Air War College, Futures Groups Meet, Discuss Technology Impact on Defense Industry

  • Published
  • By Maria Callier (Quantech)
  • AFOSR Public Affairs
ARLINGTON, Va --  The Air Force Office of Scientific Research here recently hosted a conference with representatives from the Air War College and the Air Force Futures Group.

Participants included Air War College students who have been researching nanotechnology, biotechnology, directed energy, and cyberspace as part of the Air Force Futures Group study. Also present were program managers, scientists and engineers from A5 (Operations), A8 (Futures Technologies), and A9 (Analysis) divisions.

Dr. Mitat Birkan, an AFOSR program manager who oversees the space power and propulsion basic research investment portfolio at AFOSR, led the discussions.

"Studies like this give a decision tool to Air Force leaders to select science and technology pathways that will help the Air Force continue to have air and space superiority in the future," Birkan said. The Air War College study also helps to create the leaders of the future with a solid technical background."

Dr. Kenneth H. Watman moderated the meeting. He is the associate director of strategic planning, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs, Headquarters Air Force in Washington, D.C. Doctor Watman assists the director of strategic planning as required in performing the directorate's mission of developing and evaluating future strategies, policies and objectives to improve the Air Force's contribution to national defense.

During the group meeting, students from the college gave presentations in their respective areas of study and discussed how research may impact the Air Force and defense industry over the next 25 years. Presenters and their topics included Lt. Col. Rich Hughey (directed energy); Col. Phil Samples (biotechnology), Lt. Col Steve Garland (nanotechnology), and Lt. Col. Mark Mattison (cyberspace) Discussions also included logistics/staging time savings with directed energy weaponry, human immune system on a chip for rapid development of vaccines, nano particle effects on human toxicology, failure rates of carbon based materials and composites, quantum computing, and Air Force strategic issue of creating technical leadership. Final reports are expected to be completed in early June 2007.

By supporting meetings like this, AFOSR continues to expand the horizon of scientific knowledge through its leadership and management of the Air Force's basic research program. As a vital component of the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFOSR supports Air Force's mission of control and maximum utilization of air and space. Many of the technological breakthroughs enjoyed by millions today, such as lasers, GPS, and the computer mouse trace their scientific roots to research first funded by AFOSR.