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DR. JIM F. RIKER

Dr Jim F. Riker, a member of the scientific and technical cadre of senior executives, is the Chief Scientist, Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. He directs the technical research for space in six major technology areas: space situational awareness; offensive space control; defensive space control; operationally responsive space; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and satellite communication and satellite control.

Dr. Riker has served in a variety of research roles and spent nearly 10 years in optical surveillance and space-based laser system program offices. He then generated and led the Active Track Program at AFRL, which has resulted in many first-ever technology demonstrations and subsequent transitions to the Missile Defense Agency's missile defense system defending the United States. Dr. Riker has also served as Chief of the Air Force Maui Optics and Supercomputing site. He was directly responsible for all aspects of research and development at this $100 million-a-year site. Prior to his current assignment, he was Technical Director for the Optics Division of the Directed Energy Directorate at the Starfire Optical Range, Kirtland AFB.

Dr. Riker's principal technical interests include designing, building and testing space-related and directed energy system concepts, components and algorithms. He is nationally and internationally recognized for contributions in the areas of laser beam control, atmospheric propagation, atmospheric compensation, active and passive tracking, and imaging. He has published more than 50 articles in a variety of scientific and professional publications.

EDUCATION
1977 Regents Scholar, Bachelor of Science degrees in physics and mathematics, highest honors, New Mexico Institute of Technology, Socorro
1980 Master of Science degree in physics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
1986 Doctor of Philosophy degree in physics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1977 - 1979, research scientist on laser systems, BDM Corporation, Albuquerque, N.M.
2. 1980, student, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.
3. 1981 - 1983, research scientist on nuclear systems, Kaman Sciences - Dikewood, Albuquerque, N.M.
4. 1983 - 1985, manager and scientist on laser systems, BDM Corporation, Albuquerque, N.M.
5. 1985 - 1992, manager and principal scientist, R&D Associates, Colorado Springs, Colo.
6. 1992 - 1996, Chief Systems Engineer and Technical Adviser, System Engineering Division, Optical Surveillance System Program Office, Albuquerque, N.M.
7. 1997 - 1999, Chief Scientist and Technical Adviser, Program Management Division, Optical Surveillance SPO, Albuquerque, N.M.
8. 1999, staff specialist on directed energy; and technical adviser on directed energy science and technology, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
9. 2000 - 2002, Chief Scientist, Space-Based Laser SPO, Los Angeles, Calif.
10. 2002 - 2006, Program Manager, Active Track Program, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
11. 2004 - 2006, Chief, Air Force Maui Optics and Supercomputing site, Maui, Hawaii
12. 2006 - 2007, Technical Director, Optics Division, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
13. 2007 - present, Chief Scientist, Space Vehicles, AFRL, Kirtland AFB, N.M.

AWARDS AND HONORS
1997 Letter of Commendation, Secretary of the Air Force
1997 Excellence in Performance Award, Optical Surveillance SPO
1997 Golden Quill Award for SPIE paper, Logicon Corporation
1998 Certificate of Commendation, Department of the Air Force
1999 Award for Excellence presented by the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology, OSD
2004 - 2006 Numerous quarterly awards for program management, science and engineering, and team awards, AFRL
2004 Senior Program Manager of the Year, Active Track Program, AFRL
2005 Fellow, AFRL
2006 Fellow, Society for Photo-optical and Instrumentation Engineers
2007 Harold M. Brown Award for technical quality and technology transition 

PUBLICATIONS
Co-author, "Secular changes in the upper cut-off rigidity of the solar diurnal anisotropy of cosmic rays," Planetary and Space Science, Vol. 35, No. 1, 1987
Co-author, "The diurnal anisotropy of cosmic rays and the heliospheric transport parameters," Planetary and Space Science, Vol. 35, No. 1, 1987
Co-author, "A survey of the cosmic ray diurnal variation during 1973-1979 - I. Persistence of solar diurnal variation," Planetary and Space Science, Vol. 35, No. 9, 1987
Co-author, "A survey of the cosmic ray diurnal variation during 1973-1979 - II. Application of the diffusion-convection model to durnal anisotropy data," Planetary and Space Science, Vol. 35, No. 9, 1987
Co-author, "Satellite Imaging Experiment tracking simulation results," SPIE Milestone Series, Selected Papers on Precision Stabilization and Tracking Systems for Acquisition, Pointing, and Control Applications, Volume MS 123, SPIE Optical Engineering Press, 1996
Co-author, "The time-domain analysis simulation for advanced tracking," SPIE Milestone Series, Selected Papers on Precision Stabilization and Tracking Systems for Acquisition, Pointing, and Control Applications, Volume MS 123, SPIE Optical Engineering Press, 1996
Co-author, "Moment Matching Method for Extracting Beam Jitter and Boresight in Experiments with Satellites of Small Physical Cross Section," Applied Optics, April 2007

(Current as of March 2008)

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