The Defense, Security, and Intelligence (DSI)
Initiative at the University of Oklahoma
Kelvin K. Droegemeier
Vice President for Research
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Motivation
Agriculture
Commerce
NSF
Defense
Commerce
(mainly NOAA)
Energy
DOD (6.3%)
NASA
DOE
DoEd
HHS
(mainly NIH)
Interior
Transportation
HHS
Education
EPA
NASA
NSF
Other Federal
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Motivation
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Motivation
Oklahoma-Norman
Texas A&M-Main
FY 2008 Federal R & D Expenditures · Figures in thousands
FY 2008 Federal R & D Expenditures · Figures in thousands
DOD, 2,589,
6%
DOD,
32,667,
13%
DOD
DOE
HHS
HHS
NSF
NSF
USDA
DOE
NASA
NASA
NSF, 13,136,
31%
DOD
USDA
NSF, 101,418,
41%
Other
OTHER
Nebraska-Lincoln
Texas-Austin
FY 2008 Federal R & D Expenditures · Figures in thousands
FY 2008 Federal R & D Expenditures · Figures in thousands
DOD,
10,076,
12%
DOD
DOD
DOE
DOE
HHS
DOD, 104,998,
32%
NASA
NSF
USDA
NSF, 18,867,
23%
Other
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
NSF, 76,821,
24%
HHS
NASA
NSF
USDA
Other
Our Goal
Via a Strategic Initiative in Defense, Security and
Intelligence (DSI) Research, we seek to increase
substantially OU’s success in basic research,
applied development, consulting and training in
areas for which we traditionally have not been a
significant player, but for which considerable
opportunity exists
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
What We Hope to Achieve
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Greater involvement in activities that support our Nation’s security and enhance its
capabilities
Creation of a much broader opportunity space for faculty research and development,
particularly in areas of application;
More effective alignment between OU’s R&D portfolio and that of the Federal government,
going well beyond agencies for which OU has traditionally received the bulk of its funding
(e.g., NSF, NOAA, NIH);
More effective translation of basic research outcomes into operational technologies and
services for society, especially in areas of national interest, as well as new modalities of
engagement with private industry;
Considerable progression in OU’s administrative frameworks and business processes, leading
not only to greater funding opportunities but also to options for driving necessary change in
other areas;
Increasing the value of OU to the State and Nation by expanding OU’s R&D portfolio and
positioning it to take a leadership role in important priority areas
Increase the opportunity and probability of success of attracting other Federal agencies to
campus;
Increased stature for the University as a comprehensive research institution
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Our Strategy
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Inventory our strengths and determine alignments with key agencies/companies to focus
on deep engagements – and show success to build credibility and increase understanding
Focus specifically on faculty who have the greatest potential for DSI engagement.
Educate researchers about the differences between traditional (NSF, NOAA, NASA)
research activities and those in the DSI space
Support researchers in finding opportunities, meeting with program personnel, conveying
their capabilities, developing white papers and proposals, executing projects, making their
work known, obtaining positions on key advisory committees (driving the national
agenda), and developing trust relationships so OU is known as an institution that delivers
the goods
Hire outstanding talent (faculty, students) who have requisite capabilities and can work on
secure projects
Bring on non-faculty researchers who can focus exclusively on DSI R&D
Build awareness of OU’s capabilities and resources via presentations, booths at key
shows/meetings, increased presence in regular and social media
Engage expert consultants who can help make connections and guide our thinking
Establish contract vehicles and internal support processes
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Execution of Strategy
• DSI effort started in 2010 with strong support from University leadership
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Stewarded by Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier and Mr. Danny Hilliard
Engagement of Patton Boggs and Hyjek & Fix
Deep analysis of strengths and agency alignments
Identification of faculty and special orientation sessions
Search for DSI Director
Creation of Center for Applied R&D (CARD)
• In 2012, Dr. Robert Palmer joined the VPR Office and now stewards the
DSI program, assisted by Dr. Mark Yeary, Senior Faculty Fellow and the
entire OU DSI team
– Opportunity capture, team assembly, agency visits, faculty education, etc
• External consulting team: Steptoe and Johnson, Van Scoyoc Assocites,
Capitol Decisions
• OU team meets regularly and has bi-weekly conference calls with DC
consultants
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Execution of Strategy
• OU Center for Research Program Development and Enrichment (CRPDE)
supports proposal development, presentations for visits with agency
personnel
• In 2012, OU hired a cluster of four radar researchers in the DSI space
• Now hiring several permanent staff scientists and engineers
• Now evaluating opportunities for faculty to serve on agency committees
• Working to establish contract vehicles, especially ID/IQ
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Faculty Strengths
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Radar and Remote Sensing: Synthetic Aperture Radar, Cognitive Radar, Conformal
Antennas/RFID, Digital Arrays, Cylindrical Phased Array Radar, Spectrum Sharing, low-SWaP UAS,
Numerical Weather Prediction, Data Assimilation
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Advanced Materials: Solid-State Electronics, Thin Film Crystal, High-Powered Transistors, Mid-IR
Lasers/Detectors, Uncooled Mid-IR Detectors, Weapons Detection, Bio-Fuels, Nanotechnology
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Social and Behavioral Science: Detection of Human Deception, Tracking/Assessment of Threats
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International Security and Multi-Cultural Relations: Nuclear Materials Security, Foreign Culture
and Language, Cyber Security, Containerized Freight Security
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Human Health: Medical Imaging, Traumatic Brain Injury, Diabetes, Cancer, Hearing Blast
Damage, Hearing Damage Assessment
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Aerospace/UAS: Carbon Composites, Energy Harvesting, RF Navigation, Jamming, Digital Scene
Recognition, Border Surveillance
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Computer Systems: Networks, Communications Technology, Robotics, Data Mining
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Computer Weather Modeling: Multi-Sensor Data Assimilation (Especially Radar), Fine-Scale
Numerical Analysis and Prediction, Ensemble Forecasting, Dynamic On-Demand Prediction
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Recent Engagements
Active DSI Projects
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Federal Agencies / Organizations
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NNSA Kansas City Plant
Scott AFB
ARL
JPL
AFRL (Sensors Directorate)
Sandia National Laboratory
DARPA
AFOSR
Pentagon – AF
ONR
Crane Navel Base
Jason Group Briefing
Private Sector Companies
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CGI
CAT
BAE
BAH
AAI
MITRE
Northrop Grumman
LMCO
Raytheon
SRC
Toshiba
Ball
TriQuint
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Funding Growth
DSI Start
• Since the start of DSI in 2010, DoD expenditures have increased 180%
• Although growth is good, more substantial gains are possible
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Sample Funded Projects
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Credibility Assessment and Intelligence Analysis Training in a Serious Game Intelligence Advanced Research Projects
Activity (IARPA) $10,700,000 Norah Dunbar, Communications
Fundamental Research On The Biological Stability Of Future Naval Fuels And Implications For The Biocorrosion Of
Metallic Surfaces (MURI) U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Naval Research $4,499,868.00 Joseph Suflita,
Botany/Microbiology
Rapid Deduction of Stress Response Pathways in Metal and Radionuclide Reducing Bacteria: Phase 2 Molecular
Determinants of Community Activity, Stability and Ecology (MDCASE) (ESPP2) U.S. Department of Energy, Lawrence
Berkeley Laboratory $3,349,716.00 Jizhong Zhou, Botany/Microbiology
Investigation of Lightning Initiation and Propagation in Relation to the Occurrence of Extensive Air Showers of Cosmic
Rays U.S. Department of Defense, Advanced Research Projects Agency $1,304,852.00 William Beasley, Meteorology
Low Noise interband Cascade Photodetectors U.S. DoD, Air Force Office of Scientific Research $1,000,000.00 Rui Yang,
ECE
Instrumentation for Metabolic State Profiling Using Mass Spectrometry Molecular Imaging U.S. Department of Defense,
Office of Naval Research $703,600.00 Joseph Suflita, Botany/Microbiology
Integrated Stable Isotope Reactive Transport Model Approach for Assessment of Chlorinated Solvent Degradation U.S.
Department of Defense $696,736.00 Richard Philp, CBME
A Rydberg Atom Electric Field Sensor U.S. DoD, Advanced Research Projects Agency $628,369.00 James Shaffer, Physics
Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Carbon Nanotube Hierarchical Structure in Multifunctional Polymer U.S.
Department of Defense, EPSCoR $598,179.00 Mrinal Saha, CBME
Advanced Multi-Moment Microphysics for Precipitation and Tropical Cyclone Forecast Improvement within COAMPS U.S.
Department of Defense, Office of Naval Research $592,082.00 Ming Xue, Meteorology
Understanding the Role of Cloud Microphysics in the Initiation and Propagation of Natural and Triggered Lightning U.S.
Department of Defense, Advanced Research Projects Agency $532,238.00 William Beasley, Meteorology
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Sample Funded Projects
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Adaptive Radar Data Quality Control and Ensemble-Based Assimilation for Analyzing and Forecasting High-Impact
Weather U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Naval Research $438,922.00 Qin Xu, NOAA/NSSL/CIMMS
Novel Enzyme Prodrug and Methionine-Depletion Combination Therapy Breast Cancer Designed for Effective Delivery to
the Tumor U.S. Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Progs $425,045.00 Roger Harrison,
CBME
A Study of Metabolic Relationships in Corrosive Marine Biofilms Using Ambient Molecular Imaging Mass Spectrometry
U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Naval Research $396,567.00 Joseph Suflita, Botany, Microbiology
Progression of Bone Changes after Lower Limb Amputation U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
$364,123.00 Debra Bemben, Health and Exercise Science
Multi-scale Predictability with a New Coupled Non-hydrostatic Global Model over the Arctic U.S. Department of Defense,
Office of Naval Research $306,133.00 Steven Cavallo, Meteorology
Nuclear Facility Siting and Risk Communication Sandia Laboratories $519,813.00 Hank Jenkins-Smith, Political Science
Progression of Bone Changes after Lower Limb Amputation U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
$364,123.00 Debra Bemben, Health and Exercise Sciences
Weather Decision Making in the Cockpit Atmospheric Technology Services Company, LLC $315,282.00 Rickey Thomas,
Psychology
National Security Survey 2011 Sandia Laboratories $268,005.00 Hank Jenkins-Smith, Political Science
Interviewing Dynamics and Strategies in Law Enforcement Interviews CIA $240,000.00 Norah Dunbar, Communications
Intelligent Aviation Weather Hazard Radar Sensors for UAV: System Integration, Signal Processor and Flight Test Support
Intelligent Automation, Inc $200,000.00 Yan Zhang, ECE
Compliant Thin Film Growth on Nano-Engineered Substrates Amethyst Research Inc $175,000.00 Michael Santos,
Physics
3D Capacitance Simulation of Quantum Devices Sandia Laboratories $160,307.00 Harold Stalford, AME
Energy Harvesting for Small Air Vehicles Design Intelligence Inc. $137,174.00 M Altan, AME
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Recent and Emerging Activities
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Recently started small contract with CGI on TPQ-36 and TPQ-37 Firefinder radar
support
Active discussions with Commuter Air Technology in OKC on ISR work related to
antennas, composite, radar development
Recently hosted Raytheon for deep discussions on MPAR involvement and the
CPPAR project
Pursuing several opportunities with AFRL on passive radar, spectrum sharing,
sensor exploitation, etc.
DARPA “Arrays in Commercial Timescales (ACT)” program is about to begin with
deep involvement in digital phased arrays
Possible ONR/DURIP proposal for development of a mobile RF test range for
airborne/UAS testing
About to begin small project with the NNSA Kansas City Plant (KCP) on Ka-band
radar development
Several SBIR/STTR projects submitted with small companies inside and outside
Oklahoma
Awaiting news on several proposals to the Army on blast-induced hearing
loss/assessment/prevention
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Example DSI Area: Advanced Materials
A state-of-the-art cleanroom (class 1,000/10,000) is the primary experimental facility
Devon Energy Hall
Interband Cascade (IC) Devices
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Mid-IR lasers (Mars Rover – JPL)
Photodetectors (thermal imaging, missile defense, mine detection)
Photovoltaics (power source, waste-heat recovery, power beaming)
Mars Rover
Solid-State Electronics
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POC: R. Yang
Innovative thin film crystal growth (AFRL, ARPA-E, Navy, Raytheon)
High-powered transistors (e.g., next-gen phased array radars)
Uncooled Mid-IR Detectors
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Thermal imaging
Man-portable weapons (e.g., gases) detection
POC: P. McCann
POC: Z. Shi
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Example DSI Area: Radar
Strong collaboration with NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory
A push to multi-mission phased array radar (MPAR) technology
NWRT
AIR
CPPAR
OU’s Advanced Radar Research Center (ARRC) is the largest academic research center focused on innovations in radar in the
country with 15 faculty members, 5 staff, 61 graduate students, 11 postdocs across the disciplines of meteorology and
engineering. Areas of emphasis exists in rapid hardware prototyping, advanced signal processing, antennas, hydrometeorology,
clear-air sensing, UAS sensors, severe weather, applied electromagnetics, and microwave engineering.
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Faculty Highlights: Radar
RF Tagging / Conformal Antennas - UAS
Tunable Filters – Spectrum Sharing
POC: J. Ruyle
POC: H.
Sigmarsson
All-Digital Phased Array Radars
Advanced Signal Processing – SAR, UAS
Micro-Doppler Signature of Human Walk
Dismount detection and recognition
Sparse-array SAR and GMTI
Information/SNR-based waveform design
Target imaging & recognition
Compressive sensing/analog-to-information
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Kernel optimization/adaptation via prior
knowledge and updates on priors
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POC: C. Fulton, G. Zhang, S. Karimkashi
POC: N. Goodman, M. Yeary
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Radar Innovations Laboratory
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35,000 square feet with $15M
budget
Construction will be completed by
December 2013
Two anechoic chambers, microfabrication, machine shop, high-bay,
large microwave lab
20 faculty and 60 students
Large experimental roof deck
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Radar Innovations Laboratory
State of construction as of today!
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA
Measuring Success
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Continued dramatic growth in DSI expenditures
Deep engagement with a few companies and agencies
Increase in size and diversity of DSI agency portfolio
New contract vehicles, especially ID/IQ
New exceptional talent to build for the future
Success of many more faculty in receiving DSI funding, though not
forsaking aggressive pursuit of funding from traditional agencies like
NSF, NOAA, NASA
• Active peer-to-peer faculty mentoring
• Increase in award size with one project in the $50M range
• Stretch goal: UARC and more DSI companies on the Research Campus
Office of the Vice President for Research
NORMAN CAMPUS AND NORMAN CAMPUS PROGRAMS AT OU-TULSA