Mr. David Blanks is the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Liaison to USAFA.  He coordinates research activities between USAFA Research Centers and Dean of Faculty entities with AFRL promoting collaborative research and Science & Technology (S&T).  Colonel (retired) Blanks has over 28 years of active duty service and 5+ years as a civil servant with over 10 years associated with AFRL.  He holds a B.S. in Engineering Mechanics from USAFA, M.S. in Systems Engineering from AFIT, and 3-additional Masters-level degrees.  Mr. Blanks is a staunch advocate on the importance of S&T to both our US Air Force and US Space Force.