Workshop and Short Courses
The Power in the Bucket Metric Workshop and these short courses are being offered on 25 September 2017 in conjunction with the 2017 Directed Energy Systems Symposium
in Monterey, California. Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits are awarded for completion of the
short courses but not the workshop.
The workshop and all of these courses are taught at the Unclassified, Limited Distribution D level: participation
is restricted to U.S. citizens who are employees of the U.S. Department of Defense or its contractors.
Complimentary registration for the workshop
is available on the Symposium registration page, but registration will also be available on site. Registration for the
short courses requires payment of a fee.
See also Course Registration & Fees at the end of this page.
Morning Workshop Power In the Bucket Metric
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution D
Instructor: Jack Slater
Duration: One-hour workshop, starts at 1030
CEUs awarded: 0.0
Course Description: Power in the bucket metric (PIBM) is the DoD Standard for measuring and reporting laser system
beam quality. This workshop will provide an overview and discussion of the new DOD PIBM beam quality measurement technique,
and put it in context with other commonly used methods.
Intended Audience: This one-hour workshop is intended for any member of the DE community wanting an understanding of PIBM.
Registration is complimentary for any 2017 Directed Energy Systems Symposium registrant.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Jack Slater joined Schafer Corporation (now Belcan) in 2002 and presently leads the Schafer
team providing technical support to the HEL JTO. He is closely connected to JTO’s high power solid state laser programs,
including the now completed RELI and JHPSSL development efforts. He contributed to development of HEL testing protocols and
has participated in most of the DOD HEL solid state laser tests since 2005. He received his Ph.D. in atomic physics from the
University of Colorado and is a DEPS Fellow.
Course 1. Introduction to the DoD Test & Evaluation Process
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution D
Instructor: Harry Sinsheimer, HEL JTO
Duration: Half-day course, starts at 0800
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: This course discusses the fundamentals of testing DoD systems, with an emphasis on
directed energy systems. Topics include:
- Overview of Defense Acquisition System
- Where do we start? - Good requirements
- The role of the Systems Engineering process
- Test Planning - when and what do we do it?
- Test Development Strategy
- Test & Evaluation Master Plan
- Role of Test Lead manager
- Types of testing/when started/finished
- Developmental Testing
- Initial Operational T&E
- Live Fire T&E
- Test execution and reporting
- Directed energy testing issues
- Instrumentation
- Safety
- Training
- Best practices and lessons learned
- Some important test parameters of laser systems
Intended Audience: While the primary audience for the course remains DoD staff, DEPS shares the course broadly, not
as a blueprint, but in a spirit of collegiality and an interest in contributing to others' efforts and continuing our collective
dialogue about Directed Energy. As a basic introduction to T&E, it is suitable for personnel in other technical acquisition
management and program management positions who want to understand more about T&E and the critical role it plays in DE system
acquisition.
Instructor Biography: Harry Sinsheimer serves as the Deputy Director to the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office
since February 2017. As the Deputy Director, Harry's expertise, knowledge, and skills including an understanding of laser
technology, directed energy weapons, test and evaluation, financial management, logistics, program analysis, organizational and
force structure will advocate, develop and execute a High Energy Laser investment strategy that builds on existing programs
while exploiting promising new technology developments for High Energy Laser weapon system applications. Prior to this role
Harry was a business consultant helping small scale companies build strong functional organizations while implementing strategic
planning, programming, and progressive execution of tasks and business processes. Harry's 34 year government career included
serving as Technical Advisor and Program Manager on several Missile Defense Agency's Advanced Laser and Sensor projects after
serving a wide range of roles and responsibilities on the Airborne Laser Program, cradle to grave, from 1995 to 2012 gaining
valuable experience on laser weapon systems. Harry earned a Master's Degree in Project Management from Penn State Erie, the
Behrend College in 2006 and earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico - Robert O.
Anderson School of Management in 1999.
Course 2. Laser Deconfliction
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution D
Instructors:
- LeAnn Brasure, Schafer
- Heather Witts, JFCC SPACE/J95
Duration: Half-day course, runs 0800-1200
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
- 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 Witts is the DE Engineer for the JFCC SPACE/JSpOC.
In that role she advises JFCC SPACE and laser programs in carrying out the Laser Clearinghouse mission.
She was accepted into the Navy 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 primarily responsible for deconfliction related policy, new implementation strategies,
and deconfliction related technology.
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.
Course 3. Systems Engineering for Directed Energy Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution D
Instructor: Bill Decker, Defense Acquisition University
Duration: Half-day course, runs 0800-1200
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: This course is designed to provide a better understanding the DoD Systems Engineering
Process and align DE programs to it, to increase their likelihood of fielding to the Warfighter. At the end of the
course, attendees will be better able to direct their programs such that they are consistent with the DoD SE processes
and can integrate smoothly with existing and future DoD weapons systems. The course will cover the DoD Systems
Engineering Process throughout the Lifecycle.
Topics include:
- SE and Requirements/User Interaction
- Systems Architecture and its application to DE Systems
- Systems Engineering in the Technology Demonstration Phase
- Government Role (S&T and Acquisition Staffs)
- Contractor Role
- For Systems and Sub-systems
- SE at the Preliminary Design Review/Milestone B
- SE at the Critical Design Review
- Testing and SE
- Sustainment and SE
Intended Audience: Program managers and engineers involved in the development of directed energy technology
and/or directed energy systems. No specific technical expertise is required as a pre-requisite, just a general
understanding of DE systems.
Instructor Biography: Mr. Decker is currently the Director, Technology Transition Learning
Center of Excellence, Defense Acquisition University and concurrently is a Professor of Engineering
Management. His experience includes over 35 years in electro-optics with ten years experience in high
energy laser systems, including THEL, ABL, ATL, HELLADS and HELTD, all while employed by Brashear
(a division of L-3 Communications) in Pittsburgh, PA. Mr. Decker holds a MS in Physics from the
Naval Postgraduate School and a BS in Engineering from Cornell University. He currently consults
for Heraeus Quartzglass America in addition to his DAU efforts.
Course 4. Active Denial Applications
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution D
Instructor: David B. Law, U.S. Marine Corps
Duration: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: One of the first overarching tutorials available on the bioeffects, hardware, and
employment concepts behind a very proven Directed Energy capability that is on the verge of transition out of the
research arena. Upon completion, the student should understand: 1) the bioeffects of the Active Denial weapon capability
95 GHz non-lethal directed energy beam and the AFRL scientific research that verifies the safety and effectiveness of the
beam, 2) the technology that produces the effect, including hardware, software, beam profile, and relationships such as
spot size and range which ultimately drive the scaling potential, 3) how the Active Denial capability may be employed by
military force (in both ground and airborne configurations), the military utility, and legalities associated with
employment.
Topics include:
- Bioeffects (history, specific research studies and results, safety thresholds, prohibitions)
- Technology (history, basic hardware/software, beam geometry and profile, future technical requirements)
- Operational Use (proven military utility, useful characteristics, and mission enhancements; limitations; countermeasures; policy and legal application)
Intended Audience: Both Government (civilian and military) and industry: project managers, operational
testers, and scientific/technical. Technical/scientific education not required, but desirable. Moderate experience
level assumed.
Instructor Biography: Mr. David B. Law, USMC, currently serves as the Technology Division Chief for the Joint
Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate (JNLWD) and is responsible for: (1) the cost, schedule, and project performance of ~ 50+
JNLWD annual projects; (2) technical and financial program monitoring, execution, and oversight of 50+ JNLWD Science and
Technology projects/budgets per year; (3) supervision, mentoring and technical oversight of 10+ officers of primary
responsibility and technical monitors of these 50+ projects; and (4) on a weekly basis provide both written and oral technical
assessments, evaluations, and recommendations on project “health” of these programs and the “sate” of technology development
of all the programs managed by the JNLWD to the JNLWD Deputy Director, the JNLWD Director, the JNLWP Joint Coordination
Integration Group (JCIG O-6’s), and the JNLWP Integration Product Team (SESs and O-7’s). Duties also include performing
technical and programmatic oversight of the joint development of the DoD’s next-generation non-lethal weapons in support of the
escalation of force in traditional and irregular warfare missions and the supervision of the JNLWD technical team of scientists
and engineers as well as over 200+ Service-lab Program Managers and Principal Investigators.
Course 5. HPM Modeling and Simulation Tools for Test & Evaluation: Test Hazard Prediction and Target Surrogate Materials
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution D
Instructors:
- J Mark DelGrande
- Grady Patterson
Day/Time: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: The Directed Energy Test & Evaluation Capability (DETEC) has developed two software
tools to facilitate High Power Microwave (HPM) testing: HPM Test Hazard Prediction (THP) Tool and the HPM Target
Surrogate Material (TSM) database. This short course presents an introduction to both.
Drawing from propagation codes such as RF-PROTEC and the EMPIRE Suite, THP provides the T&E community with critical
tools and information to mitigate safety and hazard risks to personnel and electronics during open-air tests of HPM
systems. THP’s essential functions include:
- Support safety and regulatory compliance by calculating and displaying hazard boundaries
- Prepare frequency clearance applications in Standard Frequency Action Format (SFAF)
- Aid in identifying potential harmful effects to non-test site electronics
- Display specific locations or boundaries with specified field levels
In this portion of the short course, students will see the code in action while instructors discuss: Modeling the
Physical Scene, Specifying Scenario Input Parameters, Understanding & Selecting Propagation Models, Graphical
Visualization and Output Products, Hazard Thresholds and Hazard Zones, Standard Frequency Action Format, Basic Weather
and Atmosphere Models, transferring environmental data to THP, Loading and Using HPM Electric Field Sensor Data in THP.
The TSM database is a browser based repository of information on hazardous materials as well as surrogates that can be
substituted for these hazardous materials during HPM testing. The purpose of the tool is to provide the HPM T&E
community with access to a database that contains information on hazardous materials, how to handle those materials
during test, and commonly available materials that can be substituted for the hazardous materials. The TSM database’s
essential functions are to:
- Access to the electromagnetic properties of hazardous materials
- Suggestions for safe substitutes for those materials, to include electromagnetic properties
- Test Range unique restrictions on hazardous materials
- Hazardous material handling instructions, including cleanup procedures
In this portion of the short course, students will see TSM in action while instructors discuss: Finding the
electromagnetic properties of a hazardous material; Finding a surrogate for the hazardous material; Making plots of
material properties as a function of temperature and frequency; Entering new materials into the database; Extracting
the original sources of the electromagnetic data.
DEMER: The Directed Energy Models and Effects Repository’s (DEMER) was created to aid and encourage the distribution of and
collaboration on directed energy (DE) modeling and simulation (M&S) tools and effects data throughout the wider DE community.
An appropriate collaborative environment was established to provide for community wide discovery of DE tools and effects data
which balances security with utility. The distribution format ensures owners and creators the freedom of development for, and
confidence in the ownership of, their products. To reach this end, DEMER’s overarching philosophy will be “Local Management,
Enterprise Discovery”. DEMER is a secure web-based card catalog of meta-data files describing the current M&S capabilities and
effects testing efforts. Using a meta-data format favors autonomy for resource owners by only describing pertinent details of
their products, without surrendering control to a centralized database. The repository also provides the capability for members
and agencies to catalog and organize their M&S and effects testing products internally, only sharing with the wider community
those products they deem appropriate. In this portion of the short course, students will be given a walk-through tutorial on how
to register and use the DEMER database.
HPM PULSE: The High Power Microwave Procedures Leading to Standardized Effects (HPM PULSE) is a guidebook designed to
standardize HPM effects testing and is meant to be used by both experienced and novice effects test personnel. It provides
best practices and useful information on common aspects of HPM effects testing. The information included in HPM PULSE will aid
personnel with test design and setup, as well as provide various quick reference charts, formulas, and other background
information for use during the test execution. During this portion of the short course, students will receive an overview of the
HPM PULSE guidebook to better understand how it can be used to aid in conducting HPM effects tests.
Intended Audience: The intended users of these HPM tools are test planners, spectrum managers, range safety
personnel, test technicians or engineers, and environmental personnel involved in HPM testing.
Instructor Biographies: Dr. J. Mark DelGrande, Chief Technology Officer, Verus Research.
Dr. DelGrande supports diverse scientific and engineering programs across numerous technology areas, including directed energy,
nuclear, and advanced modeling and simulation, developing strategies to align technology and customer goals. From 2010 to 2015,
Mark was Chief Scientist and later Director of the Scientific Division of TechFlow, Inc., establishing the company’s first s
cientific research and development business area. Before joining TechFlow, Mark was a Senior Scientist at Science Applications
International Corporation (SAIC), developing novel directed energy weapon systems and guiding Defense Department directed energy
test and evaluation investment strategies. There, he won Corporate Achievement Awards for Excellence in Science and Technology
and Program Performance. Prior to his commercial career, Mark served for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force where he led research
efforts at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, United States Air Force Academy, and Los
Alamos National Laboratory. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2005 after serving as Chief of the HPM Models and Effects
Branch at the Air Force Research Laboratory. In this role, he was awarded the prestigious Air Force Outstanding Scientist Award.
Grady L. Patterson, IV, Technical Director, Verus Research
Mr. Patterson leads diverse programs spanning multiple technical areas associated with HPM system development and effects
testing. Grady currently leads efforts to standardize the HPM effects testing methodology across the DoD, developing a web-based
directed energy metadata database, and creating a novel tool to measure the recuperation time of computer networks. From 2011 to
2015, Grady was a senior engineer and later director of the Scientific Division of TechFlow, Inc. In these roles, he was
responsible for management of various HPM effects testing efforts on digital electronics and small marine engines. Before
joining TechFlow, Grady was the program manager for the HPM modeling and simulation team at SAIC. There, he oversaw HPM modeling
from source design to mission-level analysis. He also planned and executed HPM system validation and effects tests for multiple
programs. Prior to joining industry, Grady served four years in the Air Force as a Research Physicist with the Air Force
Research Laboratory HPM Division, culminating in his role as division Test Director. He holds two patents for electromagnetic
power density and field characterization techniques.
Course 6. Modeling and Simulation Verification, Validation and Accreditation
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution D
The course consists of presentations on VV&A fundamentals and real-world examples followed by discussions led by an
experienced VV&A practitioner, encouraging communications between the student and the instructor. Participants will receive
individual guidance relating to their particular areas of interest.
Mr. Doug Michel, PMP, CMSP, CSDP, is a software engineer and project manager with over 25 years’ experience in various
software and computer-related areas including software engineering, simulation systems engineering, requirements analysis, data
modeling, and VV&A. He is a Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP), an IEEE Computer Society
Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP) and a Certified Modeling and Simulation Professional (CMSP). He Fully
understand software development life-cycle and Agile Development principles and practices and has performed V&V of directed
energy tools to include Joint Radio frequency Effects Model (JREM), High Energy Laser Consolidated Modeling Engagement
Simulation (HELCoMES), and Scaling for HEL and Relay Engagement (SHaRE). Mr. Michel is currently working as software enterprise
architect for the Satellite Assessment Center'
To register for a short course separate from the 2017 Systems Symposium, select one of the following options.
If you plan to also register for the Systems Symposium, you may use the Systems
Symposium registration form instead.
Persons requesting cancellation through 28 August will receive a full refund. Cancellations after 28 August
are subject to a $100 cancellation fee. There will be no refunds after 22 September.
