KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Since February 2007, Susan J. Thornton has served as the director of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base. next week, she starts her new position as director of the Engineering and Technical Management, Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. Before departure, she reflected on her time here.

"During my tenure leading the organization, I place my top accomplishments into three areas: program, process and people," said Ms. Thornton. "Regarding program successes, I am really excited about two -- the Electric Laser on a Large Aircraft program and the Counter-electronic High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project. Both have planned demonstrations of directed-energy capability with commitments from the warfighter to propose for transition. If accepted into the Air Force inventory, both will be of great benefit to our nation."

Working with her staff, she set up more open and collaborative directorate corporate processes. All corporate meeting minutes are published, and anyone who wishes may attend. Also, financial processes are open she said, it's important that directorate members have full information on budgetary matters.

"I also think developing your people is an essential aspect of being the boss," she said. "One key aspect of development is strong mentoring. I am happy with the mentoring program we've formalized for our people. We designed a mentor/protégé relationship model with specialized training for our mentors and protégés."

The programs, processes and personnel have also affected the warfighter. For example, seeing the payoff of several years of investment in astrometry and satellite-tracking technology demonstrated through the directorate's small telescopes, known as "Ravens" and how that affects the warfighter. In addition, the directorate has the largest telescopes in the Department of Defense capable of tracking satellites. The directorate developed a new optimal method for removing the effects of atmospheric blur from images taken by these large telescopes, which has improved on the ability to understand the status and health of space objects.

The directorate has also helped in the develop software tools used by Air Force Space Command to conduct system trades for the Space Surveillance Network and Electronic Systems Center to model the Air Force Space Surveillance System. It is currently working on algorithms to help track space objects for the Joint Space Operations Center, Vandenberg AFB, Calif., and the Distributed Space Control Center, Dahlgren, Va.

"Our efforts in support of the warfighter could not be achieved without the dedication and determination of our personnel, and thus, recruiting more scientists and engineers at the entry-level is critical to the directorate's future," said Ms. Thornton. "As a hiring incentive, I set aside specific funding to pay for the new employees for the first year, and then each division will pick up the responsibility."

The directorate also features a Center of Excellence for High Energy Lasers for masters, Ph.D. and post-doctorate students to complete their education while conducting basic research in laser technology and working on their theses. More than 20 students have participated.

"For the road ahead, we will continue to work hard, looking for opportunities to transition important technology to the warfighter."

Ms. Thornton reflected on her stay in New Mexico.
"It will be difficult to say goodbye to the exceptional personnel in the directorate I have served with," she said. "I will also miss the people and the great working relationships with the Nuclear Weapons Center, Safety Center, Space Development and Test Wing, Defense Mission Operations Center, and our sister directorate, Space Vehicles."

"It has been a real privilege to live in Albuquerque," she went on to say. "I appreciate the variety of cultures represented here and the local museums. I've become a huge fan of green chile, and will miss the wonderful aromas of fresh-roasting chilies. Opera is one of the passions I developed in New Mexico, and I think I've attended more than 90 percent of the Santa Fe Opera performances in the past several years. I am in awe of the beauty of the Southwest and will miss that enchantment, along with the nearly perfect climate."