Course 1. Introduction to High Energy Laser Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Public Release
Instructor: John Albertine, Consultant
Duration: Half-day course, starts at 0800 on Monday, 14 Sept
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: This lecture will introduce the field of HEL weapons and
their associated technologies using an interweaving of technical requirements, history, and
accomplishments. The basic attributes of HEL weapons will be covered, leading into discussions of
laser-material interaction, lethality, potential weapon applications, system requirements, laser
power scaling, propagation, and beam control. DoD interest in tactical applications, current
technical issues, and areas of research emphasis will be highlighted.
Intended Audience: This course is geared to those with a technical background who seek
an overview of HEL technology and the current state of the art. Individuals who are beginning to
work in the field or technical managers who wish an integrated overview would benefit from the class.
Instructor Biography: Mr. Albertine has his B.S. and M.S. in Physics from Rose Polytechnic
Institute and Johns Hopkins University respectively. Prior to working for the Navy, he was a senior
staff physicist in the Space Division of The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. From 1976
through 1997, he worked in the Navy's High Energy Laser (HEL) Program Office, directing the Navy’s
technology development for the last 15 years. During that time, he led the development and test of
the first megawatt class HEL system in the free world. He retired from civil service in 1997 and
now consults for OSD, the Air Force, ONR, the Navy HEL program office, and in the Directed
Energy field. Mr. Albertine was a member of the Air Force Science Advisory Board and has served as Executive
Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Directed Energy Professional Society. Mr.
Albertine is also a DEPS Fellow.
Course 2. Introduction to RF Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Public Release
Instructor: Dr. Mark Rader, Space and Missile Defense Command
Duration: Half-day course, starts at 0800 on Monday, 14 Sept
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: This course will provide an introduction to RF Directed
Energy weapons, also known as High Power Microwave (HPM) weapons. The course consists of four parts:
1) a general introduction to the basic terms and concepts, 2) a discussion of the varous types of effects
that can be induced and how they are characterized, 3) the technologies that enable RF-DEW weaponization,
and 4) hardening techniques and technologies.
At the end of the class, students will know what RF-DEWs are and how they differ from classical Electronic
Warfare and nuclear EMP. Students will learn the various ways in which microwaves couple into a target
(i.e., front door/back door, in-band/out-of-band) and some of the many sorts of effects that they can
precipitate. Technology discussions will show the difference between narrow band (NB) and ultra-wide band
(UWB) sources, antennas and diagnostics, as well as the principal elements of the power systems needed
to support them. The course concludes with a discussion of hardening techniques and technologies.
Topics to be covered include:
- Definitions, motivation, notional concepts
- Effects on targets of interest
- Technology - Sources, Antennas, Diagnostics, Power Conditioning and Power Sources
- Hardening Technologies and Techniques
Intended Audience: Newcomers to the field of RF-DEW or managers with some background in
science and engineering will benefit the most from this course.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Mark Rader works in high power RF-DEW research at the Space and
Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Alabama.
Course 3. Tri-Service HEL Lethality Testing & Modeling
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C(Restricted to U.S. citizens who are
employees of the U.S. Government or its contractors)
Instructors:
- Dr. Christopher Lloyd
- Mr. Chuck Lamar
- Mr. Robert Ulibarri
- Mr. Darren Luke
- Mr. Robert Roybal
Duration: Full-day course, runs from 0800-1700 on Monday, 14 Sept
CEUs awarded: 0.7
Course Description: The Tri-Service Lethality short course consists of two distinct sessions as described below.
The Lethality Testing/Equipment Session will provide a discussion of all elements of HEL Lethality testing.
The course will address data collection standards to be applied during the planning and execution of the test to
assure meaningful and accurate data is collected. It will describe measurement techniques for measuring beam
profile and other laser parameters during the execution of the test. Experimental test setup and processes
will be described along with data acquisition requirements for targets, facility and test conditions as well
as the instrumentation and equipment necessary to acquire those measurements. The testing session will conclude
with a discussion of testing strategy for successful conduct of Dynamic Testing. This will include development
of test matrices to describe all the key test parameters as well as techniques and methods to execute HEL
Lethality full scale target testing.
The Modeling & Simulation Tools/Techniques Session will describe the models, codes and tools utilized
to analyze and predict Laser System performance in a variety of ground-based, air-based and at-sea based scenarios.
Model discussions will include high-fidelity physics based models as well as fast-running codes to provide vulnerability
assessment for system level modeling codes. The high-fidelity modeling will describe the key parameters and the physics
associated with laser / material interaction. Engineering-level modeling codes will be described that identifies the
key target and laser parameters used to analyze a wide set of target scenarios and engagements. The full scope of
end-to-end modeling will be described as used in DoD Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) decision processes. This session
will be concluded with a description and demonstration of the HEL JTO published Laser Lethality Knowledge Base.
Intended Audience: Students attending this course should have an undergraduate degree in science or engineering.
The course is tailored for the system program manager, system designer, and the lethality analyst who are interested in
learning the full gamut of HEL lethality and target vulnerability analysis and testing. Experience in the field would be
helpful but not necessary.
Instructor Biographies: Dr. Christopher Lloyd is currently leading the Navy’s High Energy Laser Lethality program.
He has been a Lead Scientist at NSWC Dahlgren since 2009, where he serves as the Lethality IPT Lead for the Solid State
Laser-Technology Maturation program (SSL-TM). He worked at the Naval Research Laboratory for 9 years, supporting
material fabrication and laser testing efforts for PMS-405 and NSWC Dahlgren. He has coordinated several HEL lethality
field and laboratory tests and collaborated jointly with the Army and Air Force lethality teams to support the Navy’s
SSL-TM, HEL JTO and Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) laser programs. Dr. Lloyd received his Ph.D. in Physical Sciences
from George Mason University in 2009.
Mr. Chuck LaMar leads the U.S. Army High Energy Laser Lethality program. As such, Mr. LaMar led the Directed Energy
Alternative system engineering for the recent U.S. Army Analysis of Alternatives. He is also the program manager for
the Army’s Solid State Laser Testbed; a facility dedicated to lethality and propagation studies for High Energy Lasers.
In addition, he represents the Army on the JTO Lethality and Beam Control TAWG. He has written over 50 professional
papers and publications in the field of High Energy Lasers.
Mr. Robert Ulibarri is a Senior General Engineer with AFRL working in the laser effects branch. He has been involved
in effects testing and analysis for over 15 years specifically supporting SBL, ABL and, currently, evaluation of tactical
targets of interest to the Air Force. He has conducted numerous laser effects field tests at such facilities as HELSTF
and AEDC. He is currently supporting the High Energy Laser - Future Air Dominance Study (AFRL/ACC study) and the
upcoming DLWS field test effort. He has a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of New Mexico.
Mr. Darren Luke is a Mechanical Engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory Laser Effects Research Branch.
He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of New Mexico with an emphasis in
Computational Solid Mechanics. He has 10 years experience in high fidelity model development for laser effects
applications with an emphasis in thermal transport, laser-material interaction, high temperature progressive damage
plasticity, fracture mechanics, fluid dynamics, V&V methods, uncertainty quantification, finite element analysis and
particle methods. He has been involved in laser vulnerability studies for tactical and strategic targets and is
currently the laser effects modeling lead at AFRL/RDLE and is the synergistic effects IPT lead for the multi-disciplinary
Integrated Weapons Environment for Analysis program.
Robert Roybal is the Laser Effects Research Branch Acting Chief for the Directed Energy Laser Division.
The Laser Effects Research Branch is the AFRL leader in high energy laser vulnerability testing and laser
material interaction modeling, providing target vulnerability criteria and requirements to laser platform
developers. The primary mission of the Branch is to establish laser weapon lethality, target vulnerability,
and effects for the future battlespace. Robert began his career with the AF Research Laboratory formally
the AF Weapons Laboratory located at Kirtland AFB in December 1983. During his career, he served as a
Research Engineer, as a Section Chief for the Tactical Targets Lethality Section, as Deputy Branch Chief
for the Laser Effect Research Branch, and presently as Acting Branch Chief of the Laser Effects Research
Branch. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico in
1983, 1994, respectively. Additionally, he is a senior member of the HEL JTO Lethality Technical Area
Working Group and Conference Chair for the Directed Energy Professional Society’s Annual Lethality
Conference. His technical areas of interest include the following: high energy laser interaction with
materials; laser ablation; laser coupling; structural response to HEL in air flow; In his current
position as the Laser Effects Research Branch Acting Chief, he supervises 52 civilians, military, and
contractors.
Course 4. Synergistic DE/KE Analysis -- Transiting the M&S Pyramid
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution D (Restricted to
employees of the U.S. Department of Defense or its contractors)
Instructors:
- Ms. Linda Lamberson
- Dr. Craig Ewing
Duration: Half-day course, starts at 1300
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: This course will provide an overview of modeling, simulation and analysis tools used in
Directed Energy (DE) and Kinetic Energy (KE) weapon effectiveness analysis and how they can be used together at every level
of the modeling and simulation (M&S) pyramid. The course will include a description of DE and KE tools in four levels of
M&S to include: 1) Engineering/Physics, 2) Engagement, 3) Mission and 4) Campaign. Each of these areas will be covered
during the short course with an emphasis on the use of individual DE and KE tools at each level. The course will include a
description of an analysis process that allows the use of all levels of the pyramid in an iterative fashion to accomplish
analysis objectives, and will address challenges in the areas of modeling synergistic DE/KE effects, best mix optimization
of DE/KE weapons at the mission level, and characterization of accuracy of effectiveness results at the engagement level.
A portion of the course will also discuss the current Integrated Weapon Environment for Analysis (IWEA) tool that AFRL/RW
and RD are currently building to perform detailed synergistic weapon effects analysis at a mission level. This includes
a top-level discussion of the effects tools being used such as:
Joint RF Effectiveness Model (JREM),
Dynamic Aimpoint Laser Engagement (DALE),
High Energy Laser Consolidated Modeling Engagement Simulation (HELCOMES),
Hazard Analysis for DE Simulation (HADES),
Integrating Concept Evaluation Tool (ICE-T), and
Endgame Framework (EF) including PENCURV, FATEPEN, WINBLAST, etc.
Intended Audience: This course is intended for those with a technical background who seek an understanding
of DE and KE weapon effectiveness M&S tools and how they can be used together to assess separate and synergistic
DE/KE effects. Technical managers or professionals with experience in DE or KE weapon systems or individuals who
are beginning to work in the field would benefit from the class.
Instructor Biographies: Dr. Craig Ewing graduated from The Ohio State University with a BS in aerospace
engineering. He received his MS and PhD from the University of Florida in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering
Mechanics. He worked guidance and control R&D for space based kinetic weapons under the Strategic Defense Initiative
for 12 years and has worked in weapons Modeling and Simulation for the past 15 years including engagement, mission,
campaign, scene generation, HWIL, lethality, and computational mechanics. He currently leads modeling and simulation
activities at the AFRL Munitions Directorate, Eglin AFB, Florida.
Ms. Linda Lamberson graduated from the University of West Florida with a BA in applied mathematics and received
her MS in Management Science from Troy University. She is a senior operations research analyst in the Directed Energy
Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Prior to coming to the Directed Energy
Directorate, Ms. Lamberson spent more than 20 years working in systems engineering and acquisition support for the
Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, Florida.
Course 5. Atmospheric Optics for HELs
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C
Instructors:
- Dr. Jack McCrae, Air Force Institute of Technology
- Dr. Steven Fiorino, Air Force Institute of Technology
Day/Time: Half-day course, runs Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 1800-2000
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: The course will elaborate on a foundation for the physics of atmospheric
optics effects by building bridges from atmospheric physics to turbulent optical effects,
thermal effects due to absorption, and overall extinction. The students will learn about d
ifferent approaches for engineering mitigation and exploitation techniques for atmospheric
effects including adaptive optics via deformable mirrors and coherent phase combination.
Topics to be covered include
- Introduction to atmospheric physics and effects on optics
- Refraction and turbulence
- Introduction to atmospheric boundary layers
- Modeling of atmospheric turbulence
- Propagation through atmospheric turbulence
- High Energy Laser thermal effects in the atmosphere
- Atmospheric compensation and coherent beam combining
Intended Audience: US Government personnel and their direct contractors who have program
requirements for or are interested in methods and tools to assess realistic environments and
environmental effects for modeling and simulation, mission planning, and/or military systems
operations. The course assumes the students have some technical background in lasers and optics
--either via an undergraduate degree or career experience.
Instructor Biographies: Jack E. McCrae, Jr. received his Ph.D. in Physics from the Air Force
Institute of Technology in 1997, an M.S. in Physics (Optics) from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1993,
and a B.S. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1984. He is a retired Air Force
Colonel with 27 years of service and currently a Research Assistant Professor with the Center for Directed
Energy in the Engineering Physics Department at AFIT. His research interests include optics, lasers, quantum
and non-linear optics, laser radar, atmospheric propagation and imaging.
Steven T. Fiorino received his BS degrees in geography and meteorology from Ohio State (1987) and
Florida State (1989) universities. He additionally holds an MS in atmospheric dynamics from Ohio State (1993)
and a PhD in physical meteorology from Florida State (2002). He is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel
with 21 years of service and currently a Research Associate Professor of atmospheric physics within the
Engineering Physics Department at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and is the director of the
Center for Directed Energy. His research interests include microwave remote sensing, development of
weather signal processing algorithms, and atmospheric effects on military systems such as high-energy
lasers and weapons of mass destruction.
Course 6. Laser Deconfliction
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C
Instructors:
- LeAnn Brasure, Schafer
- Heather Witts, JFCC SPACE/J95
Day/Time: Half-day course, runs Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 1800-2000
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: This course is intended to teach the "Why, Who, What,
How and What's New" of Laser Deconfliction (LD) - the process by which
assets are protected from accidental illumination by lasers. Predictive Avoidance (PA),
protecting space assets and Airspace Deconfliction (AD), protecting air assets, will also
be covered in the course. As the AD process is not as mature as the PA process, it will
not be covered in as much detail.
PA and AD are critical pieces of the testing process for DoD and NSF laser
systems and a knowledgeable and proactive approach by the
testing organization can maximize test windows and minimize frustration.
The course is also intended to help the laser community work together in this area
and provide a consistent source of information on current issues, capabilities
developed by other groups, and what's in store for the future. The course has
recently been updated to include the Navy's recent development of a hybrid safety
system and QRC deployment.
The goal of this course is to familiarize the student with the reasons
behind PA, the process for working with the Laser Clearing House (LCH) as
well as tools and points of contact available to hopefully simplify and
clarify the process. In addition, the course will cover efforts in the
community to standardize the process and make the safety requirements more
in line with current probabilistic risk assessment methodology.
Topics to be covered include:
- Intro (who, what, where, when, how)
- Policy - Defining the environment, present and future
- Implementation - How do we keep assets safe
- Analysis - How do we identify risks, to include tools available
Intended Audience: Anyone who is currently involved or anticipates
involvement in laser testing will benefit from this course. Test planners
and managers as well as those technically involved with the testing are welcome.
Instructor Biographies: Heather (Lehmann) Witts is the Deputy Chief
of the DE Branch of the JFCC
SPACE/J95 Unified Space Vault. In that role she is primarily responsible for
carrying out the Laser Clearinghouse mission. She was accepted into the
Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate (NuPOC) Program in 2001 and graduated
from Luther College with a BA in Math and Physics in May 2003. She received
her commission in December 2003, completed sea tours on USS IWO JIMA and USS
DWIGHT D EISENHOWER, and passed the nuclear engineers exam. In August 2008,
then LT Lehmann reported to JFCC SPACE/J95 at Vandenberg AFB as Deputy Chief
of the Directed Energy Branch where she spent most of her time dedicated to
carrying out the LCH mission. In late 2010 she transitioned out of the
active force, into the Navy Reserves, and became an AF civilian - remaining
in a similar position at JFCC SPACE. She obtained a Masters Degree in
Engineering Management and was married in 2011. Ms Witts is presently the
primary point of contact for the LCH mission.
LeAnn Brasure works for Schafer Corporation
supporting the HEL JTO as part of their technical team. She graduated from
the University of Michigan with a BS in Physics and was commissioned as a
second lieutenant in the Air Force. She obtained her Masters Degree in
nuclear physics through the Air Force Institute of Technology and retired
from the Air Force after 24 years of active duty service. During her active
duty time she had assignments including WSMC (Vandenberg AFB), AFTAC
(Patrick AFB) as well as a physics instructor at the Air Force Academy. She
began to focus on solid state lasers during her assignment as an AFRL
Laboratory Representative at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Her
last assignment was with AFRL at Kirtland AFB as the Solid State Laser
Branch Chief. Her role as a part of the HEL JTO team is to monitor current
technology projects and help define new technology development programs such
as the JTO's Predictive Avoidance and Airspace Deconfliction effort. In
addition, she has recently begun work on inernational agreements, helping the
JTO craft multi-service "purple" agreements to facilitate international collaboration.
