Brian Smith

Experience

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  Aeronautical Systems Center

  May 1995 - May 1997

  Integrated Logistics Support Cost Analyst

  Performed life-cycle cost analysis in support of F-15, F-16, F-22 and Joint Strike Fighter System Program Offices. Improved modeling software by adding graphical user interface to reduce manual errors and man-hours required to run the model.

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  U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology

  May 1997 - Mar 1999

  Master Student

  Investigated methods to modify an existing chemical laser to be suitable for a space-based application.- Designed and built custom gas flow control system for continuous optical pumping of iodine monobromide gas

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  Air Force Research Laboratory

  Mar 1999 - Aug 2002

  Site Chief, Ladar Research Facility

  Led team of 13 scientists and engineers and managed $12M annual applied research budget. Expanded research capabilities and pioneered new countermeasure resistant seeker technologies.- Wrote Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) topics, evaluated SBIR proposals, and managed SBIR contracts- Led development and field testing of breadboard laser radar (ladar) systems capable of 3-dimensional active optical imaging of targets to enable autonomous target-recognition algorithms

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  Air Force Institute of Technology

  Sept 2002 - Jan 2006

  PHD Student

  Studied chemical kinetics for high energy lasers. Conducted experiments to study alternative chemical pumping for an oxygen iodine laser. Completed all but dissertation.

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  Air Force Research Laboratory

  Jan 2006 - Jun 2010

  Chief, Analysis Branch

  Directed more than 50 scientists and engineers working a $70M research & development portfolio. Developed technology to meet Air Force and Intelligence Community needs in optical space situational awareness (SSA), laser communications and laser beam control.- Developed plans, acquired funding, evaluated proposals and kept a large portfolio of projects on schedule and within budget to accomplish planned technical goals; conducted functional decomposition, developed work breakdown structures and an integrated master plan- Led team that rapidly advanced laser beam control and optical sensing technologies; improved ability to use optical-based remote sensing to gather data about satellites in Earth orbit- Gained hand-on experience with ground-based optical SSA systems participating in the planning and conduct of operations to collect high-resolution imagery of solar-illuminated and laser-illuminated objects in low earth orbit using adaptive optics- Oversaw project portfolio including requirement for Earned Value Management and reporting- Held TS/SCI security clearance with Special Access Program (SAP) access Show less

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  Air Force Space Command

  Jul 2010 - Jun 2014

  Chief, Requirements & Technology Branch

  Facilitated geographically separated multi-disciplinary teams developing science & technology plans for each space & cyberspace mission in AFSPC’s Strategic Plan and developed an enduring process to ensure continuous technology transition.- Facilitated and directed 15 technology transition teams across 24 mission areas fully integrating science and technology into long-term system architectures and strategic plans- Provided interface between research and development, system requirements development, operations, acquisitions and strategic planning; integrated cutting-edge technology into Air Force space and cyberspace operations- Led coordination of AFSPC requirements documents for all mission systems through Headquarters Air Force for coordination with the DoD-wide requirements oversight council; ensured timely delivery of quality documentation to support space and cyber capability development- Developed ability to translate between technical jargon and user language; accurately aligned research thrusts in Air Force Research Laboratory and the wider research and development community to future operational needs- Held Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance Show less

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  United States Central Command

  May 2011 - Nov 2011

  Security and Stability Action Officer

  Lead for Afghan governance development focused on counter-corruption and criminal organizations in Afghanistan. Developed governance development strategies, border management models and governance initiatives to deter and neutralize corruption in Afghanistan. Provided critical analysis of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) contributions to Pakistan in support of the Theater Campaign Assessment.

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  United States Air Force

  Jun 2014 - Jun 2018

  Assistant Professor Of Physics

  Assistant Professor of Physics at USAFA and research mentor in the Space Physics and Atmospheric Research Center (SPARC).- Chief engineer on FalconSAT-7 project developing a first-of-its-kind space-based diffractive optic telescope, to be launched in late 2018; mentored students on resource-driven planning and scheduling using Microsoft Project and on system integration and test- Sole instructor and course director for introductory course in Nuclear Weapons & Strategy Minor developing future Air Force leaders in the nuclear enterprise; developed future Air Force leaders in the nuclear enterprise; recruited 13 students into the minor- Guided 15 instructors and 900 students as course director for freshman and sophomore physics over the course of two years; achieved highest objectively measured learning gains in ten semesters- Instructed over 300 students in mechanical physics, electricity and magnetism, and nuclear physics; prepared next generation of Air Force officers with a strong technical foundation- Led science community outreach to elementary and middle school students throughout Colorado Springs; inspired thousands of children to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)- Held Secret/Critical Nuclear Weapons Design Information (S/CNWDI) security clearance Show less

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  Freedom Learning Group

  Jun 2018 - Apr 2019

  Curriculum Developer and Subject Matter Expert

  Develops and reviews curricula and assessments for online learning in math and physics. Working part time from home.

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  Intecon

  Aug 2018 - Oct 2018

  Deliberate/Strategic Planner

  Conducted assessments in support of NORAD/NORTHCOM exercises.

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  CACI International Inc

  Oct 2018 - Jan 2024

  Modification Projects Engineering Manager

  Dec 2020 - Jan 2024: Manager for 4 engineering teams with 40 employees executing modification projects for the Satellite Control Network.Mar 2020 - Dec 2020: Technical Advisor for modification projects for the Air Force Satellite Control Network.Oct 2019 - Feb 2020: Lead modification project systems engineer. Manager for 10 systems engineers and lead engineers executing modification projects for the Air Force Satellite Control Network.Oct 2018 - Sept 2019: Modification project systems engineer. Lead engineer for two modification projects for the Air Force Satellite Control Network. Show less

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  L3Harris Technologies

  Jan 2024 - now

  GEODSS Lead Project Engineer, MOSSAIC

  Lead Project Engineer for sustainment of the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Space Surveillance (GEODSS) system, part of the Maintenance of Space Situational Awareness Integrated Capabilities (MOSSAIC) contract.