AFRL honors 2025 Fellows, Early Career Award winners

By Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs

Published Apr 28, 2026

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) recognized 20 of its top scientists and engineers who each received the 2025 AFRL Fellows or Science and Engineering Early Career Awards (ECA) honors during an award ceremony held March 31, 2026, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

“When you think about what this event means, especially for our fellows, this is the top of the mountain,” said AFRL Commander and Department of the Air Force Technology Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Jason E. Bartolomei during opening remarks. “For Early Career Award winners, this is a bellwether of a bright and amazing future.”

Air Force Research Laboratory Commander Brig. Gen. Jason E. Bartolomei delivers opening remarks during the AFRL Fellows and Science and Engineering Early Career Awards, or S&E ECA, ceremony at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, Mar. 31, 2026. The ceremony recognized outstanding scientists and engineers who made significant contributions to the Department of the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ryan Law)

The AFRL Fellows program, which has been awarded to 269 individuals since its start in 1987, recognizes scientists and engineers who have had a major impact on the Department of the Air Force’s mission during their career. The collective contributions of the 2025 Fellows cohort represent AFRL’s strengths in solving complex multi-technology area problems and accelerating science and technology from the foundational stage to technology maturation to delivering war-winning systems.

The AFRL Fellows class of 2025 boasts expertise in critical fields of study, including additive manufacturing, wireless network security, biocontamination detection and more – leveraging their knowledge to further the state of the art within their areas of study. In addition to award recognition, Fellows receive a research grant to continue their important work.

The 10 members of the AFRL 2025 class of Fellows are:

Dr. Monica Allen
Dr. Jeffrey Brown
Mr. Robert Denton, Jr.
Dr. Hilmar Koerner
Dr. Soumya Patnaik
Dr. Wellesly Pereira
Dr. E. Paul Ratazzi
Dr. Oscar Ruiz
Dr. Nicholas Shuman
Dr. Michael Stepaniak

The AFRL ECA program, with a total of 85 awardees since its start in 2012, recognizes government scientists and engineers whose accomplishments have aided AFRL’s core mission areas. These individuals must have been with AFRL for less than seven years but have no more than 15 years since the award of the recipient’s bachelor’s degree in a STEM-related field. AFRL ECAs also receive research grants to continue their important research.

“This generation of exemplary scientists and engineers will be developing technologies that will bring the future faster and enable the Department of the Air Force to fight and win future conflicts,” said AFRL Acting Chief Technology Officer Dr. Kathy-Anne Soderberg during the ceremony.

All 10 AFRL Early Career Award winners standing with AFRL Commander Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei and AFRL Chief Technology Officer Dr. Kath-Anne Soderberg. — Honorees of the 2025 Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, Science and Engineering Early Career Awards (S&E ECA), are recognized as government civilian scientists and engineers with exceptional accomplishments during a ceremony at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, Mar. 31, 2026. Winners are selected from those who have been with AFRL for fewer than seven years and are no more than 15 out from earning their bachelor’s degree. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ryan Law)

This 2025 class of Early Career Award honorees is advancing research involving 3D printing of ceramic materials, quantum inertial navigation, hybrid electric propulsion for novel aircraft systems and updating ground-to-space imaging systems.

The 10 members of the 2025 AFRL Early Career Awards are:

Dr. Luke Baldwin
Dr. Ben Eshel
Dr. Andrew Green
Dr. Maxwell Gregoire
Dr. Nathan Inkawhich
Dr. Jesus Mares, Jr.
Capt. (Dr.) Ashwin Rao
Dr. Lisa Reushhoff
Dr. Laurin Schatz
Dr. Rachell Speth

Weighing in on the importance of past and future AFRL Fellows and ECA recipients Gen. Bartolomei said, “This is a prescient time, and a chance for us to take a moment to really recognize a fundamental truth: that it’s not the planes, it’s not the data, it’s the people. Our people are some of the best people in the world. They are geniuses and patriots who help the lab find, create and deliver pivotal technologies to our warfighters.”

Close up image of the 2025 AFRL Fellows awards, on site during this years award ceremony. — Fellows trophy given to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Fellows recipients are displayed at a ceremony at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, Mar. 31, 2026. The ceremony recognized outstanding scientists and engineers who made significant contributions to the Department of the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ryan Law)

AFRL recognizes new classes of Fellows and Early Career Awards honorees annually. The next AFRL Fellows and Early Career Award recognition ceremony is scheduled for October 2026 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the Department of the Air Force’s primary scientific research and development center and one of six centers within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces. With a workforce spanning across seven mission areas with locations around the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.