DR. RAJESH R. NAIK Dr. Rajesh R. Naik, a member of the scientific and professional cadre of senior executives, is the Chief Scientist, 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He is the primary science and technology adviser to the Wing commander. In this position, he provides technical vision and strategy for the Wing’s science and technology plans, and coordinates with other Department of Defense organizations as well as academic and industrial partners. Dr. Naik joined the AFRL in 1999 as a visiting scientist and became a federal employee in 2004, where he was assigned the position of Biotechnology Group Leader. In 2007, he was appointed the technology adviser for biotechnology in the Nanostructured and Biological Materials Branch. Dr. Naik also served as the Chair for AFRL’s Bio-X Strategic Technology Team from 2008 to 2011, and is currently the lead for AFRL’s Biotechnology portfolio. He is the lead for the Office of Secretary of Defense Applied Research for the Advancement of SandT Priorities Program (FY17-19) on Synthetic Biology for Military Environments. Dr. Naik is also the principal member of the NATO Human Factors and Medicine panel. Scientifically, Dr. Naik has research interests in the areas of biomaterials, nanotechnology and biomimetics, with focus on biosensing, bioelectronics, nanostructured materials and protein engineering. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and several book chapters, and has given more than 150 plenary, invited and keynote presentations at national and international events. He is also a co-inventor on 12 patents. He is active in numerous technical communities, and is an adjunct professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Tech and is on the editorial boards of several journals.

EDUCATION 1990 Bachelor of Science, Microbiology, University of Bombay, India 1992 Master of Science, Biological Sciences Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pa. 1998 Doctorate, Biological Sciences, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa. 1998 Howard Hughes Research Fellow, Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, New Brunswick, N.J. 2009 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence

CAREER CHRONOLOGY

1999–2002, Visiting Scientist, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

2002–2004, Senior Visiting Scientist, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

2004–2007, Biotechnology Group Leader, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

2007–2011, Technology Adviser, Nano and Bio Materials Branch, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

2008–2011, Chair, AFRL Bio-X Strategic Technology Team, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

2011–2015, Research Team Leader, Soft Matter Materials Branch, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

2015–2019, Chief Scientist, 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

November  2019–February 2020, Chief Technology Officer (Acting) Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering Fellow

Materials Research Society Fellow

Royal Society of Chemistry Fellow

International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) Fellow

Air Force Research Laboratory General Lester L. Lyles Award

Charles J. Cleary Scientific Award

High Impact Fellow, Nottingham-Trent University, UK

John McLucas Award for Basic Research

Air Force Star Team Award for Excellence in Basic Research

Air Force Civilian Achievement Award

Air Force Outstanding Scientist Award Affiliate Societies Council

Outstanding Engineers and Scientists Award for Research

Vince Russo Award for Leadership