Dr. John D. Matyjas, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Scientific Adviser to the Commander, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. He serves as the Command Chief Scientist providing scientific expertise and technical guidance throughout ACC. As a primary interface to the scientific community, Dr. Matyjas identifies promising technologies and catalyzes rapid, effective enhancements to ACC's warfighting capabilities. Currently, he is pioneering advances in autonomous un-crewed systems for combat air forces aircrew training and cross-platform software development and integration.
Before assuming his current position, Dr. Matyjas was employed by the Air Force Research Laboratory, where he served as Technical Advisor for the Computing and Communications Division at the Information Directorate as well as Core Technical Competency Lead for Connectivity and Dissemination, developing information technologies critical for C4ISR and cyber systems. Dr. Matyjas cultivated strategic co-development partnerships via joint capability technology demonstrations and coalition experimentation while serving as U.S. National Lead since 2010 for The Technical Cooperation Program C4I Group, Communications and Networking Panel. His accomplishments were lauded by AFRL with induction as a Fellow in 2016.
Aligned to the ACC ‘bring the future faster’ initiative, Dr. Matyjas has spearheaded a new National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program known as "Federal Warfare Systems" to accelerate digital capability development and co-authored its handbook as part of public policy under the Department of Commerce (NIST Handbook 150-872). The first instantiation underway for assessment is the "ACC Fed Lab" at Beale Air Force Base, California.
Dr. Matyjas continues service under the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program, Wireless Spectrum Research and Development interagency working group. In the area of wireless communications and networking, Dr. Matyjas has published over 100 journal and conference articles resulting in three key patents awarded and more than 2,100 citations. As lead editor, he recently published two books on the subjects of directional networks and spectrum sharing. In 2019, the Air Force recognized Dr. Matyjas with the Meritorious Civilian Service Award Medal and most recently, he garnered the prestigious 2022 Presidential Rank Award as Meritorious Senior Professional.
EDUCATION
1996 Associate of Science, Pre-engineering, Niagara University, N.Y.
1998 Bachelor of Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Buffalo, N.Y.
2000 Master of Science, Electrical Engineering, University of Buffalo, N.Y.
2004 Doctor of Philosophy, Electrical Engineering, University of Buffalo, N.Y.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 2004–2009, Assistant Director, Center for Integrated Transmission and Exploitation, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, N.Y.
2. 2010–2016, Core Technical Competency Lead, Connectivity and Dissemination, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, N.Y.
3. 2011–2019, U.S. National Lead, The Technical Cooperation Program, C4I Communications and Networking Technical Panel, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, N.Y.
4. 2016–2019, Technical Advisor, Computing and Communications Division, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, N.Y.
5. 2019–present, Scientific Adviser to the Commander, Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
AWARDS AND HONORS
2022 Presidential Rank Award - Meritorious Senior Professional
2019 Department of the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award Medal
2018 Transmission, Access and Optical Systems Best Paper Award, IEEE International Conference on Communications
2016 Fellow, Air Force Research Laboratory
2015 Air Force Association “Air Force Material Command Technology Manager of the Year” Award
2015 Air Force Research Laboratory “Engineer of the Year” Award
2013 AFRL Information Directorate International Science and Technology Leadership Award
2012 IEEE Technological Innovation Award, outstanding leadership and achievements
2012 IEEE Exemplary Reviewer Award, Transactions on Wireless Communications
2010 IEEE Best Paper Award, IEEE International Conference on Communications
2009 Air Force STEM Award – McLucas Basic Research Honorable Mention
2009 Mohawk Valley Engineering Executive Council “Engineer of the Year” Award
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers Communications, Information Theory, Computational Intelligence, Aerospace and Electronics Systems and Signal Processing Societies
Member, Air Force Association
Chair, IEEE Aerospace and Electronics Systems Society, Mohawk Valley Section, 2017-2019
Adviser, National Research Council Research Associateship Program, 2008-present
Chair, IEEE Signal Processing Society, Mohawk Valley Section, 2009-2017
IEEE Editorial Advisory Board Member, Transactions on Wireless Communications, 2012-2014
Invited Chair, European Alliance for Innovation’s AdHocNets Conference, Ottawa, Canada, 2016
Member, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
Member, Eta Kappa Nu Electrical Engineering Honor Society
(Current as of November 2022)