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.
2020-2021 Academic Year Award Winner
Dr. Kelly Lemmons – Department of Economics and Geosciences
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.
2020-2021 Academic Year Award Winners
The McDermott Award for Research Excellence in the Humanities
Dr. Daniel Couch -Department of English and Fine Arts
The McDermott Award for Research Excellence in the Social Sciences
Dr. Ryan Burke – Department of Military and Strategic Studies
The McDermott Award for Immediate Impact
Dr. Lynne Chandler-Garcia – Department of Political Science
The McDermott Award for Technology Transfer
Dr. Michael Anderson – Department of Mechanical Engineering
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.
2020-2021 Academic Year Award Winners
C1C Lauren Peterson (Basic Sciences) – Overall Winner
C1C Robert Warner (Engineering)
C1C Parker Ferguson (Social Sciences)
C1C Zachary Flash (Humanities)
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.
2020-2021 Academic Year Award Winners
Basic Sciences Division
Dr. Ryan Cress – Department of Physics
Engineering Division
Dr. Thomas Yechout – Department of Aeronautics
DEAN OF THE FACULTY AWARD: OUTSTANDING CADET RESEARCH
2020-2021 Academic Year Award Winners
C1C Henry Gilchrist – Individual
C1C Jessica Beyer and C1C Christopher Patterson – Team