Dr. Brad W. Hoff, a member of the scientific and professional cadre of senior executives, is the Senior Scientist for High Power Electromagnetics, Directed Energy Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. He serves as the principal scientific authority and independent researcher in the sciences and technologies associated with high power electromagnetics and their application to Air Force mission areas.
Dr. Brad Hoff began his career with the Air Force in 2009 at the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate, Kirtland AFB. Throughout his career, he has led efforts to identify and understand key science challenges in high power electromagnetic directed energy technology development areas, worked within the basic and applied research communities to create and prove novel concepts to solve these challenges, and rapidly matured and implemented solutions to enable demonstration of next generation HPEM systems and address future warfighter needs. Dr. Hoff, recipient of AFRL’s Fellow and S&T Early Career Awards, and a Fellow of the Directed Energy Professional Society and of the Institute of Physics, has published over 65 refereed technical journal articles, 11 U.S. patents, and numerous Department of Defense technical reports on science and inventions spanning multiple technical fields. Dr. Hoff has been the recipient of over 30 Department of the Air Force and professional technical society awards for outstanding research and technical leadership contributions as well as for his service in multiple technical society committee and conference leadership roles.
Prior to beginning his career with the Air Force in 2009, Dr. Hoff served as a U.S. Navy Nuclear Surface Warfare Officer and attended graduate school at the University of Michigan.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Physics, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
2006 Master of Science, Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2007 Master of Science, Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2007 Master of Engineering Management, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va.
2009 Doctor of Philosophy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 2009–December 2015, Research Physicist, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
2. January 2016–December 2019, Senior Research Physicist, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
3. August 2015–July 2020, Technical Advisor, High Power Electromagnetic Sources Branch, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
4. January 2019–September 2021, Chief Scientist, High-power Joint Electromagnetic Non-Kinetic Strike program, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M
5. January 2020–September 2021, Principal Research Physicist, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
6. September 2021–present, Senior Scientist, High Power Electromagnetics, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
SELECTED AWARDS AND HONORS
Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award (2024)
IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society Magne “Kris” Kristiansen Award (2022)
AFRL Directed Energy Directorate Senior Leadership Award (2020)
AFRL Directed Energy Directorate Director’s Cup R. Earl Good Award (Team) (2020)
AFRL Directed Energy Directorate Scientific/Technical Achievement Team Award (2020)
AFRL Directed Energy Directorate Annual Technology Transfer Innovation Team Award (2020)
Air Force Office of Scientific Research Star Team Award for Basic Research (2020)
AFRL Scientific/Technical Achievement Award (2017)
AFRL Science and Engineering Early Career Award (2016)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Fellow, Air Force Research Laboratory
Fellow, Directed Energy Professional Society
Fellow, Institute of Physics
Senior Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Member, American Physical Society
Member, Materials Research Society
Member, Sigma Xi
(Current as of December 2024)