Research Pioneer in Atmospheric, Space Sciences Retires After Three-Decade Career

  • Published
  • By Dr. Robert White
  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research Historian (Quantech)
ARLINGTON, Va. --  When Dr. Herbert C. Carlson Jr. accepted a job at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research here in 1998, he became the organization's first-ever permanently assigned chief scientist.

Recently, he again made history as the first AFOSR chief scientist to retire. Dr. Carlson has proudly served his nation for 29 years as a distinguished scientist and scientific leader.

He received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Cornell University in 1965 and then served as director of the ionospheric research department at the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory. He next went to the University of Texas at Dallas as a research scientist from 1973 to 1977. This was followed by a position as a program director at the National Science Foundation. Prior to his current duties as chief scientist, he served as a deputy division director and chief scientist for the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory that is now part of the Air Force Research Laboratory.

While at the National Science Foundation, he created a new national program office, the upper atmospheric research facilities, and initiated several national and international research programs while at the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory. He served on and chaired numerous scientific advisory boards and long-range planning committees for industry, academia, the Air Force, Department of Defense, the NSF, NASA, the U.S. Academy of Sciences and other U.S. federal agencies.

The international impact of Dr. Carlson's upper atmospheric and space science research has been significant and wide-ranging. He is the author of over 120 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, is cited in more than 2,000 reviewed publications and has lectured regularly at international symposia. Carlson's research has been recognized by his election to the Royal Astronomical Society of the United Kingdom and to the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters. He was named a fellow of the Air Force Research Laboratory, as well as receiving awards from NASA, and the National Science Foundation.

The Chief Scientist of the Air Force, Dr. Mark J. Lewis, in reflecting on Dr. Carlson's tenure as chief scientist of AFOSR, said, "...it will be almost impossible to imagine AFOSR without the guiding hand of Dr. Herb Carlson. Dr. Carlson has been a leader in establishing the Air Force's basic research portfolio, and has overseen the development of new initiatives as well as the sustainment of core competencies. Dr. Carlson has been a tireless advocate for basic research, understanding fully the importance of Air Force interaction with the wider research community. A tireless advocate for international outreach, Doctor Carlson has also placed great emphasis on mentoring the next generation of Air Force S&T professionals."

During his tenure as chief scientist, Dr. Carlson won the prestigious Presidential Rank Award honor in 2003 in the meritorious senior professional category. This was the first year that scientific senior executives became eligible for the award. In citing this prestigious honor at Dr. Carlson's retirement ceremony, Dr. Don Daniels, previously the executive director of the Air Force Research Laboratory, and currently Associate Vice-President of the University of Tennessee, stated that "...the President could not have picked a better person than Herb Carlson to set the trend for such an award."

He was recognized for his leadership role in defining the science and technology programs critical to the Air Force of 2020 in a congressionally mandated Air Force Long Term Challenges report to Congress. The resulting visionary document, approved by the secretary of defense and Congress, provided six fundamental definitions of Air Force long-term challenges. This effort by Dr. Carlson garnered praise from many quarters. Dr. Lyle Schwartz, the AFOSR director during the LTC initiative, noted that the Air Force Scientific Review Board glowingly described Carlson's work in explaining "...a complex multi-faceted basic research program and its relevance to the Air Force mission." Congress praised the report for its articulate and creative content. "Dr. Carlson has made direct, significant, and lasting contributions to the Air Force and to our national security," stated a secretary of the Air Force letter. This monumental project brought together hundreds of scientists and Air Force operational planners to develop a comprehensive prioritization of the basic research needs of the Air Force. The resulting report formed AFOSR research priorities for several years and also confirmed to the Air Force community the importance of basic research. Dr. Carlson's Meritorious Presidential Rank Award and subsequent senior executive promotion was testament to the high value that the Air Force placed on Dr. Carlson's leadership of this important study.

Significantly, Dr. Carlson's Long Term Challenges study inspired the current Air Force Research Laboratory Focused Long Term Challenges planning activity, and his singular efforts have assured that AFOSR is participating effectively in this program through forward-looking discovery challenge thrusts.

Dr. Carlson also helped formulate the AFRL Rapid Access to Space research program in response to an urgent request by the undersecretary of the Air Force. Understanding the critical importance of international research efforts, Dr. Carlson worked with the Asian Office of Research and Development, to negotiate an understanding with Japan to encourage its top universities to participate in AOARD programs.

Dr. Carlson has also earned praise on the international research front. His many years of unparalleled technical achievements opened a new frontier in polar ionospheric physics, wherein he did not pursue a research program, he created one. He is known throughout the national and international research community as the "Father of High Frequency Ionospheric Heating," an area crucial to communications through our near-space environment. Dr. Carlson's achievements in this area were absolutely critical to the maintenance of successful communications during wartime. Carlson's contributions to the international research effort were summed up by Dr. Kjellmar Oksavik, a long-time colleague and research scientist at the Applied Physics Laboratory, who praised Dr. Carlson as "an outstanding world scientist, a true pioneer in ionospheric physics, and a great mentor to numerous students."

From the research laboratory, to the mentoring of students, to the formulation of strategic research plans, to critical assistance to the warfighter, Dr. Carlson's contributions and wide-ranging achievements were made through personal caring, creativity, discovery, scientific leadership and an exceptional dedication to his craft. The Air Force and the nation have benefited greatly from Dr. Carlson's tenure, and those who follow in his research path will tread far more easily due to his most insightful and valuable efforts.

Dr. Brendan Godfrey, the current director of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research summed up Carlson's contributions quite succinctly, when he stated, "...the Air Force owes Dr. Carlson a debt of gratitude that cannot be repaid."