Blogs

Around the Region - February 2025

By AFRL Regional Network Midwest Community posted 02-26-2025 09:25

  
February 2025 Edition
We are proud to announce the keynote speaker for our annual meeting, retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Gerald Goodfellow, CEO and Founder of the Small Business Consulting Corporation (SBCC)!

Goodfellow helps the Air Force find and connect with innovative companies to help transition their best technologies for the nation's most critical defense missions. SBCC focuses on aligning partners to create a collaborative environment where entrepreneurs, industry, small businesses, startups, and capital intersect to spark innovation, build community, and create investments that enable the U.S. military to better defend the nation.

Goodfellow is a 30-year Air Force veteran who has earned three master's degrees and received the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in combat.

    Learn more about Goodfellow and the SBCC
    "Metal 3D Printing and Sintering in the Vacuum in Space," led by Dr. Calvin Stewart, College of Engineering Innovation Scholar and Associate Professor in the Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Materials Science in Engineering at Ohio State University, has seen great success in its first year!

    Stewart and his team are pioneering the use of bound metal deposition in space, a revolutionary method that could transform how we manufacture metal components. This process extrudes a polymer filament packed with metal powder through a 3D printer nozzle, crafting intricate structures with precision. Once printed, the polymer is removed, and the metal is sintered into its final, solid form.

    So far, the team has successfully cured various metal-bound filaments, including copper, multiple types of stainless steel, and titanium. They have also developed critical 3D printing parameters, produced test articles that represent real-world aerospace components, and achieved 100% metal parts after sintering.
    Check out their latest video update to learn more

    Michael Rayo, Associate Professor of Integrated Systems Engineering at Ohio State University, and his team are developing a cutting-edge research environment to assess the potential of AI-enhanced technologies in support of the United States Space Force.

    Their objective is to enhance operators' capabilities in evaluating the status and behavior of both natural and human-made satellites, enabling the identification of potential threats.

    So far, the team has designed an experimental framework aimed at understanding decision-making processes used to determine whether a satellite is actively maneuvering or passively maintaining its position.
    Check out their latest video update to learn more

    New Employee Spotlight

    The AFRL Regional Network - Midwest is excited to introduce our new Program Manager, Ms. Amanda Bragg! As the Program Manager, Bragg facilitates program-related activities, tracks and monitors program progress, prepares and maintains project documentation, and liaises between internal stakeholders and external partners and vendors.

    Bragg brings skills in multi-million dollar budget preparation and administration, public procurement, logistics, warehousing, inventory management, business process development, and staff development and leadership. So far, she loves the network's collaborative and supportive team culture.

    We are so happy to welcome Amanda Bragg to the team!

    The American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Project SEED provides research opportunities, including hands-on summer research experiences and virtual summer camps, to high school students across the United States. Each year, the program pairs over 350 students with experienced mentors in academia and industry. Additionally, it offers a virtual summer camp that focuses on college preparation, professional growth, lab skills, and exploration of careers in chemistry.

    Project SEED is looking to expand its sites across the Midwest and is soliciting project proposal submissions from potential coordinators. Project SEED coordinators play a vital role in establishing and managing programs, recruiting students, identifying mentors, fundraising, and organizing activities. Mentors handle daily research with students, often collaborating with lab staff to ensure proper supervision. Coordinators may also serve as mentors or recruit colleagues from academic institutions, government labs, or industries to guide students through meaningful, chemistry-focused projects.

    Serving as a coordinator enables you to expose the next generation of researchers and scientists to the opportunities available at your institution, providing an avenue for recruitment of talented students. ACS helps to place students, assists with orientation and office hours for students, and pays for half of the students’ summer stipends. 

      Learn more about coordinating a Project SEED summer program

      Upcoming Events

      • March 11, 2025: Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) Day, DAF T3, Dayton, OH
      • March 12-13, 2025: APEX & Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub T3 Navigator Summit. Dayton, OH
      • March 18-21, 2025: Encountering Innovation 9th Annual Conference. Kansas City, MO
      • April 24-25, 2025: AFRL Regional Network - Midwest Annual Meeting. West Lafayette, IN
      • April 30-May 1, 2025: 2025 Spring Research Festival, Fort Detrick, MD
      If you will be attending any of these events and would like an opportunity to meet, please email us at afrlmwst@purdue.edu. We'd be happy to schedule dedicated time to meet with you!

      Click here for more upcoming event information.
      Have you checked out the AFRL Regional Network - Midwest YouTube Channel? On this platform, partners have access to a variety of video content that includes:
      • Funded project video reports
      • Network promo videos
      • Informative and instructional videos
      Stay tuned to all of our social media channels as new content will be added frequently!

      Partner with Us


      The AFRL Regional Network - Midwest is a unique opportunity to partner with the Air Force Research Lab. If you are interested in becoming a partner, please visit our Join Page for more information!

      Get Featured in the Newsletter


      If you or your organization would like to be featured in an issue of Around the Region, please email us at afrlmwst@purdue.edu. A representative will then reach out to you for additional information.
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