AFRL Directed Energy Directorate receives Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

  • Published
  • By Jeanne Dailey
  • Air Force Research Laboratory
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate received the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, its fifth AFOE award since 1997.

Bringing "Speed of Light to the Fight," the directorate focuses its research and development on high power electromagnetics, laser systems, adaptive optics, and weapons modeling and simulation for directed energy technologies.

"This award recognizes the extraordinary work our Airmen do each and every day," said Maj. Gen. Tom Masiello, AFRL commander. "Directed energy technologies are providing unique and revolutionary capabilities to several United States Air Force mission areas. The men and women of the Directed Energy Directorate can be proud of their game-changing advances in support of the nation and our warfighters."

The award recognizes the directorate for transforming modern high energy laser systems by improving the size, weight and power of lasers needed to make them combat ready, and for developing a non-lethal technology that can be used on air platforms to disrupt an enemy's electronics while causing little or no damage to buildings or harm to people.

It also cites the directorate's breakthroughs in space situational awareness research that provides 24/7 space imaging and the best-ever images of satellites with ground-based adaptive optics. The directorate operates the Department of Defense's largest telescopes, the 3.6-meter telescope on Maui, Hawaii and the 3.5-meter telescope located on Kirtland Air Force Base.

"Innovation in science and technology, along with our great Airmen, will keep our Air Force ready for any challenge," said Dr. David Hardy, director of the Directed Energy Directorate. "We have a superb team here, and I'm thrilled to see our people recognized for their creativity."

Military and civilian members assigned or attached to the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate from May 1, 2011 to April 30, 2013 are authorized to wear the ribbon. Personnel who have questions regarding the wear of the ribbon should contact their local Force Support Squadron.

The Air Force Research Laboratory headquarters is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and is a unit of the Air Force Materiel Command.