Research Awards
Each year, the United States 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 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.
2021-2022 Academic Year Award Winners
Research Excellence in the Humanities
Dr. Thomas McGuire
Research Excellence in the Social Sciences
Dr. Kelly Piazza
Immediate Impact in Research
Lt Col William Atkins (Social Sciences)
Capt Damon Kirkpatrick (Engineering)
Research Excellence in Technology Transfer
Dr. Michael Anderson
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.
2021-2022 Academic Year Award Winners
Basic Sciences: C1C Hannah Martinez
Engineering: C1C Mathew Core
Humanities: C1C Rachel Price
Social Sciences: C1C Gabrielle LaRochelle – Overall Winner
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.
2021-2022 Academic Year Award Winners
Basic Sciences Division
Maj Danielle O’Keefe
Engineering Division
Dr. Ioan Feier
DEAN OF THE FACULTY AWARD: OUTSTANDING CADET RESEARCH
2021-2022 Academic Year Award Winners
Individual – C2C Isobel Dernlan
Team – DFME Senior Design Capstone Team: 2d Lt Blake Armour, 2d Lt Mark Humphries, 2d Lt Adam Moeller, 2d Lt Devin Schwindt, 2d Lt Chris Voegele
DEAN OF THE FACULTY AWARD: RESEARCH TEAM OF THE YEAR
2021-2022 Academic Year Award Winner
Human-Autonomy Teaming Capstone Team: Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership
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.
2021-2022 Academic Year Award Winner
Dr. Joel Coffman