AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate researchers honored by local scientific community

  • Published
  • By Holly Jordan
  • AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate
Three Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate researchers were honored on April 16, at the Affiliate Societies Council of Dayton's 56th Annual Outstanding Engineers and Scientists' Award Banquet.  This event recognizes exceptional engineers and scientists in the Miami Valley for their important contributions to their professions.

Dr. Michael Durstock received the Research Award, and Dr. Jeffery Baur and Mr. Edward Hermes received the Technical Leadership Award.

As the Research Team Leader for Flexible Materials & Devices, Dr. Michael Durstock leads activities focused on materials and process development for energy harvesting and storage systems, flexible and printed hybrid electronics, and integrated device concepts.  His research includes the use of 3-D printing approaches for integrated devices, flexible and stretchable electronics, next-generation energy harvesting technologies, and novel approaches to energy storage.

Dr. Jeffery Baur serves as the Research Leader for the Organic Matrix Composite Materials and Processing Team.  Here he has grown a team of high performance researchers executing a $5M annual portfolio of fundamental research in processing science, additive manufacturing, and innovative directed energy hardening of structural, high-temp polyimide composites.  Additionally, he has increased AFRL's international collaboration as an organizer of a number of materials conferences and by representing Air Force composite research to international research organizations.

Mr. Edward Hermes served as the Technical Director for the Systems Support Division, retiring from civil service in 2015.  As the Division's principal technical advisor, he oversaw the content and technical quality for programs totaling $45M.  Throughout his career, he led the development and transition of technologies to a number of Air Force systems and conducted a broad range of research and development activities that included advanced ceramics for propulsion applications, composite materials, metals, corrosion prevention and control, rapid response systems support engineering, and manufacturing technology.

The Affiliate Societies Council of Dayton was founded in 1966 to provide opportunities for practicing engineers, scientists and technologists to pursue continuing professional educational opportunities.   Today, the ASC consists of nearly 12,000 members from approximately 45 professional societies and   provides career guidance for K-12 students, recognizes outstanding contributions in technology and management disciplines, and promotes a close working relationship among affiliated societies.