Retired AFRL Sensors Director reflects on distinguished career

  • Published
  • By Derek Hardin
  • AFRL Headquarters
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Full circle, these are the words that Dr. Michael Deis uses to describe his long and successful career with the U.S. Air Force. Following four years active-duty Air Force and nine years in industry, Deis began his professional career with an electronics engineer in the Flight Dynamics Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. His Air Force career completed its circle in January 2012, when he took reigns as director of the Sensors Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

Deis officially retired in late July, concluding 40 years of Air Force service, including a mix of 23 active-duty, Ohio Air National Guard, and the AF Reserves. Deis held numerous positions at Wright-Patterson AFB and Eglin AFB, Fla. These included serving as test management engineer, director of the 782nd Test Squadron, and technical director and deputy director of Air, Space, and Information Operations.

Deis began his academic career in 1973 as a student at Wright State University (WSU). However, after an underwhelming first quarter, the dean's office asked him not to return. It was this circumstance that influenced him to join the Air Force. He and his young wife quickly were whisked away to basic training, followed by an assignment to RAF Bentwaters-Woodbridge in the United Kingdom for his active-duty service.

"My four years on active duty gave [my wife] Karen and I a chance to grow up and figure out where we wanted to go for our future," reflects Deis. "It got us away from family and allowed us to grow up and become young adults together."

Upon their return, Deis had grown indeed. He re-enrolled at WSU and completed his Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering in 1982. Deis has since added a Master of Science in Systems Engineering and a Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership to his academic repertoire. He also was honored by WSU as one if its 2013 Outstanding Alumni.

Deis grew up in Dayton and Xenia, Ohio, graduating from Xenia High School in 1973. He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Karen, for 40 years. They have two adult children, Eric and Brianne, who still live in Xenia. Deis cites the birth of his children as two of the proudest moments in his life. Throughout the years, he has been an active soccer referee and coach in his free time. With his daughter, he created a soccer program for special needs children in the Florida panhandle. Deis said he is proud of the three years he spent working with these special needs children, and the program still is going strong today.

Deis said he is equally proud of his professional career. He oversaw or was part of many exciting and important projects over the years, including an F-15 life extension project. His team tested and researched technologies that they hoped would extend the lifetime for the Eagle fleet. The team was successful, and Deis states that the F-15 has far outlived initial estimates of the aircraft's viability.

"The F-15 has probably exceeded its life by two or three times what was intended to do," says Deis. "And it's still going strong today."

Deis also was involved in an important project that focused on the protection of aircraft and air crews from man-portable air-defense systems. At AFRL, he led the Sensors Directorate in many significant achievements. A few examples include the Simulated Programmable Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) Jammer, which demonstrated the ability to degrade and deny GPS without requiring open air jamming or the need for frequency clearance; the Body-Wearable Antenna Joint Concept Technology Demonstrator Program, based on AFRL testing and assessment; and the Blue Devil program which provided near real time ISR support in theater.

Within the multiple director roles throughout his career, Deis always strived to achieve the Air Force core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence in everything he did. He adds that he also embraced the philosophy of servant leadership.

"I believe my role as a leader was to be there to serve and support my leaders, my peers, and my subordinates. That doesn't mean I always agreed with everyone or allowed peers or subordinates to take advantage of my service, but it does mean that I listened and tried to help to the best of my abilities, then made the tough decisions and choices when necessary," explains Deis.

He has assumed the role of the first Director of Advanced Research and Development at the WSU Research Institute. His return to WSU demonstrates another completed circle in his academic and professional careers. Deis describes this new position as a perfect match and "no better opportunity" for him following his retirement from AFRL.

As he contemplates the present and future of the Air Force, Deis expressed his personal concerns about the impact of significant defense cuts. He advocates the U.S. must maintain a prominent leadership position in the free world, to include science and technology. Deis claims that he is extremely optimistic about the future of AFRL.

"When I look at the young workforce we're bringing in, I definitely see brilliant people," states Deis. "This place is full of brilliant individuals, and one of them someday is going to have the next big breakthrough. I think it could happen right here in AFRL."

Game-changing technologies aside, when asked what advice he would give to others for being successful in life, Deis replied, "Work hard, do good work, and always continue to learn. I am a huge believer in life-long learning."

There is little doubt that Deis will continue to learn in his new role at the WSU Research Institute and well beyond in his future personal pursuits and endeavors.