Editor briefing

Robert Goyer, FLYING Magazine senior editor, was given a briefing and tour of the Air Force Crash Laboratory by Jeff Thomas, lead instructor. U.S. Air Force photo by Marie Vanove

Chief of safety interview

Maj. Gen. Fred Roggero, Air Force chief of safety and commander, Air Force Safety Center, discusses the center's mission with Robert Goyer, FLYING Magazine senior editor. U.S. Air Force photo by Marie Vanover

Welcome home

Maj. Hamilton Dorsey, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, was welcomed home by family and friends at the Albuquerque Sunport Dec. 6 after a year-long tour in Iraq.

Sharp Troop Award

Airman 1st Class Keith Allen, 377th Force Support Squadron, receives a Sharp Troop Award from Chief Master Sgt. Frank Tomsich representing the Kirtland Chiefs? Group. Airman Allen was nominated by Chief Master Sgt. Chuck Crisler, 377th Mission Support Group, for his professionalism and dedication. U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Berenger

ALS Class 10-1 Graduates

The Kirtland Airman Leadership School graduated Class 10-1 on Nov. 4. The graduates and award recipients are: Staff Sgts. Robert Kramer Jr., 377th Security Forces Squadron (John L. Levitow Award); Alexander Roehm, 377th SFS (Academic Achievement Award); Joseph Zhang, 129th Rescue Wing, Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif.; Senior Airmen Joshua Thompson, 550th Special Operations Squadron (Leadership Award); Jason Chase, 58th Maintenance Operations Squadron (Distinguished Graduate); Ann-Marie Collins, 377th Aerospace Medicine Squadron; Regis Egbon, 377th SFS; Dexter Gore, 898th Munitions Squadron; Jason Hobson, 58th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; Norris Jamison, 377th SFS; Kyle Kreitinger, 58th AMXS; Joshua Owens, 898th MUNS; Richard Schneider, 58th AMXS; Michyl Tobiason, 58th Special Operations Wing; Dexter Vaughn, 178th Fighter Wing, Springfield Air National Guard Base, Ohio; and Senior Airman Sara Yarian, 58th Maintenance Squadron. U.S. Air Force Photo by Dennis Carlson

377th FSS wins holiday card competition

The 377th Force Support Squadron won first place in the holiday card competition this year and received $500. The cards are on display just inside the Wyoming gate and the winners were announced at the tree lighting ceremony Dec. 4. U.S. Air Force photo by Elizabeth Martinez

High-Power Microwaves

Microwave energy disrupts computer systems. A short burst of high-power microwave energy can be lethal to electronics while having no affect on humans. This low-collateral damage aspect of microwave technology makes high-power microwave weapons useful in a wide variety of missions where avoiding civilian casualties are of major concern. When microwaves encounter modern electronics-based systems, the results can be disastrous to electronics, causing systems to burn out and making the equipment fail or function improperly. A heavy reliance on electronic components in today weaponry makes high-power microwave counter-electronic weapon systems attractive. U.S. Air Force photo

The High Energy Research and Technology Facility

The High Energy Research and Technology Facility provides a unique capability for the development of high-power microwaves, high-energy advanced pulsed-power (including explosive devices), and very high-energy plasmas. It also provides a research environment for exploring a variety of related technologies. The facility remote location on Kirtland AFB, N.M., is coupled with a unique construction, which is designed to withstand blasts and intense radiation from a variety of sources, including high-energy microwaves and x-rays. HERTF has a four-story high-bay laboratory, 80 feet by 150 feet, with concrete roof and walls four feet thick for blast and radiation shielding. The high bay includes two bridge cranes, cable trays, a 12-foot deep pit for intense radiation source experiments, and access tunnels to an explosive firing area near the high bay. Up to 1,000 pounds of high explosives can be safely detonated in this area to produce hundreds of mega joules of electrical energy needed for advanced experiments. In addition, advanced weapons environments can be created, allowing scientists to assess the potential threat of these weapons to United States military systems. The facility also contains offices and smaller laboratories where advanced weapons technology experiments and demonstrations can be conducted safely and securely. U.S. Air Force photo

High-Power Microwaves

The High Energy Research and Technology Facility isolated location allows testing of directed energy systems. U.S. Air Force photo

High-Power Microwaves

The Active Denial System is a counter-personnel, non-lethal, directed energy weapon. Traveling at the speed of light, the energy strikes the subject and only reaches a skin depth of about 1/64th of an inch, or the equivalent of three sheets of paper. It produces a heat sensation that within seconds becomes intolerable and forces the targeted individual to instinctively move. The sensation immediately ceases when the individual moves out of the beam or when the operator turns off the beam. These non-lethal capabilities are designed to protect the innocent, minimize fatalities and limit collateral damage across the range of military operations. U.S. Air Force photo

Systems Engineering and Analysis Branch

The Systems Engineering and Analysis Branch's objective is to develop, integrate, prototype, simulate and assess directed energy system concepts as they relate to technology readiness, technology tradeoffs, mission effectiveness, military utility and the role in system architectures. U.S. Air Force photo

Technology Applications Division/Systems Engineering and Analysis Branch

Wargaming allows technology developers to refine concept of operations and monitor directed energy systems in a military battlefield environment. In addition to participating in various wargames, The Branch hosts an annual Advanced Concepts Event. ACE educates warfighters on directed energy capabilities and effects through the war gaming experience. These same warfighters provide critical feedback on directed energy systems. U.S. Air Force photo