When
Where
TITLE
Directed Energy Laser Weapon Systems
ABSTRACT
Ever since the invention of the laser, the military has wanted laser weapon systems (LWS). Despite many demonstrations over the decades, it was not until the development of beam combined fiber laser technology that laser weapons could be developed that were power enough and small enough to be tactically relevant.
We are at the dawn of the proliferation of such systems. The talk will briefly discuss the innovations that have enabled laser weapons, what are the key considerations for a working system and review the current status.
BIO
Dr. Robert Afzal is a Lockheed Martin Senior Fellow in the Integrated Warfare Systems & Sensors (IWSS), Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) business area. In this role, he oversees the technical development and roadmaps for lasers and laser weapons. He serves as a corporate technology expert for Directed Energy. His core expertise is in fiber lasers, diode pumped solid-state lasers, and nonlinear optics. He is an expert in Laser Systems and Instrumentation spanning Directed Energy to Space applications.
Dr. Afzal was the Principal Investigator on the Accelerated Laser Demonstration Initiative (ALADIN) program which demonstrated the first beam combined 30 kW high power fiber laser system and is a lead point of contact on laser and related technology applied to Directed Energy, and IRCM, in Lockheed Martin. On multiple occasions he served as director of Laser and Sensor Systems and site manager for the Bothell, Washington operations with responsibility for the P&L of laser systems.
In 2006, Dr. Afzal joined Aculight Corporation as Vice President of Research and Development which was acquired by Lockheed Martin in August 2008. Prior to joining Aculight, he was the VP of R&D at Spectra Systems in Rhode Island, developing photonic materials and sensors for applications such as taggants for security materials. From 1992 to 2001, he was at NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in the Science Directorate, developing lasers for space and airborne applications and within 10 years at GSFC, he contributed to science by having the laser lead on three space flight missions to Mars, Mercury and to Earth orbit.
He led the development of the flight lasers for the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System on the ICESat Mission including design, development, testing and founding the Space Lidar Technology Center. He was the Laser Lead on the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter Instrument on Mars Global Surveyor and designed the laser on Mercury Laser Altimeter on the MESSENGER mission.
After a Post-Doctorate at the Naval Research Laboratory, Dr. Afzal took a position at Candela Laser Corporation helping to develop the Alexandrite laser for tattoo removal and diode based, optical tweezers. He holds a Physics Ph. D. from Brown University.