United States Air Force Academy

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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