Research Awards
Each year, the U.S. Air Force Academy celebrates the research accomplishments of faculty and cadets with an awards ceremony. Awards are for research conducted between September 1 of the previous calendar year and August 31 of the current calendar year.
MARTINSON SCHOLARSHIP OF TEACHING AND LEARNING (SoTL) AWARDS
SoTL awards are given to members of the Academy faculty for outstanding educational research focused on cadet learning. Winners’ research has potential impact beyond the course(s) involved in the study, and demonstrates overall excellence and acceptance by other experts in the field.
2019-2020 Academic Year Award Winner
Dr. Lynne Chandler-Garcia, Department of Political Science
ROBERT F. MCDERMOTT AWARDS
Brig. Gen. Robert F. McDermott was appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower as the first permanent professor at the Academy and later, the first permanent Dean of the Faculty. He laid the groundwork for creation of the Astronautical Research Laboratory and introduced approximately 30 new academic majors during his tenure. The McDermott Awards recognize faculty excellence in humanities and the social sciences.
2019-2020 Academic Year Award Winners
Lieutenant (USN) Todd Seech, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership – Social Sciences
Lieutenant Colonel David Buchanan, Department of English and Fine Arts – Humanities
Dr. Elizabeth Phillips, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership – Immediate Impact
Dr. Randall L Musselman, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering – Technology Transfer
THOMAS D. MOORE AWARDS
Presented in honor of Maj. Thomas D. Moore, a former professor of physics and electrical engineering at the Academy, this award celebrates the outstanding work of cadets during the Cadet Summer Research Program.
2019-2020 Academic Year Award Winners
C1C Mariah R. Ford – Basic Science Division and Overall
C1C John Marshall Sponaugle – Social Sciences Division
C1C Zachary K. Bailey – Engineering Division
C1C Lawrence J. King – Humanities Division
FRANK J. SEILER AWARDS
Col. Frank Seiler is well remembered for his devotion to increasing the stature of in-house Air Force laboratories and improving career opportunities for young officer scientists. Sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Seiler Awards recognize outstanding researchers conducting basic scientific and engineering research.
2019-2020 Academic Year Award Winners
Dr. Kimberly de La Harpe, Department of Physics – Basic Sciences
Major Judson Dressler, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering – Engineering
DEAN OF THE FACULTY AWARD: OUTSTANDING CADET RESEARCH
2019-2020 Academic Year Award Winners
C2C Zachary Eyler – Individual
C1C Hankins & C1C Van Der Linden – Team