NMT and USAF Research Lab Develop Educational Partnership

by George Zamora

SOCORRO, N.M., June 19, 2002 -- New Mexico Tech and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base have agreed to form an educational partnership that will establish courses at the university in Socorro to better prepare a new generation of students for research work in the fields of optical coatings, fabrication, and testing.

Longer-term plans include expanding the scope of the education-partnership agreement to establish a "center of excellence" in optics research at New Mexico Tech, further fostering involvement of the university's students and faculty in the type of cutting-edge optics research and development projects that are typically conducted at the Air Force Research Lab.

Through the terms of the partnership agreement, New Mexico Tech will provide the faculty, students, classrooms, and laboratory space needed to initiate the classes; while the Air Force Research Laboratory will contribute more than $477,000 in optical coating, fabrication, and testing equipment to get the education program started.

Pending approval of the optics education program by New Mexico Tech faculty and administration, as well as the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education, courses in optics initially will be offered to Tech students and personnel at the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Optics courses to be offered through New Mexico Tech will eventually provide academic credit toward requirements of an appropriate degree program for students working on Air Force Research Lab research projects.