AFRL’s Hardy departing for Washington assignment

  • Published
  • By Ryan Stark
  • Nucleus writer
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate Director David A. Hardy is leaving his post at Kirtland to take over as assistant deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for space.

Hardy's new job will involve working for the Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and the Undersecretary of the Air Force Lisa Disbrow in coordinating the Department of Defense's overall space strategy. The Air Force is tasked to provide oversight for the space assets for the entire defense department and act as the senior advisor to the Secretary of Defense for space.

He said the offer for the new job came with a phone call from Gen. John Hyten, commander of the Air Force Space Command.

"The idea that we need to rethink space is something that's coming from the president on down," Hardy said. "I'm honored that I'll get to serve as we work our way through this important problem."

He said the rethinking of space is being spurred on by concerns of threats to American military assets in space. Hardy's new job will have him shuttling between space officials at the office of Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, the DoD services and agencies that are involved in space and the president's national security team.

During his time at the directorate, Hardy said that the role directed energy and high-powered electromagnetic systems has changed for the military.

"Lasers, after many years of S&T work, are now able to do some remarkable things and are finally on the threshold of emerging as operational airborne systems," he said, adding that high-powered electromagnetic systems are approaching transition as well.

"That's all due to what this group (at AFRL) has done over the last five years," he said.

Hardy has led the Kirtland-based directorate since 2010, and served in various other capacities within the AF research systems since 1976..

"We had some real problems when I got here," he said. "As an example, our two observatories were trying to find a role in the Air Force. And directed energy was trying to find a way forward."

Hardy served as an Air Force officer after graduating from the ROTC program at Duke University. Hardy holds doctoral and master's degrees in space physics and astronomy. He is also a graduate of the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

"It's been a great five years," he said. "I've had a great career here at Kirtland, and it was only after great consideration that I took the new job. I am sad to leave."