Bio
Major Chris Francis is an Instructor in the Department of Physics and Meteorology at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is a 2010 Distinguished Graduate of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Detachment 002, and holds advanced degrees in physics and education. He has served with the Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, and the Arnold Engineering Development Complex.
Education
Master of Arts, Education Administration, University of Louisville, Kentucky (2019)
Master of Science, Physics, California State University, Fullerton, California (2011)
Bachelor of Science, Physics, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California (2009)
Professional Experience
Instructor, Department of Physics and Meteorology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (2020-Present)
Capability Manager, Advanced Missile Signature Center, Arnold Engineering Development Complex, Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee (2018-2020)
Operations Flight Commander, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 085, Berkeley, California (2015-2018)
Senior Optical Systems Physicist, Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico (2011-2015)
Honors & Awards
Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, Arnold Engineering Development Complex, 2019
Outstanding Flight Training Officer, AFROTC Field Training, 2017
Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, AFRL Directed Energy Directorate, 2015
Technology Transfer Achievement Team Award, AFRL Directed Energy Directorate, 2014
Distinguished Graduate, AFROTC Detachment 002, 2010
Research and Scholarly Interests
Physics Education Research
Gravitational Wave Astronomy
General Relativity
Publications
B. Hoover, D. Rugely, C. Francis, G. Zeira, and V. Gamiz,, “Bistatic laser polarimeter calibrated to 1% at visible-SWIR wavelengths,” Opt. Express 24, 19881-19894 (2016)