Dear Members, Friends, and Collaborators,

As the year draws to a close, we are delighted to present the final edition of the AFRL Regional Network – Mid-Atlantic newsletter for 2024. This year has been a remarkable chapter for the Network, marked by significant milestones, groundbreaking projects, and inspiring collaborations.

Last month, the sold-out 2024 Annual Meeting served as an inflection point for our growing community which is now over 100 members strong (almost tripling this year!). Held at the SUNY Global Center in New York City, the event brought together leaders from academia, industry, and government for a day of engaging discussions, networking, and sharing of best practices. 

The highlight was awarding $1.3 million in partnership project funding to nine teams for what was the most competitive cycle in the Network’s history. In fact, we received more proposals than all of our previous cycles combined. These awards contribute to nearly $5M in projects since the launch of the Network just 2 ½ short years ago and exemplify the transformative potential of collaboration in advancing critical technologies for national security and beyond. The program is also achieving meaningful impact with completed awards collectively securing $11.7M in follow-on funding, representing a 6.7x “return” on our “investment”.

As we reflect on this year’s accomplishments, we are filled with gratitude for the dedication and ingenuity of our members, partners, and supporters. Your contributions continue to drive our mission to foster innovation and create meaningful connections across sectors.

Looking ahead to 2025, we are committed to building on this momentum with you. From new funding opportunities to expanded initiatives, the Network will continue to serve as a catalyst for advancing dual-use technologies throughout the region.

Finally, as the holiday season approaches, we extend our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones for a joyful and restful season. Thank you for being an integral part of this journey—we look forward to achieving even greater heights together in the year ahead.

With gratitude and best wishes,

Emmanuel Giannelis & Patrick Govang

The AFRL Regional Network – Mid-Atlantic successfully convened its 2024 Annual Meeting on November 7th at the SUNY Global Center in New York City and awarded $1.3 million to 9 project teams – the most competitive funding cycle to date in the Network’s history with more proposals received than all previous cycles combined.

Networking sessions, panel discussions, and keynote speakers brought together leaders from academia, industry, and government to foster innovation, announce key initiatives, and celebrate outstanding projects.

The day opened with remarks from Emmanuel Giannelis and Patrick Govang, Co-Directors of the Network, and John Luginsland, Collaboration Director of the Network, who emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration and innovation in critical technologies.

The meeting also featured a fireside keynote discussion with Dr. Timothy J. Bunning, Chief Technology Officer of AFRL, and Doug Philippone, Founder and General Partner of Snowpoint Ventures and Senior Defense Advisor at Palantir Technologies.

Lieutenant General (Ret.) S. Clinton Hinote also delivered a keynote address on the critical role of technological innovation in advancing national security.

Presentations and workshops throughout the day covered critical themes associated with the Network’s previous funding cycles, such as complex systems, performance in extreme environments, and edge computing.

During the closing session, the Network announced funding awards for innovative projects submitted during the Fall ‘24 funding cycle.

Phase 1 awardees include:

• Tam Nguyen, University of Maryland: Rapid Discovery of Cislunar Objects (Rapid DisCO) ($100,000)
• Jared Maxson, Cornell University: Spectroscopy for Compact, Rugged Electron Linear Accelerators ($100,000)
• Jon McCandless, Gallox Semiconductor: Packaging and Device Engineering of Ga203 Diodes and Transistors ($100,000)
• Reeja Jayan, Carnegie Mellon University: Evaluating the Radiation Shielding Properties of MXenes Produced through a Low Carbon Process ($100,000)
• Kwame Amponsah, Xallent Inc.: Non-Contact Micro-Resistivity Module for Wide Bandgap Material Characterization ($100,000)

Phase 2 and 3 awardees, selected on November 13, include:

• Christopher Schauerman, Cellec Technologies: Resilient 0-Volt Batteries Using Semi-solid Technology (R0BUST) ($200,000)
• Misty Blowers, Datalytica: Reverse Engineering & Vulnerability Elucidation of ALgorithms (REVEAL) ($200,000)
• Jayson Boubin, Binghamton University: Autonomous UAVs for Real-Time Hyperspectral Phenomena Detection ($200,000)
• Austin Hickman, Soctera: Package, Assembly, and Test of UltraHEMT Power Amplifiers ($200,000) (Phase 3)

“The awarded projects reflect the collective ingenuity and dedication of the Network’s partners,” said Giannelis. “We are proud to provide $1.3 million in funding to catalyze innovation that will shape future technological advancements and serve as a key differentiator in the market and for our nation’s defense capabilities.”

"The projects and discussions at this year’s meeting highlight the transformative impact of academic, industry, and government collaboration,” said Govang. Through these awards, we build on our momentum to create lasting connections and drive innovation in fields critical to national security and technological excellence.”

To see images from the 2024 Annual Meeting, please click the button below.

For more information about upcoming proposal solicitations and events, membership, or to join the Mid-Atlantic Hub’s email distribution list, please click the button below.

The AFRL Regional Network -- Mid-Atlantic will begin accepting project submissions for the Winter/Spring 2025 funding cycle on February 18, 2025. The submission window will close on March 11, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST.

We will announce when information about submission guidelines, requirements, and access to the proposal form will be available on the Funding Opportunities page. Visit the page via the button below.

This quarter, we are proud to feature Cellec Technologies, a member of the Network that is advancing the resilience and safety of lithium-ion batteries for defense and aerospace applications. Funded under the Network’s “Quantifying Performance in Extreme Environments” technology platform, Cellec’s R0BUST (Resilient 0-Volt Batteries Using Semi-Solid Technology) project aims to tackle the critical challenge of ensuring reliable battery performance in extreme conditions, such as high and low temperatures, which conventional batteries cannot endure.

Cellec combines its patented 0-Volt stability technology with an innovative semi-solid electrolyte creating a hybrid solution that bridges the gap between liquid and solid electrolytes, which enhances the thermal stability and safety of advanced cylindrical battery cells. Enabling batteries to withstand temperatures as low as -20°C and as high as 70°C holds the potential to revolutionize energy storage for Air Force missions, including those for unmanned aerial vehicles and portable power systems.

Using facilities at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Battery Development Center, the project will deliver prototypes and conduct rigorous testing to evaluate their performance. The outcomes will inform a roadmap for commercial applications, with potential benefits extending to consumer electronics, renewable energy systems, and electric vehicles.

We look forward to Cellec’s continued work on advancing reliable energy storage solutions for critical applications.