AFRL scientist is a leader in space and STEM outreach

  • Published
  • By Jeanne Dailey
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  Dr. Stacie Williams is a leading scientist and science, technology, engineering and math educator at the Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate's telescope observatory site on Maui, Hawaii. She is a soft-spoken dynamo who skillfully juggles a myriad of professional responsibilities as well as being a wife and mother. Her long list of accomplishments and honors reflect a woman who seems to thrive in a pressure-packed environment.

Williams leads several technical efforts in the areas of imagery, spectroscopy and lasers and is the manager for the Maui site's daylight and geosynchronous earth orbit imaging programs. Several of these programs involve collaborations with other organizations outside AFRL and meet critical science and technology needs.

"The Air Force plays a prominent role in studying and monitoring all kinds of situations in space. The Maui Space Surveillance System is a huge asset to the scientific community as a state-of-the-art satellite monitoring system and as a facility supporting research and development," explained Williams.

Williams is featured in a recent film called "Maui in Space," (available on YouTube at http://youtu.be/dtmKBEG4cEA), showing the collaboration between the Air Force and the University of Hawaii Institute of Astronomy researchers. It highlights the Maui Island and DOD's work in astronomy and research involving space situational awareness.

As the site's science, technology, engineering and mathematics outreach director, Williams has established a program that reaches more than 1,000 kindergarten through 12th-grade students and teachers annually, and influences all 34 Maui County public schools. The program includes teacher development professional workshops, a STEM curriculum lending library, providing high-quality materials and equipment free of charge to local educators, summer student camps, and tours of AFRL's 3.6-meter Advanced Electro-Optical System telescope.

"I am excited about our STEM outreach program. We bring STEM alive in the classroom, connecting real-world AFRL directed energy programs to classroom curriculum. Our goal is to educate teachers and inspire students in grades K-12 to explore the fields of math and science," said Williams. "I think it's important to show children that science can be engaging and interesting."

Williams' STEM outreach extends beyond Hawaii. In early 2012, she began work with the Georgia Institute of Technology to implement a classroom-controlled outreach telescope. Teachers across the country will be able to use this telescope to study the moon and other astronomical objects. This new Air Force educational asset is intended to engage students in their curriculum and bring Directed Energy space technology to life in the K-12 classroom.

"Working for the Air Force as a scientist in support of the defense of our nation is an honor. The talent and dedication of my AFRL colleagues inspire me each day to give my best for my country," said Williams. "Being involved in the STEM outreach program is just icing on the cake for me. I believe the AFRL STEM programs will have a far-reaching impact on the future of America's youth."