Brief bio:
Jane Lehr received her Ph.D. degree in Electro-Physics from Polytechnic University-New York and a Bachelor’s of Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. After several years in industry, she joined the Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate in 1997. There, she continued earlier work on the physics of electrical breakdown and switching. She made key contributions toward advancing the state of the art of high peak power, ultra-wideband radiating systems, including the compact and fully transportable system known as JOLT, where she led the pulsed power segment. She, along with several colleagues, was awarded a patent for the high efficiency transformer design used in the JOLT system.

In 2002, Dr. Lehr joined Sandia National Laboratories, Pulsed Power Sciences Center. During the Z Refurbishment project, she performed component evaluation and development and led the system assessment test program and component development. Presently, she is again focusing on the physics of electrical breakdown and high power switching.

Dr. Lehr has been an active IEEE volunteer. She has been a Guest Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, an Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, Student Activity Chair for Region 6, Albuquerque Chapter Chair and President of the Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society.

Citation: For contributions to high power switches and the generation of high power electromagnetic radiation.