The Air Force has presented the John L. McLucas Basic Research Award to Craig Denman, a physicist with Air Force Research Lab’s Directed Energy Directorate Laser Division at Kirtland AFB, N.M. Denman’s work with adaptive optics at the Starfire Optical Range earned him the honor.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.