Fassil Ghebremichael

Personal Data: U.S. Citizen, Clearance: Secret.

Interests:

Position utilizing extensive knowledge of Applied Physics, Engineering or Mathematical Techniques of varied research expertise. Including product design and development in the fields of optics (linear, nonlinear, fiber) and lasers.

Education:

• Ph.D. Physics (Nonlinear Optics) December 1993. Washington State University, Pullman, WA.
  Thesis Title: Time and Temperature Microrheology of Dye-Doped Polymers Using Second Harmonic Generation. Characterized the micro-environment of doped polymer systems using studies of the relaxation behavior of nonlinear molecules doped in the polymer.
  Advisor: Professor Mark G. Kuzyk.
• M.S. Physics (Acoustics) May 1988. California State University, Long Beach, CA.
  Thesis Title: Experimental Investigations in Acoustical Imaging. Studied image recovery from experimental data using Fourier transformation for non-destructive imaging applications.
  Advisor: Professor Lowell J. Eliason.
• B.A. Physics and Mathematics, May 1983. St. Louis University, MO.
  Advisor: Professor Larry M. Stacey.

Technical Experience:

• Computer
  • programming: LabView, JAVA (works best with Internet Explorer!), FORTRAN, BASIC, C/C++, Assembly Language, Database, Graphics, Macro programming, Experiment Automation, DAQ Programs, IGOR, EXCEL, MSWord, SAS, Mathematica, Matlab, Mathcad,UNIX.
  • Hardware: PC, Macintosh, SUN, RS232, IEEE 488 (GPIB) Interfaces,DAQs.
• Electronics: Control circuits, testing and interfacing with equipment and acquiring data.
• Modern test equipment: DMMs, Digital Oscilloscopes, Lock-in amplifiers, Power meters, PMTs.
• Low to high vacuum: Cryogenic systems, Diffusion pumps, Vacuum chambers.
• All optical components: Lens, Compensators, Polarizers, Beam splitters, Prisms.
• Lasers: Nanosecond, Picosecond, Mode-locked, Continuous, HeNe, Diode Laser.
• Material fabrication/Characterization: Thin films, CVD, E-Beam, Thermal evaporation, Optical fibers, Clean room (100), Optical characterization, DMA, DSC, TGA, Diffusion, Ellipsometer, Profilometer, familiarity with NMR.
• Technician tools: Lathe, Milling tool, Drill press, Band saw, Hydraulic press.

Work Experience:

• August 2005 - Present.
  Sr. Research Engineer- Locheed Martin Corp, Missile and Fire Control,
  Orlando, FL.
  
  • Design and construction of short pulse laser systems.
  • More to come

• July 2004 - July 2005.
  Research Scientist - Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energies,
  Kirtland Air Force Base, NM.
  
  • Design and construction of fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers for CW and pulsed applications. Work with diode pump sources, master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) configuration, high-power CW and pulsed fiber lasers. Design and setup of characterization systems for fibers, fiber amplifiers and lasers, as well as component testing and contractor systems’ evaluation.
  • Project manager for MOPA fiber laser systems including in-house totaling $5.5 Mil

• June 1996 - July 2004.
  Associate Professor/Research Scientist - Laser and Optics Research Center,
  United States Air Force Academy, CO.
  
  • Research in nonlinear optics, including the study of nonlinear optics in polymers, such as photo-refractivity, second harmonics, photo-voltaics, electro-optics, and linear/nonlinear optical fibers. Built several optical experiments with total computer automation (Electro-optic, photovoltaic, photorefractive.) Built a fiber drawing apparatus, with laser-based size control. Built several electronic controls (for motors, actuators, detectors, vacuum systems.) Generated over $225k of research grants. Collaborated with many research labs. Published over a dozen research papers (refereed scientific, and technical.
  • Teachingundergraduate Physics courses, including Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Solid State Physics, Optics, Laboratory Techniques.

• January 1994 - June 1996.
  Research Assistant - Washington State University, Pullman, WA.
  • Conducted temporal, thermal, and electric field dependent second harmonic generation studies on chromophore-doped polymers. Used picosecond and nanosecond YAG laser systems, built in-house a vacuum chamber with cryostat temperature capabilities, built electronic control systems, wrote computer control codes for total experiment automation. Worked on mobility models for characterization of chromophore dynamics. Conducted sample chemistry and film preparation in a class 100 clean room. Confirmed molecular mobility model using experimental results.
  • Advised graduate students and consulted with postdoctoral researchers in the physics department.


• September 1990 - December 1993.
  Research Associate - School of Chemical. Engineering, Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN.
  
  • Studying the linear electro-optical behavior of chromophore-doped polymers in comparison to the well studied second harmonic generation properties. Built an improved Mach-Zehnder interferometer to perform temporal, thermal, frequency, and electric-field dependent experiments. Electronic feedback loop was incorporated in the interferometer pivotal to the temporal and thermal dependent studies. Eliminated thickness variation contributions to the interferometer modulation outputs. For the first time, frequency dependent studies of second order nonlinear optical property of the materials are possible with this technique. Studied the electro-optical effect of doped systems in an integrated optics configuration using wave-guiding techniques.
  • Actively involved in the writing of research grant proposals.
  • Supervised and facilitated students' theoretical and experimental research endeavors.


• January 1989 -December 1990
  Teaching Assistant - Washington State University, Pullman, WA.
• May 1988 - August 1988
  Minority Students Teacher - California State University, Long Beach, CA.
• January 1987 - May 1988
  Research Assistant - Innovative Nuclear Space Power Institute, CSULB, CA.
  Conducted computer modeling/simulations for two-fluid flow in a circulating fuel reactor for the Department of Defense's Strategic Defense Initiative project.
• January 1984 - May 1988
  Teaching Assistant - California State University, Long Beach, CA.
• September 1981 - May 1983
  Teaching Assistant/Computer Monitor - Saint Louis U., St. Louis, MO.

Honors, Awards, Affiliations:

• Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Photorefractivity, $70,000 (2002 - 2003).
• Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Photovoltaics, $90,000 (2001 - 2002).
• American Chemical Society, Summer Research Fund, $6,500 (Summer 2000).
• Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, $20,000 (1999 - 2000).
• Air Force Office of Scientific Research, $45,000 (1999 - 2000).
• American Chemical Society, Summer Research Fund, $6,500 (Summer 1999).
• American Chemical Society, Petroleum Research Fund, $20,000 (1998 - 1999).
• National Science Foundation, General Research Grant, $17,140 (1997 - 1998).
• National Science Foundation, travel grant, $500 (1993).
• National Science Foundation's Summer Institute in Japan fellow, $7,000 . (1993)
• Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need fellow, $12,000. (1992 - 1993)
• California State University, Forgivable Loan Program fellow, $30,000. (1988 - 1991)
• American Physical Society.
• Optical Society of America.

Languages:

Some spoken and written knowledge of Arabic, Italian, French and Spanish.

Publications/Presentations

This document in MSWord format