The DOD research laboratories are mission-driven entities combining competency-based scientists and engineers (practicioners) immersed in a application rich (capability) environment. The job of these practicioners is two-fold including a) to mine the best of the best from outside the defense department and to b) invent the future in thrusts where there is no commercial/economic pull. One such laboratory is the Air Force Research Laboratory, performing work across 40 core technical competencies. Efforts centered in the materials and manufacturing areas are nurtured in AFRL's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate. This talk will discuss what it is like to 'have a career' in such a place and on recent focus areas centered in polymer science and engineering. Current areas of focus include additive manufacturing, novel photonic and electronic materials, polymer matrix composites, and thin film coatings.

Translating polymer science and engineering into practice: Air Force Materials Science and Technology

256th National Meeting (2018)

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