Winning through R&D advancements and teamwork

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFRL) – The Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate and Space Vehicles Directorate located at Kirtland AFB, held their annual awards ceremonies January 31 and February 9, respectively. Dozens of nominees and winners were recognized for excelling in the development of technologies supporting the warfighter and national defense, during 2021.

“Occasions like this are always humbling when we celebrate your amazing research and accomplishments,” said Col. Eric Felt, who leads the Space Vehicles Directorate. “It’s the teams working together to make each other a success – no one shines by themselves.”

Felt further elaborated that those recognized should not be surprised if they receive even more work because they have been seen for getting things done.

“You are accomplishing the mission I’ve given you to ‘go beat China’ with your great innovations,” he continued.

Dr. Kelly Hammett, who leads the Directed Energy Directorate, complimented each of his nominees and winners for their many accomplishments during the past year.

“2021 was an incredibly successful year for the Directed Energy Directorate, and I am proud of you and the work you are doing for the Air Force and Space Force,” Hammett said. “It’s thrilling to see the advancements you have made this year in all of our technical areas – high power electromagnetics and laser system development, and in our space electro-optics operations, as we protect the nation through space domain awareness.”

Hammett and Felt expressed their thanks to the supervisors who took the time to nominate their scientists, engineers, technical and support staff, while recognizing it was a tough year as their directorates maneuvered through COVID-19 constraints.

AFRL 2021 Directed Energy Directorate award winners

• Mentorship Award: Dr. Mark Spencer
• Giller Award: Dr. Jeanne Riga
• Publication of the Year Individual Award: Dr. Jake Grosek
• Publication of the Year Team Award: Falquon Team
• Technology Transfer/Transition Achievement Individual Award: Amber Anderson
• Technology Transfer/Transition Achievement Team Award: THOR Deployment Team
• Junior Mission Support Award: Jeffrey Ochoa
• Gen Raymond A. Gilbert, Junior Scientific/Technical Achievement Award: Dr. Kelsey Miller
• Leadership Award: Capt. Samuel Kent
• Senior Leadership Award: Millay Petersen
• Supervisory Award: Capt. Joseph Connelly
• Senior Administrative Excellence Award: Sandi Ortega
• Mission Support Individual Award: Mona Lisa Villegas
• Mission Support Team Award: Facilities Team
• International Award Individual: Dr. Wilkin Tang
• International Award Team: Guidestar Team
• Innovation Award: Hugh Pohl
• Scientific/Technical Technician Individual Award: Jason Grabke
• Scientific/Technical Technician Team Award: Effects Field Test Logistics Team
• Senior Scientific/Technical Achievement Individual Award: Dr. Timothy Fleming
• Senior Scientific/Technical Achievement Team Award: Semiconductor Laser Team
• Scientific/Technical Management Award: Jose Chacon
• Director’s Cup Junior Force Award: Dr. Noah Van Zandt
• Director’s Cup Sparks Award: Dr. Susan Heidger
• Director’s Cup R. Earl Good Team Award: AMOS Team
• Director’s Cup Richard J. Neal Junior Force Achievement Award: Capt. Jack Waller
• Director’s Cup Richard J. Neal Senior Achievement Award: Dr. Stephen Massey
• Director’s Cup Richard J. Neal Team Award: Rapid Response Team
• Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Jesse Reyes
• Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Master Sgt. Matthew Walsh
• Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Christopher O’Daniel
• IMA Field Grade Officer of the Year: Maj. Kelly Sibert
• Company Grade Officer of the Year: 1st. Lt. Tylar Hanson
• Field Grade Officer of the Year: Maj. Nathan Haluska
• Civilian of the Year Category I: Police Sgt. Timothy Cooley
• Civilian of the Year Category II: Heather Sommerdyke
• Civilian of the Year Category III: Dr. Jason Hammond

AFRL 2021 Space Vehicles Directorate award winners.

• Mentorship Award: Dr. Frederick Schult
• Wingman of the Year Award: 2nd Lt. Simone Smith
• Publication of the Year Individual: Dr. Khanh Pham
• Publication of the Year Team: ASETS Team
• Technology Transfer/Transition Achievement Award Individual: Dr. Lauren Hunt
• Technology Transfer/Transition Achievement Award Team: Thermal Team
• Leadership Award: Dr. Andrew Metcalf
• Senior Leadership Award: Gabriel Mounce
• Supervisory Award: Maj. Matthew Booth
• Junior Mission Support Excellence Award: Jennifer Butler
• Senior Mission Support Excellence Award: Stacy Schramm
• Mission Support Excellence Team Award: RVFC Team
• Innovation Award: Dr. Brian Kasch
• International Individual Award: Ronald Caton
• International Team Award: Hybrid Architecture Demonstrations-Microsatellite Military Utility Team
• Scientific/Technical Technician Award: Timothy Myers
• General Raymond A. Gilbert Junior Scientific/Technical Achievement Award: Adam Reinelt
• Senior Scientific/Technical Achievement Award: Dr. Spencer Olson
• Scientific/Technical Achievement Team Award: XVI Team
• Scientific/Technical Management Award: Arron Layns
• Civilian of the Year Category I: Jesse Holly
• Civilian of the Year Category II: Jesse Olson
• Civilian of the Year Category III: Larry Parten
• IMA Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Dustin Strickland
• IMA Field Grade Officer of the Year: Lt. Col. Julio Villafuerte
• Company Grade Officer of the Year: 1st Lt. Samuel Kreimier
• Field Grade Officer of the Year: Lt. Col. Stephen Jimenez
• Director’s Cup Junior Force Award: Apoorva Bhopale
• Director’s Cup Dan Wilhelm Award: Dr. Steven Lane
• Director’s Cup Dr. Harold Gardiner Team Award: Bermuda Triangle Experiment Team
• Director’s Cup Richard J. Neal Special Recognition Junior Individual: Maj. Timothy Allen
• Director’s Cup Richard J. Neal Special Recognition Senior Individual: Bianca Prumo
• Director’s Cup Richard J. Neal Special Recognition Team Award: Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications Team

Col. Eric Felt (2nd row on left), director of the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, with many of the individual and team award recipients at the directorate’s 2021 Annual Awards ceremony held at Kirtland AFB, N.M. February 9. (U.S. Air Force photo/Allen Winston)

Dr. Kelly Hammett, director of the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate, presents Dr. Jeanne Riga the Giller Award for her technical advances in the field of high power electromagnetics at the unit’s 2021 Annual Awards ceremony held at Kirtland AFB, N.M. January 31. (U.S. Air Force photo/Stephanie Geeze)