New director announced for AFRL's Directed Energy Directorate

  • Published
  • By Eva Blaylock
  • Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs
Susan J. Thornton will become the new director of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate, Air Force officials announced Nov. 22.

Beginning Jan. 1 as director, Ms. Thornton will oversee a workforce of more than 800 military and civilian scientists, engineers, contractors and support personnel. With an annual budget of over $300 million, the directorate develops high-energy lasers, high-power microwaves and other directed energy technologies for the Air Force and the Department of Defense.

Ms. Thornton is currently serving as the director of engineering at the Airborne Laser Program System Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Center here. Her duties there consist of supervising, directing and overseeing the technical management of the Airborne Laser high-energy laser weapon system, a $7 billion program focused on destroying ballistic missiles in the boost phase.

She replaces Dr. L. Bruce Simpson who left the laboratory Sept. 22 for a position at Eglin AFB, Fla.

The Ohio native began her federal career in 1981 as a project engineer with the Propulsion System Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. She continued her career at Wright-Patterson for the next 20 years with positions as lead engineer, chief engineer, systems chief, student and branch chief.

Ms. Thornton received a bachelor of science degree in electrical systems engineering from Wright State University, Ohio in 1981; a master's of science in aeronautical engineering from the University of Dayton, Ohio in 1990; a master's in public administration from Harvard University, Mass. in 1998; and completed the advanced program manager's course at the Defense Systems Management College, at Ft. Belvoir, Va., in 2000.