Published On: February 9, 2026Categories: Newsletters
The AFRL Regional Network – Midwest is thrilled to welcome you to the latest edition of Around the Region, an exciting addition to your inbox that promises to keep you in the know regarding all Midwest Network happenings.
With a mission to share the latest news, trends, insights, events, and intriguing stories, the team has crafted this newsletter as your trusted companion on a journey of innovation.
February 2026 Edition
When: March 25-27, 2026 Where: Stewart Center, Purdue UniversityMark your calendars and get ready for a few dynamic days of collaboration, innovation, and discovery!
Participants will have the opportunity to connect with regional partners, explore cutting-edge research, hear insights from leadership, and take part in hands-on workshops designed to spark new ideas. The tentative will include:
Wednesday, March 25
Networking event (evening)
Thursday, March 26
Update on the Network
Information on AFRL reorganization
Workshops/breakout sessions
Awardee talks
Friday, March 27
Optional lab tours
Be on the lookout for an email invite with a registration link and detailed agenda. We hope to see you there!
Coming Soon: 2026 Funding Call #1
The AFRL Regional Network – Midwest is excited to announce that we are preparing to release our first funding call for FY 2026. Potential proposers should make contact with their AFRL co-PIs to discuss submissions. Before applying, you MUST have an established relationship with an AFRL scientist and/or engineer.
As a reminder, for Phase I of the proposal process, you are required to submit 1-3 paragraphs describing the project, collaborator information, and connection to the AFRL mission, AFRL interest, opportunities for personnel exchanges, and potential for technical transition.
Watch out for an official announcement in our next newsletter, in an email notification to our members, and on LinkedIn.
RH Technologies is a veteran-owned small business focused on commercializing novel measurement diagnostics for aerodynamic wind-tunnel testing and providing consulting services to research facilities. The company designs precision optical and diagnostic tools — such as Self-Aligned Focusing Schlieren (SAFS) systems, planar laser scattering systems, and high-power imaging solutions — that enable high-resolution visualization and measurement of complex physical phenomena. These capabilities are especially valuable in applications where traditional measurement methods fall short, including high-speed and high-energy testing environments.
In 2025, RH Technologies won an R&D Top 100 Award, and their SAFS technology was awarded NASA’s Invention of the Year. Their co-founder, J. Luke Hill, is currently leading an AFRL Regional Network – Midwest project that aims to use this technology to capture detailed, non-intrusive optical measurements of shock trains, turbulence, boundary layers, and other flow features in wind tunnels.
In addition to its product offerings, RH Technologies provides technical services that support the full lifecycle of research and testing efforts, including product development, wind tunnel test support, and consulting. Backed by more than two decades of high-speed R&D experience, the team brings hands-on expertise to challenges across aerospace and defense sectors.
We would like to congratulate the four AFRL co-PIs from our funded projects who were either named 2025 AFRL Fellows or received Early Career Awards (ECA). The AFRL Fellows and ECA program acknowledges outstanding scientists and engineers who contribute significantly to the U.S Department of the Air Force.
AFRL Fellow:
Dr. Hilmar Koerner (top left) is the Research Lead for Polymer Matrix Composites, Materials, and Processes. He serves as the AFRL co-PI for the project, “Frontally-Cured Resins for In-Space Composite Manufacturing.”
ECA Award Winners:
Dr. Andrew Green (top right) is the WBG/UWBG Project Lead. He serves as the AFRL co-PI for the project, “High Power Recessed AlGaN/GaN HEMTs for High Frequency Applications.”
Dr. Jesus Mares Jr. (bottom left) is a Mechanical Engineer. He serves as the AFRL co-PI for the project, “Dynamic X-ray of Energetics.”
Capt. (Dr.) Ashwin Rao (bottom right) is the Section Chief of the Space Vehicles Directorate. He was the AFRL co-PI for the project, “HySERPENT (Hyperspectral Sensing of Extreme Reentry Plasma EnvironmeNTs).”
A Network Built on What We Love Most
This February, we’re reflecting on what we love most about the AFRL Regional Network – Midwest: meaningful partnerships, open collaboration, and a community that believes innovation is strongest when it’s shared. The connections across our ecosystem are what allow ideas to grow, mature, and succeed.
As part of celebrating those connections, we also want to help spark new ones. Are you looking for a new collaborator or partner? Let us know what expertise capabilities, or opportunities you’re seeking. We’ll compile a list of members interested in forming new connections and help strengthen collaboration across the network.
To our partners and members: thank you for being part of this network and for investing your time, talent, and trust. We value these relationships and look forward to continuing to innovate together throughout the year.
Space Policy, Science + Technology Symposium @ Purdue
The AFRL Regional Network – Midwest invites interested participants to attend the Space Policy, Science + Technology Symposium @ Purdue, held March 23-25, 2026, immediately preceding our annual meeting.
This symposium draws on the collective knowledge of experts from government, military, industry, and academia. The goal is for participants to help identify knowledge gaps and set next steps in research, partnering, and policy development.
This year’s theme is addressing space debris as a U.S. national security risk. Speakers will discuss how the U.S. can safeguard its assets and maintain space superiority by improving space-domain awareness, investing in debris mitigation, enhancing maneuverability, and reinforcing international norms.
Please note that due to limited capacity, this event is first come, first served.
A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota, Kansas State University, and AFRL are developing magnetic nanowires and carbon nanotubes for field emitters. They are looking to connect with companies that have experience with electron field emitters — anything from knowledge of fundamental science to potential product specifications.
If you have 30 minutes to discuss your work with this crucial research topic, please email Beth Stadler, Associate Dean for Faculty in the College of Science and Engineering and Kelen Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Minnesota, at stadler@umn.edu.
AFRL Regional Network YouTube Channel!
Have you checked out the AFRL Regional Network – Midwest YouTube Channel? On this platform, partners have access to a variety of video content that includes:
Funded project video reports
Network promo videos
Informative and instructional videos
Stay tuned to all of our social media channels as new content will be added frequently!
Partner with Us
The AFRL Regional Network – Midwest is a unique opportunity to partner with the Air Force Research Lab. If you are interested in becoming a partner, pleasevisit our Join Pagefor more information!
Get Featured in the Newsletter
If you or your organization would like to be featured in an issue of Around the Region, please email us atafrlmwst@purdue.edu. A representative will then reach out to you for additional information.
At the AFRL Regional Network – Midwest, we are dedicated to developing next-generation research and technology to support the Air Force mission by providing analysis, development, and testing capabilities that span multiple science and engineering disciplines. From propulsion to communications, materials to sensors, our research focuses on advancing mission capability and accelerating technology transitions throughout the life cycle of programs.
At the Midwest Network, we understand the importance of collaboration in advancing technology and mission capability. We facilitate partnerships between industry and academia to develop new means to address the current and future needs of our customers.
