AFRL’s Directed Energy Directorate introduces new director

  • Published
  • By Kendahl Johnson
  • Kirtland Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Dr. Kelly Hammett was welcomed as the new director of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate at a ceremony at the AFRL Conference Center April 25. He was also promoted to the Senior Executive Service at the ceremony.

"It's with a sense of humility and honor that I'm here," Hammett said. "I view leadership as a service opportunity and I look forward to the opportunity to serve you. I wouldn't be here if I hadn't felt the organization wanted me to be in a position of leadership, and I appreciate the show of support."

Hammett is one of the country's leading experts on directed energy technology, having served in various leadership posts in AFRL spanning a total of 14 years. Most recently, he served as AFRL Directed Energy Directorate's chief engineer.

Hammett came to AFRL after a 20-year active duty Air Force career which focused mainly on directed energy weapons system technology development and acquisition.

"I really want to take this organization across the finish line and get some of our directed energy technologies transitioned to the warfighter," Hammett said. "We could lose the next fight if we don't bring some transformational technology into the battlefield. I'm passionate about that." 

Maj. Gen. Thomas Masiello, AFRL commander at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, presided over the promotion ceremony. He said the director position is a very important position of responsibility and that Hammett competed against numerous highly qualified applicants.

"Hammett's technical skills speak for themselves. When we promote someone to the SES, It's important that they have strong technical skills, but those skills aren't nearly as important as his leadership skills. Hammett is a great leader and how fortunate we are, as an organization, to have him as our director."

Hammett has a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Oklahoma, a master's degree in in aeronautics/astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a doctorate from the Air Force Institute of Technology, where he specialized in optimal and nonlinear control and estimation theory.

Directed Energy is one of two AFRL directorates located at Kirtland; with the other being Space Vehicles.  Collectively, they are referred to as AFRL New Mexico. Directed Energy alone has an annual budget of $267 million and employs 960 military, civilian and contracted employees.

The Senior Executive Service is the highest position classification in the civil service of the federal government, somewhat similar to general officer rank in the military.