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Dr. Alok Das:Military Branch:United States Airforce | |
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Dr. Alok Das, a member of the scientific and professional cadre of senior executives, is Chief Scientist, Space Vehicles, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. Dr. Das started his career as a controls engineer at the Indian Space Research Organization, designing attitude control systems for some of India's initial earth observation satellites. In 1984 he joined the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory. As the technical lead for the emerging large space structures area, he developed it into the Defense Department's premiere facility for developing and demonstrating advanced technologies for modeling, and precise control of such systems. Later, working closely with the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, he was instrumental in the development and transition of the emerging smart structures technology, from conceptual laboratory demonstrations to applications in space systems, providing satellite designers with an array of space-proven technologies. He also worked with NASA on several initiatives, including the New Millennium Program. Since 1997, Dr. Das has focused on exploring revolutionary space mission architectures, satellite designs and technologies to radically reduce the cost, while enhancing the capability and operating flexibility of space systems. Das has written more than 60 technical articles on space technologies. EDUCATION 1976 Bachelor of Engineering degree in electronics and communications engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India 1978 Master of Engineering degree in aeronautical engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India 1982 Doctor of Philosophy in aerospace engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg CAREER CHRONOLOGY 1. 1978 - 1980, controls engineer, Indian Space Research Organization, Bangalore, India 2. 1982 - 1984, research associate, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Edwards AFB, Calif. 3. 1984 - 1986, aerospace engineer, Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, Edwards AFB, Calif. 4. 1986 - 1988, aerospace engineer, Astronautics Laboratory, Edwards AFB, Calif. 5. 1989 - 1993, technical adviser, Space Vehicle Structures and Controls Division, Space Technology Directorate, Phillips Laboratory, Edwards AFB, Calif. 6. 1993 - 1996, technical adviser, Space Vehicle Structures and Controls Division, Space Technology Directorate, Phillips Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M. 7. 1996 - 1997, technical adviser, Space Vehicle Technologies Division, Space Technology Directorate, Phillips Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M. 8. 1997 - 1998, technical adviser, Space Vehicle Integration and Demonstration Division, Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M. 9. 1999 - 2004, Senior Scientist for Space Structures and Control, Space Vehicles Directorate, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M. 10. 2004 - present, Chief Scientist, Space Vehicles, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M. AWARDS AND HONORS 1988 Scientist/Engineer Excellence Award, Air Force Astronautics Laboratory 1991 Meritorious Achievement Award, American Defense Preparedness Association 1995 NASA Achievement Award, Small Spacecraft Technology Initiative Team 1999 Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 2000 Smart Structures and Materials Achievement Award, International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS Former member, organizing committee, First and Second NASA/DOD Control/Structures Interaction Conference Former general chairman, First and Second U.S. Air Force and NASA Workshop on System Identification and Health Monitoring of Precision Space Structures Former member, AIAA Structural Dynamics Technical Committee Former member, Joint AIAA/American Society for Mechanical Engineers and SPIE planning group, AIAA SDM Conference Former general chairman, First Conference on Smart Structures and Materials, SPIE Former member, program committee, SPIE Conference on Smart Structures and Materials Former member, Mechanical Engineers Technical Committee on Adaptive Structures and Materials Systems, ASME Former executive program chair, Space Technology Conference and Exposition, AIAA |
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