AFRL officer grateful to serve country

  • Published
  • By Jeanne Dailey
  • Air Force Research Laboratory
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Capt. Holly Bradley leads a team in the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate that investigates the suitability of modern electronics for the radiation found in space.

Standard electronics are generally not able to survive the space environment long-term, she said. Her team works to identify specific radiation-induced failure mechanisms to assist manufacturers in improvement of their radiation-tolerant designs for GPS applications.

"Capt. Bradley has been a superb addition to the AFRL team," said her branch chief Marc Owens.  "She has a 'can do' attitude and regardless of the task Holly enthusiastically throws herself into any project we assign her."

Bradley said the Air Force has provided her with great opportunities to serve her country and to learn about a wide variety of military capabilities.

"My eyes are continually opened to the highly-advanced technology, vast number of capabilities and top-notch Airmen that keep our country safe every day," Bradley said. "It's amazing."

Having grown up in Frederick, Maryland as the oldest of four children, she said her dad owns a restaurant and she and her siblings grew up working for him. Bradley said her dad has always been an inspiration in her life and career.

"My dad is the hardest worker I know. He built his restaurant business from the ground up and still works 60 to 70 hours a week after 33 years on the job," she said.

Her mom was also an inspiration, she said.

"I respect my mom because of her unwavering dedication to the care of our family and to raising myself and my siblings. It made a tremendous difference in my life," she said. "I have tried to emulate my dad during my Air Force career, and look forward to following my mom's example in the years to come."

She graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2010 with a degree in business management, and in 2014 completed a master's degree in Entrepreneurship from Oklahoma State University.

Bradley's husband is an aircraft maintenance officer in the 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland. They met at the Air Force Academy and will soon celebrate their 3rd wedding anniversary. 

Bradley is also involved in other projects at the lab. Last year she received kudos from the AFRL Commander Maj. Gen. Thomas Masiello for her leadership in developing the AFRL Kirtland site's Heritage Annex historical display.

"We divided the accomplishments of the AFRL Space Vehicles and Directed Energy Directorates into major categories and selected pictures and artifacts to be displayed in each category," she said. "It was neat to see the groundbreaking technology that was invented right here at the lab and now benefits the nation."

Owens said Bradley has had the vision to see the tremendous potential in the technology she's working on.

"She has worked tirelessly within the community to build the partnerships necessary to bring the technology to its full potential," he said. "This expanding partnership will create a legacy that will live on after Capt. Bradley has left the Air Force Research Laboratory."