BRAC radar research: Wright State’s key role

Wright-Patterson is in the final stages of receiving an influx of programs and personnel as a result of BRAC. Wright State is partnering with Wright-Patterson in many medical, human performance and other projects affected by BRAC.

The Air Force’s research to develop radar that can better resist enemy jamming and operate effectively in the presence of other radar and commercial transmitters is getting a big boost from Wright State students and graduates as part of the BRAC realignment.

Two Wright State electrical engineering graduates were hired by the Sensors Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as part of the Base Realignment and Closure-directed consolidation of sensors research. Several others are pursuing graduate degrees at Wright State.

The realignment, which occurred several years ago, resulted in radar signal processing work at the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, N.Y., and Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts being moved to Wright-Patterson. Some senior technical people chose not to transfer from New York and Massachusetts. The typical BRAC relocation rate is only about 10 to 15 percent.

“We’re still helping them backfill technical talent that they lost in the move, mostly by educating young engineers who will then grow into those roles,” said Brian Rigling, associate professor at Wright State’s College of Engineering and Computer Science.

Wright-Patterson is in the final stages of receiving an influx of programs and personnel as a result of BRAC. Wright State is partnering with Wright-Patterson in many medical, human performance and other projects affected by BRAC.

Rigling said the radar research involves designing wave forms that can better overcome enemy interference or operate without overlapping with commercial radio and television transmitters.

“There is a lot of collaborative research going on,” Rigling said. “Having them move to Wright-Patt is really going to stimulate a lot of radar work in this area.”

Officials in the Dayton region have been eagerly awaiting the shift of aerospace medicine, sensors and related research programs as a long-term catalyst for economic development.

Last week, officials at Wright-Patterson presided at a formal opening ceremony for the Human Performance Wing. The $239 million, 10-building complex is home to the relocated Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine and its research, medical training and epidemiological analysis functions, as well as the 711th Human Performance Wing.

It is the largest project of the $332 million construction portfolio nearing completion at Wright-Patterson to house incoming medical and sensors research projects.

Also last week, a bi-static radar system from Rome, N.Y., was installed at Springfield Air National Guard base. The system will enable the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson to conduct advanced sensors research.
Wright State’s Rigling is pushing to have Dayton host a national radar conference in 2014. He presented a preliminary proposal last month at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Radar conference.
“That will be something Cincinnati and Dayton have never had before,” Rigling said. “It will shine a spotlight on the critical mass of radar expertise that there is now in the Dayton area.”

Dayton is competing against Philadelphia for the conference. Both cities have been asked to submit formal proposals later this summer.

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