711 HPW student researcher tackles life at a fast pace

  • Published
  • By John Schutte
  • Human Effectiveness Directorate
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio - --  When Robyn Bradford says she's ready to tackle a new project, her Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) colleagues might get a little defensive. They know that "tackle" is not just a figure of speech for Ms. Bradford, a student researcher with AFRL's 711th Human Performance Wing, Human Effectiveness Directorate who also plays on the Dayton Diamonds Women's Professional Football team. 

Ms. Bradford's calm demeanor, polished manners and quick smile in an interview mask the intensity she brings to AFRL and the Diamonds' practice field, where she works out at receiver in fulfillment of a long-time goal.
 
"I played one game of powder puff football in high school and was disappointed because we couldn't tackle each other," Ms. Bradford explains. "Where's the fun in that? I've had tackle football in the back of my mind ever since. When I saw a try-out notice for the Dayton Diamonds, I was thrilled!" 

When she's not crunching opponents on the football field, Ms. Bradford crunches data for AFRL as an undergraduate research assistant in the Consortium Research Fellows Program (CRFP), which helps prepare the next-generation science-and-technology workforce by placing college students in educationally relevant jobs to develop professional skills. Host agencies benefit from high-quality technical support, interaction with academia and the chance to train potential future employees on-the-job.
 
"Everyone that knows Robyn likes her and she's a leader," said Dr. Daniel Repperger, an electronics engineer with 711 HPW/RH and Ms. Bradford's mentor. "It's so rare to see a young person with her level of integrity and work ethic. She's just a great role model and we're very lucky to have her." 

Her AFRL position meshes well with her second-year studies toward a bachelor's degree in manufacturing engineering at Central State University. At AFRL, Ms. Bradford gains valuable insight into real-world engineering projects ranging from determining network vulnerabilities to studying dynamic image fusion--hands-on experience that can't be duplicated in a classroom.
 
"That's why I like it; it's really cool to see how you can have a technical problem, or just an idea of what you want to accomplish, and then actually see how it is solved," said Ms. Bradford, who works 10 hours weekly at AFRL. "It's a different kind of thinking in the lab." 

Recently, Ms. Bradford represented CSU at the Minority Leaders Winter Review for Sensors and Materials & Manufacturing Directorates in New Orleans and traveled to Orlando for the National Society of Black Engineers convention, but "away games" are nothing new to this dynamic young lady who was born into a traveling squad.
 
"I usually just say I'm from 'the Midwest' because we moved around so much when I was a kid," said Bradford, who was born in Evansville, Indiana but relocated with each new assignment for her father, a Seventh Day Adventist minister. "Every few years we went to another city, so I've never been comfortable saying I was from a certain city." 

Now, she's in motion to maintain a wickedly fast-paced lifestyle; in addition to AFRL research, CSU studies and pro football, she works a weekend shift as an independent pediatric home health nurse and is a foster parent for abused, neglected and abandoned cats.
 
After earning bachelor's degrees in psychology and English literature at the University of Michigan and a practical nursing diploma from the W Howard Nicol School of Practical Nursing, Ms. Bradford called an audible on her career path--while looking for a health-related engineering field, the spirit and energy at Central State drew her to CSU's engineering program in January 2007.
 
"I loved it. My first contact at CSU was the diversity officer, Wanda Colon Canales," Ms Bradford said between bursts of her infectious laughter. "She is such a dynamic person...and every single person that I met was so responsive, so welcoming, so helpful. I said, this is exactly where I need to be." 

Her two-minute-drill approach to life might fatigue others--even Ms. Bradford admits to occasionally missing a weekend football practice to catch up on sleep--but she obviously cherishes her time at CSU and AFRL, and appreciates the benefits of the consortium fellows program. 

"It has been an amazing opportunity. I've just been very blessed to be where I am now,"
she said, crediting Dr. Repperger and the CSU staff--especially Ms. Canales and Mr. John H. Sassen, Assistant Professor of Industrial and Technical Education--for signing her on to the AFRL team. 

"Mr. Sassen said this would be an excellent placement for me," Ms. Bradford said, then flashed a grin and whispered through another giggle, "and I agree." 

Or, as her football coach might say, a "nice catch" for all the players in this game.