Research center physicist recognized by his peers

By NIKKI FICKEN AMRDEC

http://www.theredstonerocket.com/military_scene/article_ffedf934-bc80-11e6-bf22-2b921fd3b353.html

An Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center employee has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a distinction that recognizes his outstanding contributions in scientific research.

Dr. Henry Everitt, an AMRDEC physicist, is among 391 AAAS members elected by their peers to the rank of Fellow this year, one of two researchers employed by the Army. AAAS is the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific society, with more than 120,000 members, and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its science family of journals. The AAAS seeks to “advance science, engineering and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people.”

“It is a tremendously humbling honor to be recognized by your peers for the work you do,” Everitt said. “I’m blessed to get paid for doing research, something I so much enjoy doing. My career has been about doing research in a variety of ways, including mentoring outstanding students and researchers and sponsoring top scientists and engineers around the world. Any successes I’ve had derive from their successes.”

He is one of the Army’s three dozen chief scientists, a senior executive “scientific technologist” who has worked for 25 years as a program manager, researcher and adviser on subjects as wide ranging as nanotechnology, photonics, ultrafast spectroscopy of semiconductor physics, quantum information, molecular spectroscopy and terahertz frequency holography and radar. 

“Dr. Everitt has an extensive technical knowledge-base as represented in his numerous journal publications, book chapters, manuscripts and numerous technical reports,” Juanita Harris, AMRDEC Weapons Development and Integration Directorate director, said. “His guidance and strategic direction in the quantum networking activities allows the Army to lay out its strategic path in response to this very critical OSD initiative on quantum research. Dr. Everitt has proven himself time and time again to utilize his technical strengths to provide real world solutions to critical missile-based problems.”

In announcing the honor, AAAS recognized him “for pioneering spectroscopic investigations of wide bandgap semiconductors and ultraviolet plasmonic nanostructures, terahertz holography and nascent federal programs in quantum information, photonic crystals and nanotechnology.”

Because of his pioneering work in these fields, Everitt was previously selected as a Fellow of the Optical Society of America and the American Physical Society. He also holds adjunct faculty positions at several universities including Duke University, Rice University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville where he has taught classes and personally mentored more than 75 undergraduate researchers, graduate students and research scientists.

He and the other new Fellows will be presented with an official certificate and rosette pin on Feb. 18 at the AAAS Fellows forum during the 2017 AAAS annual meeting in Boston. 

“As an Army scientist, my job and the purpose of my research is ultimately about service, service to my colleagues, service to the nation and especially service to the brave men and women in uniform who protect our freedoms,” Everitt said. “Selfless service is one of the Army’s core values, so it means a lot that AAAS recognizes Fellows for their ‘service to society.’ I hope I’ve done that.”