AFRL Scientists Win Prestigious STEM Awards

  • Published
  • By Santana Ortiz
  • AFRL

Ten Air Force Research Laboratory scientists and engineers, including two members of the Space Vehicles Directorate here, have been honored as the 2019 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Awards recipients.

This prestigious honor is bestowed by the office of the Air Force Chief Scientist Dr. Richard Joseph and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Science, Technology and Engineering Yvette Weber.

The award recognizes Department of Defense employees for their technical contributions, career achievements, and dedication to the Air Force mission.

The two award recipients within the Space Vehicles Directorates at Kirtland AFB are Dr. Brian Kasch and Maj. Gordon Lott.

Dr. Kasch, a research physicist with the Space Vehicles Directorate, won the 2019 John L. McLucas Basic Research Award for his work in advancing precision sensors based on atomic physics. His work serves to ensure that these sensitive devices can survive field operations.

“[At AFRL] we get to take some of the most promising ideas and turn them into something useful,” Kasch said. “I love basic research, but there is something very satisfying about handing someone a device and saying 'here, this is better than what you are currently using.'"

Maj. Lott is the Quantum Sensing and Timing program manager with the Space Vehicles Directorate. During the period the award was received Lott was the Cold Atom Navigation and Timing deputy program manager and won the 2019 Air Force Research and Development Award for his work on bringing new space-ready clock (or timing) technologies to the Department of Defense’s position, navigation, and timing (PNT) infrastructure.

In his current role, Lott leads the development of quantum timing and sensing technologies, which offer ultraprecise methods of keeping track of time, down to the millionth billionth of a second and sensing gravity, down to one trillionth of the force of earth’s gravity.

“The program I work with has an amazing group of scientists and engineers,” Lott said. “Getting to explore and develop technologies for Air Force applications is an unparalleled experience. The combination of talented people and mission is great.”