Research Awards
Each year, the U.S. Air Force Academy celebrates 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.
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 the 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.
2023-2024 Academic Year Award Winners
Research Excellence in the Humanities: Dr. Sara Castro (DFHI)
Research Excellence in the Social Sciences: Dr. Lynne Chandler-Garcia (DFPS)
Immediate Impact in Research: Dr. Justin White (DFEG)
Research Excellence in Technology Transfer: C1Cs Gunnar and Simon Gott (DFEC), TSgt Matthew Ruben (USAF PACAF)
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.
2023-2024 Academic Year Award Winners
Basic Sciences Division: C1C Bevan Watson (DFMS-DS)
Humanities Division: C1C Andrew Fischer (DFHI)
Social Sciences Division: C1C Camden Larsen (DFEG-GEO)
Engineering Division: C1C Alyssa Hargis (DFEC)
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.
2023-2024 Academic Year Award Winners
Basic Sciences Division: Dr. Monte Anderson (DFPM)
Engineering Division: Dr. Samuel Stanton (DFAN)
DEAN OF THE FACULTY AWARD: OUTSTANDING CADET RESEARCH
2023-2024 Academic Year Award Winners
Individual: C2C Beatrice Shea (DFPM)
Team: Cadet Nuclear Treaty Verification Technology Team (DFPM): Lt Robert Hall (former cadet), Lt Jason Caldwell (former cadet), C1C Jason Booker, C1C Elyce Wages, C2C Dakota Biggerstaff, C2C Finn Dallas, C3C Zachary Aster, C3C Annabelle Towles
DEAN OF THE FACULTY AWARD: RESEARCH TEAM OF THE YEAR
2023-2024 Academic Year Award Winner
Astronomical Research and Observatory (ARGO) Team (DFPM)
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.
2023-2024 Academic Year Award Winner
Lt Col Terran Wellman (DFLA)