Background: Mr. Aberle has worked for the Army as a civil servant at Redstone Arsenal for 30 years. Mr. Aberle has spent the majority of his career researching, developing, and managing science and technology efforts relating to high energy lasers. For the past 18 years he has been leading efforts to advance the state-of-the-art in electrically driven high energy laser technologies and advanced beam control technologies for the Army at the Space and Missile Defense Command Technical Center. Mr. Aberle currently serves as the Director for Directed Energy and oversees the majority of the science and technology dollars the Army currently invests in high energy laser, laser lethality, and beam control research and development. Over the past 3 three years Mr. Aberle has successfully transitioned high energy laser and beam control technology, developed and demonstrated at SDMC, into 4 major high energy laser prototype weapon systems being assembled and fielded by the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technology Office, Directed Energy Project Office for the Army.
Candidate's Statement: I have been working laser technology development and demonstrations for over 20 years for the Army. The Army is on the verge of transitioning high energy laser weapon technology into program(s) of record through the rapid prototyping of high energy laser and high power microwave systems at the RCCTO/DEPO. The DEPS organization, and the professional engineers and scientists that are represented in the DEPS community, have been instrumental in creating the collaborative environments and maturing high energy laser and high power microwave technology to the point that all the services are acting upon the warfighter demands for innovative and new weapon systems to deal with emerging threats. Laser weapon systems directly meet that need and the DEPS community is central to helping make sure the laser and high power microwave system technology base and knowledge is ready to continue responding. If elected as a DEPS board member, I will strive to ensure that the DEPS remains committed to bringing professionals together for collaboration and that the proverbial 'ball' keeps moving in the right direction. DEPS has done a lot and there's still more to do. My goal is to ensure that the directed energy community, cross-service, cross-organization, and across industry all work together for the benefit of our warfighters that face uncertain future threats and will make every effort to ensure high energy laser and high power microwave technology is ready and mature to effectively defeat those threats.
Chris Behre
Background: Chris Behre is currently the Directed Energy Weapons Technical Specialist to the Director for Electronic Warfare in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD (A&S)). In this capacity, he works directly with Principal Director for Directed Energy Modernization, OUSD (R&E) to maintain visibility across the Under Secretariats. Mr. Behre has been working in Directed Energy for over 20 years, beginning with a position in the optics group at Thomas Jefferson Laboratory, working on the Free Electron Laser. In 2006, Mr. Behre transitioned to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division where he established a laser lethality laboratory, open air laser range testing and became the Laser and Optics Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead for the Navy Laser Weapon System (LaWS). Mr. Behre continued to help lead programs such as the Solid State Laser - Technology Maturation (SSL-TM) and Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) Future Naval Capability at the IPT level until he accepted a detail to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) for Space Policy in 2014. At OSD Space Policy, Mr. Behre overhauled the policy for "Management of Laser Illumination of Objects in Space" enabling the deployment of laser weapon systems within DoD Policy and reducing the burden on laser system testing. He is a Principal Engineer at Dahlgren, where he was recently Surface Navy Laser Weapon System Technical Director on the Directed Energy Division Staff at Dahlgren, providing oversight and guidance to the Navy Laser Family of Systems, which is deploying ten laser weapon systems between 2018-2023. Mr. Behre has a Bachelor's of Science in Electronic Engineering with a minor in Physics from Old Dominion University and Masters of Science in Systems Engineering with a concentration in Directed Energy, from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Candidate's Statement: Over the past three years, Chris Behre has worked with fellow Board members and the Executive Director to make the decisions that kept the organization solvent and relevant through COVID. They implemented virtual Events to maintain the community and brought back in person events as soon as possible. During these same three years, multiple services have deployed several Directed Energy Weapons, and the DoD investment into Directed Energy has increased.
Moving forward as a member of the Board, Mr. Behre will work across services, agencies and industry though the DEPS community ensure we continue to meet the increasing demand signal. He will also continue outreach to our warfighters, increasing their membership in our organization so that they fully understand the deployed capability we have today and the potential of future systems given consistent investment.
Iain McKinnie
Background: Dr. Iain McKinnie has devoted his career to a range of technical, business and leadership roles in lasers and optics. A Graduate of Oxford and Manchester Universities in the UK with a Ph.D. in Laser Physics, Iain went on to become a Fellow of the Royal Society (UK); Professor of Physics (University of Otago); CEO of an ultrashort pulse laser company (KM-Labs); Senior Research Scientist in Laser Radar & DE (Lockheed Martin Coherent Tech); and a member of a business leadership team in DE (Lockheed Martin Laser and Sensor Systems). He has been an active member of the US DE Community since securing a first contract with DE-JTO in 2001, and has consistently advocated for Directed Energy throughout the past 20 years with DoD and Congress. In recent years he has held a number of leadership roles on DE programs/pursuits including: Army DE-MSHORAD and HEL-TVD (now Valkyrie); Navy HELIOS; and Air Force SHiELD LANCE.
Dr. McKinnie has chaired several DEPS meetings including the 2021 S&T Symposium (co-chair with Mark Neice), the2009 Solid State and Diode Laser Technology Review (now the AHPL) and the Ultrashort Pulse Laser Workshop 2010 and 2011 (co-chair with Gerald Manke). He has served as conference technical chair and session chair on many occasions for DEPS, and has chaired conferences and symposia for other organizations including the Optical Society of America (CLEO). He has also published and presented widely in the DE and broader scientific communities.
Dr. McKinnie is the Director for Science and Technology at Raytheon Intelligence and Space (RI&S), a multi-$B Business. In that capacity he is responsible for execution of the RI&S IRAD investment portfolio and for developing technology strategy as well as identifying technology trends, gaps and solutions. In his prior role he served as Technical Area Director for EO/IR & Laser Technology for Raytheon.
Candidate's Statement: Directed Energy is entering a very important – possibly a make or break – period. DEPS has played a key role in the welcome increase in DoD DE funding to $1B dollar levels in each of the past few years. But, with this increase comes the expectation that directed energy weapons will, at last, transition to become effective tools to protect our warfighters. Although significant technological advances continue to be achieved and DE systems are starting to be operated by warfighters on relevant platforms, there is, as yet, no funded program of record that would enable deployment of significant numbers of DE systems in the field. As each year passes without this transition occurring, pressure to re-allocate precious S&T funds from DoD budgets and from industry IRAD budgets will only increase. Industry , in partnership with DoD Congress and DEPS, has a vital role to play in ensuring that a successful and timely transition to our warfighters does take place. Specifically, industry must partner to show that DE weapons systems can be: (1) affordable in realistic production numbers; (2) supported by the industry manufacturing base for delivery in sufficient numbers on the needed timescale; (3) robust and reliable in operation; and (4) simple to operate. Further, industry must support DoD partners in showing weapon system viability (operational analysis anchored to demonstrations) with viable DOTMLPF. If elected to the Board of Directors, I will be honored to play a highly active role in support of the Society’s efforts to advocate for the vital contribution that directed energy can make, in the near term, to the protection of our troops.
Stephanie Miller
Background:Stephanie Miller has had the privilege of working in the Directed Energy (DE) community for 32 years and is best known for her expertise in radio frequency (RF) bioeffects and non-lethal weapons (NLWs). In 2007, she was elected to the Institute for Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) Committee on Man and Radiation (COMAR) and is proud to be both an Air Force Research Laboratory and DEPS Fellow. She launched the first Effects Mitigation Conference for DEPS and has chaired countless technical sessions. Miller has blazed many trails throughout her career building and leading an internationally recognized team with incomparable research capabilities for defining the fundamental biological effects in response to DE exposures. Their efforts have resulted in modifications to overly restrictive international safety standards, maximizing the DoD's ability to fully exploit the electromagnetic spectrum for operational use. As the Bioeffects Program Manager for the Active Denial System (ADS) Joint Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD), she was charged with characterizing the biological effects of ADS and optimizing system parameters for maximal safety and effectiveness. Her 22-member team of AF and Navy scientists crafted a comprehensive bioeffects research program the results of which enabled the first live-fire force-on-force military utility assessments of a directed energy weapon (DEW). The DoD Human Effects Advisory Panel recognized this body of work as the "gold standard for non-lethal weapons." Their seminal work on ADS along with a bit of initiative led to the first ever Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition Technology and Logistics)-approved alternate exposure policy permitting live-fire demonstrations, training, and assessments of the system including an Extended User Evaluation. To attain this goal, Miller presented the biological effects of ADS to numerous DoD leaders including the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Deputy Director, J8, Assistant Secretaries of Defense for Health Affairs and Public Affairs, and Directors, Defense Research and Engineering and Operational Test and Evaluation, addressing the individual concerns of each of these senior decision makers. She also solidified the AF's strategic plan for DE. After identifying 12 critical flight plan shortfalls, the team and Miller crafted three operational use cases, integrated Major Command inputs, and defined the AF's 28-item flight plan that directs activities throughout the AF in support of the SECAF and CSAF's vision for DEW implementation.
Today, as Chief of the Bioeffects Division, she defines, leads, and manages the AF bioeffects research portfolio. Under her leadership, this team has become the first to visualize responses to DE at the molecular level and is on the path to the first near real time modeling and simulation suite of tools for predicting RF and laser energy deposition and subsequent bioeffects in complex environments for fire control systems and probabilistic risk assessments.
Candidate's Statement: The field of DE presents complex technical and political challenges whether demonstrating the effectiveness of a revolutionary anti-personnel NLW, harmonizing international exposure standards, or managing aero optics. I will advocate for the importance of an integrated proactive approach to facilitating the transition of these game-changing technologies. I have seen members of this community develop incredible capabilities for our warfighters, but fall short of a true transition and employment because something was miscommunicated, a key player was not briefed, or some piece of the DOTMLPF-P (doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, facilities, and policy) had not been considered. I believe DEPS is uniquely poised to inform and, indeed, influence decision makers and those needed to make the full integration of DE into the US inventory a reality. We must ensure that accurate, useful, appropriate information is being shared in the broadest means available. It is important to approach the broader community via publications, conferences, and educational campaigns, not only to educate others, but to allow others to educate us. Free flowing dialogue is essential to the introduction of transformational technology. I also believe strongly in the importance of developing the next generation of scientists and engineers (S&Es). Many members of DEPS bring a wealth of experience to the community. I suggest we look at providing a mechanism by which new S&Es could adopt a mentor.
Greg Quarles
Background:Dr. Gregory Quarles was hired as the CEO and Board member for Tucson-based Applied Energetics, Inc, in May 2019, a recognized leading company developing ultrashort-pulse lasers, frequency agile optical sources, and laser guided energy technology, all focused in the Directed Energy sector. He had previously served on the AE Scientific Advisory Board. Prior to joining Applied Energetics, Dr. Quarles served as the Chief Scientific Officer for The Optical Society since November of 2015. He is an experienced Chief Executive Officer, Board Member and renowned physicist with 25 years of experience driving cutting-edge laser, optics and photonics technology development and operations within optical materials and defense-related companies. Greg is a globally recognized leader for his strategic partnerships with the Department of Defense, the U.S. Congress, and his innovative work in the progression of optical materials research, specifically developing new laser devices for medical, military and industrial applications. He has also spent the past five years interacting with global leaders in the optics, photonics, and academic communities discussing policy and funding opportunities. Greg has been awarded five patents related to his research in solid-state lasers, has two pending, and has published over 100 peer-reviewed and conference publications.
Greg was a founder, COO and Managing Partner of EdgeLight Incorporated, a start-up enterprise pioneering wearable light therapy in Tucson, AZ. He has also managed his own consulting firm since 2013, as President and CEO of Opto-Electronics Management Network, specializing in the contributing direction to the lasers and materials industry, with his primary focus on the defense, aerospace, and the nanomaterials sectors. Prior to starting this consulting business, Greg served as the CEO at B.E. Meyers & Co., Inc., a pioneering company in the development and manufacturing of opto-electronic technology and related products used in defense and law enforcement applications. His previous experience includes serving on 8 Corporate and not-for-profit Boards, including the OSA Board of Directors, working at II-VI Incorporated for 18 years and the Director of RD, and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory for 5 years where he was a part of the first team in the DOD to develop a diode-pumped IRCM platform. Greg has served the past 7 years on the Department of Commerce’s SITAC Committee (Sensors and Instrumentation Technology Advisory Committee) advising on export control revisions for the lasers and directed energy sectors. Dr. Quarles is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and holds a Ph.D. and MS in Physics, and a dual BS in Math and Physics. He has served as Assistant Editor for both Optical Engineering and the IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics and is a Fellow of both the Optical Society and SPIE and a Senior Member of IEEE.
Candidate's Statement: I am honored to have been a part of this Directed Energy community for nearly my entire career. My PhD research was funded by a fellowship by what was then the Air Force Weapons Lab in Albuquerque, and my involvement has continued to my position today, some 30 years later. My DEPS engagement has included being actively involved as a committee member for the DEPS and SSDLTR meetings for over a decade. I have witnessed the emergence and deployment of solid-state DE laser platforms exceeding 100 kW and have been involved in the development and delivery of component level technologies which have included high-damage threshold optics, thin disk gain media, and ceramic laser hosts previously while at II-VI Incorporated. Part of my experience has included leading BE Meyers to production hardening and delivering high volume optical disrupter and dazzler technology for the Marines and Army programs of record. And now at Applied Energetics we are developing the next disruptive directed energy system utilizing ultrashort pulse optical systems. I am asking for your support as a Board member because I understand that offering a directed energy solution is often just one step of the process. I see an opportunity to incorporate greater outreach to improve the testing and acceptance of a multilayered set of technologies for threat intercept. This starts with increasing the visibility of Directed Energy opportunities to students that can possibly hold clearances during graduate school and post-graduation. Filling this pipeline with qualified scientists and engineers is necessary to continue to make strides to keep the US in a leadership position in global DE systems. Secondly, I can assist DEPS in expanding prominence and teaming opportunities with other parallel and complimentary societies, such as MSS, OSA, LIA and SPIE to increase visibility to future members and contributors to DEPS. Finally, I support a dedicated effort of public policy and advocacy for continuing the double-digit year over year growth in federal budget for all aspects of Directed Energy platforms from the basic R&D level to the program of record and acquisition line items. Continuing education for both the defense department leadership to the congressional appropriators is imperative for sustaining this growth and acceptance of DE platforms as a necessity for national security. My experience, insights and relationships across a wide-range of research, developmental, operational, strategic, and advocacy teams will enable me to be an effective board member for DEPS and allow me to facilitate implementation of solutions for our members.
