Dr. Frank Gulczinski is the Acting Chief Scientist of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Aerospace Systems Directorate. This seminar will present the history, structure, and mission of the Directorate as well as highlighting several recent successes. Dr. Gulczinski will also discuss opportunities for engagement with the Directorate for both faculty and students.

 

Bio

Dr. Frank S. Gulczinski, III is the Chief Scientist (Acting), Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Dr. Gulczinski received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1999. In 1994, Dr. Gulczinski joined the Propulsion Directorate as a U.S. Air Force Palace Knight research aerospace engineer in the Spacecraft Propulsion Branch at Edwards Air Force Base, California where he carried out pioneering research into the development of high power Hall-effect thrusters and micro pulsed plasma thrusters. As an established Senior Aerospace Engineer, Dr. Gulczinski transferred in 2005 to the Air Force Research Laboratory Power Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio where he served as Small Business Innovative Research Focal Point, Deputy Branch Chief, Deputy Division Chief (Acting), and Senior Planner. He served as Assistant Chief Scientist for the Aerospace Systems Directorate from 2013-2019. In his current position as Chief Scientist, Dr. Gulczinski oversees the science and technology portfolio of the largest technical directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory. Dr. Gulczinski is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and has served as Power Systems Chair for the Society of Automotive Engineers.