Air Force Exploration Laboratory names new head of room science and technologies efforts

WASHINGTON — The Air Power Study Laboratory has named Andrew Williams the new head of the organization’s space-relevant science and technology endeavours, overseeing the lab’s do the job with the U.S. Place Pressure.

As the deputy technological innovation executive officer for area science and technology, or D-TEO, Williams will be the focal point of AFRL’s house functions, ensuring they are designed and executed in an built-in manner. He replaces Kelly Hammett, who was serving as the performing D-TEO.

“Dr. Williams is extremely effectively-capable, experienced, and a revered leader within just AFRL, the USSF, and our Science and Technological know-how stakeholders,” mentioned Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, AFRL commander, in a Nov. 1 assertion.

Williams has served in various roles inside AFRL’s room motor vehicles directorate at Kirtland Air Power Base, New Mexico, over the final 18 many years, most not long ago holding the position of space mission location guide.

The area automobiles directorate portfolio includes various satellites and experiments, which includes Navigation and Technological know-how Experiments Satellite 3 (NTS-3), an AFRL Vanguard system that will aid guideline the long term of the GPS program although delivering innovative abilities to the war fighter. The laboratory also develops technologies still in their infancy, these kinds of as a rocket-shipped cargo capability and a satellite that can beam photo voltaic vitality to war fighters on earth.

“In my most the latest position as the Place Mission Region Direct, I oversaw AFRL’s place science and technological innovation investment tactic, ensuring synchronization with the technological know-how desires for Area Power, Place Functions Command, and Room Devices Command,” Williams stated in a statement. “[T]hat knowledge will be very beneficial in my new role.”

AFRL has invested closely in developing out the space-relevant infrastructure at Kirtland Air Pressure Base since the establishment of the Area Drive in 2019.

In 2020, it opened the Deployable Structures Laboratory, or DeSel, a $4 million lab to develop components for new deployable room buildings. And in May 2021, AFRL opened the $12.8 million Space Warfighting Functions Exploration and Growth, or SWORD, lab, which will be made use of to monitor objects on orbit, progress satellite cybersecurity and create autonomous abilities to enable house vehicles keep away from every other and place particles.