Dr. William P. Roach, a member of the Scientific and Professional Cadre of Senior Executives, is Chief Scientist, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Arlington, Virginia. Dr. Roach is the principal science and technology adviser to the Director in matters of formulation, planning, managing and integration of all Air Force basic research programs. The office has a staff of approximately 200 people and an annual working budget of nearly $500 million that supports more than 5,000 worldwide basic research projects critical to the defense of the U.S. The office selects, sponsors and manages research relevant to Air and Space Force needs in science and technology, and is the single manager for the entire Air and Space Force basic research programs.
Dr. Roach began his career as an enlisted member of the United States Air Force in 1971, serving with the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing, the 388th TFW, the 90th Strategic Missile Wing and the 442nd TFW. He received a direct commission to the rank of captain in 1990 after receiving his Ph.D. in Physics and assigned to the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Optical Radiation Bioeffects Division, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. Upon retirement from active duty with the Air Force in 2005, Dr. Roach joined the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Human Effectiveness Directorate, Special Operations and Projects Division as a Senior Research Physicist.
Academically, Dr. Roach has served as Professor of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences from 1996 to 2001; Adjunct Professor of Physics at the University of Texas, San Antonio in 2010; Adjunct Associate Professor of Physics at Delaware State University from 2017 to 2018; and Research Professor at Vanderbilt University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering from 2017 to 2019. Dr. Roach has authored and co-authored more than 175 refereed and non-refereed journal and proceedings articles, more than 1,000 conference presentations, technical reports, conference publications, and has also edited two books. Google Scholar lists Professor William Roach as achieving 2,464 citations, an h-index of 26 and an i10-index of 48.
EDUCATION
1983 Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry and Mathematics, Avila College Kansas City, Mo.
1986 Master of Science, Physics, University of Missouri, Kansas City
1990 Doctor of Philosophy, Physics, University of Missouri, Columbia
1995 Squadron Officer School, Resident Program
1999 Air Command and Staff College, Seminar Program Pentagon
2001 Air War College, Seminar Program, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1990–1995 Chief, Optical Biophysics Branch, Armstrong Laboratory, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas
2. 1995–1998 Program Manager, Sensory Systems Program, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
3. 1998–2001 Professor, Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md.
4. 2001–2004 Chief, Optical Radiation Branch, Det. 5 Air Force Research Laboratory, Brooks AFB, Texas
5. 2004–2005 Deputy Commander/Chief Radio Frequency Radiation Branch, Det. 5 AFRL, Brooks City-Base, Texas
6. 2005–2006 Senior Research Physicist, 711th HPW/Special Operations and Projects Division, Brooks City-Base, Texas
7. 2006–2010 Senior Science Advisor, 711th HPW/Radio Frequency Radiation Branch, Brooks City-Base, Texas
8. 2010–2013 Deputy Chief/Senior Science Advisor, AFRL/Advanced Electric Laser Branch, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
9. 2013–2015 Chief, Quantum and Non-Equilibrium Processes Division, AFOSR/Physical and Biological Science Branch, Arlington, Va.
10. 2015–2017 Chief, Physical and Biological Sciences Branch, AFOSR/Physical and Biological Science Branch, Arlington, Va.
11. 2017–2018 Adjunct Associate Professor of Physics, Delaware State University, Dover
12. 2017–2019 Research Professor Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.
13. 2019–2020 Program Officer Laser and Optical Physics AFRL/AFOSR, Arlington, Va.
14. 2020–present Chief Scientist, AFOSR, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
1983 Fellow, Phillips Petroleum
1993 Directors Award, Armstrong Laboratory
1995 Fellow, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery
2000 Sustaining Membership Award for Federal Medical Research, AMSUS
2003 Air Force Star Team Award for Excellence in Basic Research
2007 Fellow, Laser Institute of America
2007 Fellow, The International Society for Optical Engineering, SPIE
2009 Distinguished Professor of Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, UTSA
2009 Civilian of the Year, 711th Human Performance Wing Airman Systems Directorate
2010 Air Force Civilian Commendation Award
2013 Fellow, Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate
(Current as of August 2020)