Remembrances of Bob Denison

Dr. Merrill Minges (and others):

Bob came to ML in the early 1980s from the plans office of Flight Dynamics Laboratory to the Materials Laboratory Plans office when the plans chief was Bill Frederick. Bill had been the Branch Chief of Electronic and Optical Materials Branch.  Bob’s recruitment to ML by Bill Fredericks certainly identified Bob as a perfect Individual to lead the ML infra-red (IR} detector technology team.  Bob became Technology area Manager In 1986 leading this program.

​

Later, after being selected as Branch Chief about 1990, Bob took on management responsibilities beyond the realm of IR optics and IR Detectors. Although he was not as directly involved in the research and development programs within the branch, his ability to coach, mentor, and support his team was critical to the successes within the programs. He was adept at finding balance among disparate electronic and optical tech areas - always striving for consensus of the branch research and development leads. He understood the importance of both research AND development, and his support for tech transition led to the first major technology maturation ‘advanced development’ program within the directorate for robust IR sensor window materials and HgCdTe IR detector materials.

​

Under Bob's leadership, the branch was also instrumental in the development and transition of other semiconductor materials. Earlier work had focused on silicon materials specifically for receivers for laser rangefinders and laser seeker detectors for laser guided weapons.  The team established the tools and processing for very high purity silicon required for these applications and then supported the Air Force Manufacturing Technology program to meet the system needs.  Later efforts were on specific critical GaAs compound semiconductor materials technology for microwave and radio frequency components – from basic research through advanced development programs. Gallium arsenide (1980’s), and indium phosphide (1990’s) provided the foundation for the vast majority of fielded radar and communication systems. He embraced and supported the transition of wide bandgap SiC semiconductors (1990-2000’s), and encouraged his team to aggressively leverage outside funding, lending DoD-wide leadership in significant DARPA programs. These wide bandgap materials have enabled high temperature electronics, higher power radars, and short wavelength (Blue) LED technology.

 

During Bob’s time as Branch Chief, work was also initiated to evaluate and develop emerging nonlinear optical materials specifically to support tunable laser IR sources for electro-optical counter measure applications.

​

The ML electronics and optical materials team was well established when Bob Denison became chief of the Branch, thus his main responsibilities were assuring that the team had the necessary resources, strong management advocacy and the right warfighter partnerships to deliver critical electronic and IR/optics technologies to Air Force Space Command, the Missile Defense Agency and, at the same time, continue technology leadership for the entire DoD.

​

Bob believed that appropriate recognition of his team was his main responsibility. During this period Dr. Gail Brown was the recipient of the AF Basic Research Award, the top Air Force recognition for scientific achievement. Also, during his tenure, through his efforts and those of his colleague Gordy Griffith and the IR industry, another member of the ML team, Bob Hickmott, was recognized by the International Society of Optics and Photonics IR industry for over 40 years of contributions to the arena. Right before his passing Bob contributed Mr. Hickmott’s papers, award details and a portrait to the ML alumni association for appropriate recognition on the ‘ML Family’ section of the alumni association web site. 

​

To recognize ML’s very important contributions to IR detectors, optical materials, rare-earth magnets and non-linear optics arenas, Bob authored a short but very concise history of these developments. This definitive history was used by the AFRL Headquarters History Office in their corporate histories of ML and in broader Air Force histories of these arenas as well. Bob was also an editor of the ‘Space’ arena summary in the ‘ML History’ section of the alumni website.

​

Bob was also a Trustee on the Board of Trustees of the Engineering and Science Hall of Fame at the Engineers Club of Dayton, Ohio, from

2012 - 2024.

​

In the 90s, when Bill Woody served as Electromagnetic Materials Division chief, Gordon Griffith was the Division Technology Advisor, Bob was the MLPO Branch Chief and Gary Waggoner was the Laser Hardened Materials Branch Chief, a photo was taken of the management team at one of their off-site meetings. This photo of the notorious leadership team, perhaps more accurate than you might expect, is posted on the ‘ML Family’ section of the web site. You’ll see Bob sitting on the porch with the shovel.

​

​