our goal is to have these MFCs function on a sustainable basis through the use of photosynthetic organisms. These types of fuels cells are known as Microbial Solar Cells (MSCs) which run in combination with varying photosynthetic organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria. Research efforts will focus on strain section/cultivation/manipulation to improve the overall metabolism of select photosynthetic/microbial cultures to increase renewable energy capability. A http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfas/Research/research.cfm?catname=dfas mailto:david.barnhart@usafa.edu proposed solution would include a commercial or academic partner with experience in conducting and participating in R&D relating to the production of MFCs/MSCs along with placing an exceptional research scientist at USAFA with an extensive background in associated fundamental microbial mechanisms across the biotic-abiotic interface.

Additionally, our center is also interested in the extremophiles area and focused on discovering and understanding basic natural mechanisms used by organisms that could be used to either harden/repair soft material-based devices or provide energy to small bio-sensing devices. This will enable the U.S. Air Force to employ biological systems with optimum performance and extended lifetimes. As protein and nucleic acid molecules are increasingly used as catalysts, sensors, and as materials, it will be necessary to understand how we can utilize these molecules in extreme environments, with the ability to regulate the desired function as conditions change, and to store devices for prolonged periods of time. Areas of interest include; the mechanisms for survival and protein stability in extremophilic archaea, and enzymatic engineering for faster catalysis in materials identification or degradation.

Potential collaboration with on-going research at nonprofit, educational and for-profit institutions is desired. On-site research is desired. A PhD in biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology, bioengineering, or a related field is desired. A recipient with prior experience with biological fuel cells (microbial and/or photosynthetic) and/or extremophiles is desired. Collaboration is desired to include leadership and guidance on the research areas proposed for laboratory technicians/students, partner scientists, chemists and engineers on experimental work at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and nanotechnology.

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 a number of academic departments aside from Biology such as Chemistry (biochemistry), Engineering (model production), and Management (project analysis). Development of this research thrust may also result in potential collaboration opportunities with other academia, private companies and other Air Force research agencies.

Donald V. Veverka, Ph.D.

Director, Life Sciences Research Center Department of Biology

PH (719) 333-9670

E-mail: don.veverka@usafa.edu mailto:don.veverka@usafa.edu

5. Chemistry (Chemistry Research Center)

The Chemistry Research Center (CRC) engages in a broad range of basic and applied research topics in support of the Air Force and DoD technology base. An essential feature of the projects chosen for study is the active participation of cadets who are chemistry, biochemistry and materials chemistry majors. The cadet research efforts are mentored and guided by Academy military and civilian faculty members, with significant collaboration by contractors and academic partners. The expertise, knowledge and creativity of scientists who are from outside of the Air Force Academy are an important part of the research efforts.

Some current topics of interest in the CRC are renewable energy materials, polymer chemistry with emphasis in organic electronics and fluoropolymer coatings, energetic materials, organometallic chemistry of fulvenes and carbon aerogels.

Research may take place on-site using the laboratories and analytical instrumentation located in the Department of Chemistry at the US Air Force Academy (USAFA). A short description of the chemistry research facilities and equipment is available at http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfc/research.cfm?catname=dfc.

Scott T. Iacono Director, Chemistry Research Center Department of Chemistry

PH (719) 333-6005

E-mail: scott.iacono@usafa.edu

6. Computer Science (Academy Center for Cyberspace Research)

The Academy Center for Cyberspace Research (ACCR) conducts research in a wide range of basic and applied areas within the field of Computer Science in support of the Air Force, DoD and other government and commercial sponsors.

The center seeks to develop cadets as cyber innovators by participation in and exposure to research projects in the domain of cyberspace. All cadets in the Computer Science major receive research experience through independent studies, course projects and summer research opportunities. Current research focus areas for ACCR include cyberspace education and training, offensive and defensive cyber-warfare and information assurance. State of the art computing facilities are available to students and researchers for conducting studies in an isolated network environment running virtual machine (VM) software for rapid reconfiguration and testing. Parallel architectures are also available for studies using neural networks and parallel algorithms. ACCR is especially interested in research with proposed student projects. Current topics of interest include the application of concurrent coding theory to the development of jam resistant communications without requiring a shared secret, Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, vulnerabilities and defenses, identifying and categorizing malware, finding http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfc/research.cfm?catname=dfc application and web vulnerabilities and cyber situational awareness. Researchers are encouraged to propose topics in these areas as well as other cyberspace topics.

Currently available facilities, publications and research efforts can be found at http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfe/dfer/centers/accr/.

Martin C. Carlisle, Ph.D.

Director, Academy Center for Cyberspace Research Department of Computer Science

PH (719) 333-3590

E-mail: martin.carlisle@usafa.edu

7. Engineering Mechanics (Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension)

The Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension (CAStLE) performs a range of structural integrity research tasks in support of Air Force, DoD, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), NASA and other government, academic and commercial sponsors. Making use of the extensive experimental and computational facilities housed in the USAFA Department of Engineering Mechanics, CAStLE pursues a range of engineering mechanics, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, corrosion engineering and material science research efforts, with more emphasis on applied research and that part of development not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement. 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. CAStLE, in partnership with the USAFA Modeling and Simulation Center, 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:

high temperature materials development; advanced barrier coatings; static strength, static stability design, corrosion modeling, prevention and control; validation testing, analysis and methods development, computational structural and fracture mechanics; failure analysis, flight data acquisition system development, installation, maintenance and data analysis; structural risk analysis; and research tied to the USAF Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP). The interaction between corrosion and cracking 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. Researchers are encouraged to propose topics in these areas and other allied integrity subjects.

http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfe/dfer/centers/accr/ http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfe/dfer/centers/castle/.

Gregory A. Shoales, Ph.D.,P.E., Director Center for Aircraft Structural Life Extension (CAStLE) Department of Engineering Mechanics

PH (719) 333-6213

E-Mail: gregory.shoales@usafa.edu

8. Laser and Optical Physics (Laser & Optics Research Center)

The Laser and Optics Research Center (LORC) performs a range of research tasks in support of the Air Force, DoD, DOE, National Science Foundation (NSF) and other government and commercial sponsors. Making use of the extensive experimental facilities housed in the USAFA Department of Physics, the Center pursues a range of research efforts, with an emphasis on basic research. 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 seek to incorporate student participation in their projects, typically two to four students per semester.

Current research areas of emphasis comprise five broad areas. In the atomic physics area, precision measurements of atomic properties are a primary focus of investigation. These include measurements of atomic state lifetimes and branching ratios in alkalis such as cesium, sodium, potassium and rubidium along with alkaline-earth elements such as strontium which have atomic clock applications.

Also the interaction of alkali atoms with inert gases is being studied for their collisional excitation transfer properties which are important to the operation of alkali lasers. This area is closely related to our second area of emphasis: the study of diode-pumped alkali lasers (DPAL). Key objectives of the DPAL research program are investigating their potential for scaling to high average power, investigating various amplifier and resonator configurations and improving the spectral and spatial output characteristics of high power semiconductor diode pump sources.

Applications such as second harmonic generation and sum frequency generation are also part of this effort. Other gas lasers such as carbon monoxide lasers operating infrared wavelengths are also investigated.

Fiber laser research involves novel fiber designs including photonic crystal fibers and acoustically-engineered fibers for the suppression of non-linear effects in high-power fiber lasers, fiber components necessary for coherent beam combining, fiber laser and amplifier characterization, novel fiber manufacturing and processing methods, high-brightness, efficient, wavelength-stabilized pump sources, modeling http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfe/dfer/centers/castle/ and simulation of fiber lasers and amplifiers and fiber laser applications including but not limited to remote sensing, tracking, directed energy weapons and communications.

High-performance imaging research is focused on novel wavefront measurement and manipulation techniques including holographic wavefront sensing and correction and photon sieve telescopes. Key objectives include developing and demonstrating imaging technology suitable for integration into rugged compact devices and aerospace platforms.

Nanomaterials research includes the application of novel materials structures for the manipulation of light including negative index materials, phonon-photon superlattices, tunable dielectrics, ferro-electric and ferro-magnetic oxides, surface plasmonics and black silicon for photo-detector and solar cell applications.

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

Martin D. Johnson Deputy Director, Laser & Optics Research Center Department of Physics (USAFA/DFP)

PH (719) 333-2579

E-mail: martin.johnson@usafa.edu

9. Physics (Space Physics & Atmospheric Research Center)

The Space Physics and Atmospheric Research Center (SPARC) studies the natural environment from the troposphere to the sun in support of Air Force, DoD, NASA, NSF and other government and commercial sponsors. Making use of the extensive experimental facilities housed in the USAFA Department of Physics, the SPARC pursues a range of efforts, with equal emphasis on basic and applied research. 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 MicroElectroMechanicalSystems (MEMS), development of miniaturized automated satellite constellations and advanced data mining techniques for large data systems. The SPARC, in partnership with the USAFA Space Systems Research Center, is a leader in the development of miniaturized payloads for small satellites.

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 to sponsors and in the past 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 Air Force Academy.

Finally, the Department supports a wide range of basic research in astronomy and astrophysics in support of the Academy observatory.

Matthew G. McHarg, Ph.D.

Director of Space Physics and Atmospheric Research Center Department of Physics

PH (719) 333-2460 (Desk), PH (719) 333-3510 (Front Office) E-mail: Matthew.Mcharg@usafa.edu

10. Center for Physics Education Research (CPER)

The Center for Physics Education Research (CPER) was founded in 1994 to build a USAFA center of gravity providing impetus, opportunities and tools for physics faculty at USAFA and nationwide, as well as engage in and apply Scholarship of Teaching and Learning-like (SoTL) research activities within the Department of Physics. The CPER maintains extensive ties and collaborations with similar research programs nationwide.

The primary goals of the CPER 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 gains in performance of students 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 development of pedagogical techniques and supporting tools for the Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) initiative, the signature CPER effort. This effort includes the extension of JiTT to develop student Self-Explanations under a Worked Example model of instruction.

Additional efforts include development of tutorials (to include computer simulations) for both beginning and intermediate physics students.

Maintain a connection between course and curriculum development (content, assessment methods, pedagogical approach) and physics education research. CPER is actively and intimately involved with several national level efforts to engage in collaborative education research and bring the research results into the classrooms, both nationally and at USAFA, as soon as warranted by the assessment results. Current research in this area includes Do-It-Yourself Modeling (DIY), examination of concept visualization techniques in eight disciplines ranging from Astronomy to Sociology, development of classroom lessons based on the group’s prior work and developing and testing mobile technology techniques for monitoring student engagement. These topics (and supporting grants) are in the NSF TUES (Transforming Undergraduate Education in Science) category.

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

In addition to disseminating results and lessons learned in Goals 1-3 on a national level, CPER personnel are also developing tutorials, annotating JiTT content for national distribution and authoring a first-ever undergraduate textbook in the Physics of Space Weather.

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

Nathan Terry, Maj, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Physics Education Research Department of Physics (USAFA/DFP)

PH (719)333-0869

E-mail: nathan.terry@usafa.edu

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

The Academy Center for UAS Research educates cadets as they prepare to become Air Force 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. Researchers are encouraged to propose topics in these areas or in areas they feel will complement the Center’s work.

John Porche, Lt Col Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

PH (719) 333-1376

E-mail: john.porche@usafa.edu

12. Center of Innovation (COI)

The USAFA COI performs a wide range of cadet focused research and innovation tasks, projects and programs in support of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T), Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), DoD, and Intelligence Agencies. The COI also focuses on cadet research and innovations that support a Title III Section 313 DHS S&T program called “Technology Clearinghouse to Encourage and Support Innovative Solutions to Enhance Homeland Security.” The innovation program places equal emphasis on basic and applied research as well as prototyping and field testing novel technologies for use by warfighters and first responders. The COI focuses on creating novel linkages between old and new technologies that can lead to game changing process innovations. The COI research program is geared toward providing all undergraduates with a rich, relevant research and innovation experience while answering critical 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 and innovation tasks, but must incorporate student participation in their projects, typically two to four students per semester. Substantial effort in this center is focused on how cadets would employ web 2.0/3.0 collaborative tools to enhance the ability of warfighters and first responders to achieve desired effects; as well as how cadets conduct distributed collaboration using 3D Worlds. Specifically, the COI is interested in championing innovations in the cyber and IT areas that blend the cadet’s collaborative social networking skills with the state-of-the art networks, computational nodes, trusted enclaves, delayed tolerant networks, and disruptive software applications. Another focus of effort is how cadets could conduct collaborative intelligence using distributed teams; stated differently, how cadets would use distributed collaborative teams to solve hard problems: Distributed Collaborative Intelligence.

The COI is also interested in research to achieve a disruptive process innovation called Flexible Distributed Control/Coordination (FDC). FDC has the desired effect of changing and improving decision making within a Command and Control (C2) hierarchy adding a collaborative element to the decision making process. It is believed FDC can achieve what is referred to as 3rd to 6th degree effects that cannot be accomplished within a traditional hierarchical organization. FDC may also be able to align social networking to achieve desired effects. Conducting basic research of different emerging disruptive technologies that would enable a FDC capability is of strong interest and can result in both hardware and software capabilities as well as blend of the both hardware and software to achieve a FDC capability. The improvements may come as a result of improved information flow between hierarchies and throughout the layers of a hierarchy and alignment of desired effects much the same way as human interactions are guided today when working together as a team with defined goals.

The COI is also interested in research related to homeland security of Cyber Systems; and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) (SCADA systems) used in vertical markets defined as part of the critical infrastructure industries, vital to the welfare of the United States. This research also includes Cyber Physical Security (CPS) protecting Industrial Control Systems. SCADA research interests include Distributed ICS security; Control Center security (protecting the ICS Control Centers managing enterprises from cyber-attacks); Access Control of SCADA systems;

Detection of ICS anomalies that may attack ICS systems.

Current research strengths include several complementary thrusts. Crowdsourcing in a DoD/DHS environment; Virtual SCIFs capability; Silicon Photonics; Silicon Energy Storage; Core Routing & Switching; ad hoc encrypted mobility; IP and digital communications; virtualization; media and content and network management.

Immersive connected innovations interest include real-time ray tracing (3D water and 3D display); 3-D Internet and data visualization; Co-Processor Memory Sharing for Visual Computing; Confrontational Computing: Socializing Around Arguments on the Web; Human-Centric Vision of Consumer Applications; 2D Interconnect for Tera-scale Processors; Collaborative Visual Analytics in Virtual Worlds; Parallel Programming Tools: Enhancing Computer Vision; Bringing Mobility to Virtual Worlds; Everyday Sensing and Perception; Clone Cloud: Augmented Smartphone Applications Through Cloud Execution; Distributed Applications with Adaptable Security; Router Bricks: Enabling General-Purpose Network Infrastructure; Cloud Computing - near term platform approaches, security federation, enterprise collaboration and scalable data storage; internet-scale general-purpose information exchange service facilitates, controls and monitors the secure borderless delivery of messages among a wide range of internet-connected devices and enterprise applications; Collaborative Data Management - Automatic assignment of semantics to data; Software Routers; SCADA and Cyber Physical Security Research.

Researchers are encouraged to propose research topics in these areas and other allied COI subjects.

Terry Pierce, Ph.D.

Director USAFA Center of Innovation Special Advisor for Disruptive Innovation DHS S&T

PH (719) 333-3974

E-mail: terry.pierce@usafa.edu

13. 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 Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) applications Circuit development Robotics Renewable energy

Researchers may expect access to fully equipped facilities, including a state-of-the-art Anechoic Chamber and RF laboratory, MEMs design and test capabilities, various robotics platforms and test and development equipment as well as printed circuit board prototyping support. Examples of existing research include improvised explosive device (IED) detection, radar cross section (RCS) analysis, MEMs-based 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.

Todd Branchflower, Capt Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

PH (719) 333-6556

E-mail: todd.branchflower@usafa.edu

14. K-12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Research & Outreach

The Academy’s research centers and Air Force research institutes are described at http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfe/dfer/index.cfm?catname=research. Most serve the Academy’s STEM research mission directly, which in turn addresses the nation’s impending shortfall in the STEM workforce. Academy faculty members have individually performed a wide variety of STEM research and outreach tasks at both local and national levels as part of their professional commitments to the community for many years. In 2010, the Academy created the K-12 STEM Outreach & Research Center to sustain and expand STEM outreach. The Center’s goal is to address Air Force and DoD goals to enhance the quality of K-12 STEM education and encourage greater numbers of US citizen high school graduates to pursue college degrees and careers in STEM.

The Center brings the extensive facilities at the Academy, the business and technical talents of its faculty and its leadership role in the community and nation to partnerships with universities, K-12 school systems, nonprofit foundations, professional and industry societies and other agencies in southern Colorado (loosely defined as south of the Palmer Divide). Those partnerships provide K-12 teachers and students in southern Colorado with rich and wide experiences in STEM, including:

Training of K-12 educators, with emphasis on improved methods of organizing and providing coherent curriculum packages from national providers (e.g., NASA, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics, American Chemical Society, Civil Air Patrol).

“Kindle the fire of curiosity” experiences for younger K-12 students and teachers and “sustainment of interest” experiences for older K-12 students and teachers.

Researchers may expect seasonal (i.e., summer) access to premier classroom and laboratory facilities, tremendous latitude in defining pursuits and single-minded focus on STEM education, but they must seek to incorporate K-12 faculty and student participation in all their projects. Researchers are encouraged to submit science-based proposals in these and associated STEM outreach areas which develop and implement coordinated programs that lend themselves to longitudinal studies of their efficacy.

http://www.usafa.edu/?catname=Dean%20of%20Faculty.

Rob Passinault, Lt Col Director, USAF Academy K-12 STEM Outreach & Research Center http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfe/dfer/index.cfm?catname=research http://www.usafa.edu/?catname=Dean%20of%20Faculty

HQ USAFA/DFAN

PH (719) 333-2681

E-mail: rob.passinault@usafa.edu

Alternate: Robert Kraus, Col, Ph.D.

Chief Scientist and Director of Research

USAFA/DFER

PH (719) 333-4195

E-mail: robert.kraus@usafa.edu

15. Center for Space Situational Awareness Research (Department of Physics)

The Center for Space Situational Awareness Research (CSSAR) in the Department of Physics (DFP) conducts research across a variety of areas in support of the Air Force, DoD, NASA and other government and commercial sponsors. Making use of USAFA’s extensive experimental facilities housed in several academic departments, DFP pursues a range of research efforts, with an emphasis on basic and applied research. The Space Situational Awareness (SSA) relevant research programs 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 seek to incorporate cadet participation in their projects, typically one to two cadets per semester.

With more nations building and launching 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 the 2-meter Fast-Tracking Telescope (FTT), the Falcon Telescope Network (FTN), the Falcon Radar Fence (FRF) and the Cadet Space Operations Center (CSOC). The FTN is a global network of small aperture robotic optical telescopes focused on satellite characterization through simultaneous observations from multiple illumination geometries. It will also be used for testing handoff and cueing techniques as well as smart network and resource management. The CSOC will be the hub in which all of USAFA sensors are operated and controlled. The CSOC will be a test bed for new SSA algorithms that allow for improved capability in maintaining SSA leading to predictive analysis and assessment.

Current research areas of emphasis include space object characterization via resolvable and non-resolvable imaging using optical and radar observations, improvements to satellite orbit determination and prediction (methodology, algorithms and processing), modeling of space surveillance sensors to enhance algorithm development and fusion of disparate data sources to maximize the situational awareness. Researchers are encouraged to propose topics in these areas and other related subjects.

Francis K. Chun, Ph.D.

Professor of Physics PH (719) 333-2601 (Desk), PH (719) 333-3510 (Front Office) E-mail: Francis.Chun@usafa.edu

16. Human Performance Lab

The body of the Airman is as important to mission success as technology and weapons. The USAF Academy’s Human Performance Lab (HPL) is a key element to identifying how the Air Force can keep our Airmen physically safe as they complete their missions in a wide variety of terrains and environments.

Under the direction of the USAFA Athletic Department, the HPL applies sports science principles to improve Academy athletic teams and individual cadet performance. Coaches, cadet athletes and cadets receive specific physiological information by way of testing, research, training and education. The lab also provides subject matter expertise on the Air Force fitness program and battlefield Airman human performance issues, offering scientific data through research and exercise science principles.