Infrared Applications Instructors

Instructors (tentative)

Dr. Alan Hoffman, Course Coordinator
Chief Scientist, Acumen Scientific | Santa Barbara, CA

  • Dr. Hoffman has extensive knowledge of infrared focal planes. As the course coordinator, he utilizes his passion of introducing others to infrared technology. His experience spans all phases of developing sensors including, designing, manufacturing and testing applications for the defense, space and astronomy communities.

John L. Vampola
Senior Engineering Fellow, Raytheon Vision Systems | Santa Barbara, CA

  • Mr. Vampola has extensive experience in imaging technology, especially, infrared and visible- focal plane subsystems and instruments covering detector and readout design, focal plane test and instrument design and remote sensing instruments. He is a co-author of Fundamentals of Infrared and Visible Detector Operation and Testing, published by Wiley.

Dr. Edward P. Smith
Raytheon Vision Systems, Senior Engineering Fellow | Santa Barbara, CA

  • Dr. Smith’s experience is in next-generation infrared technology products based on HgCdTe and III-V bandgap engineered infrared materials and devices.  His focus is on applied research for infrared focal plane array development and first-time technology demonstration programs, and transition to product.

Dr. Terrence S. Lomheim
Aerospace Fellow, The Aerospace Corporation | El Segundo, CA

  • Dr. Lomheim has held both management and technical staff positions. He performed detailed experimental evaluations of electro-optical properties, imaging capabilities, radiation sensitivities of infrared and visible focal plane devices and developed modeling tools used to predict instrument-level performance. Dr. Lomheim is a part-time lecturer at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and regularly teaches technical short courses for the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) and UCLA Extension. He is co-author of CMOS/CCD Sensors and Camera Systems, published by SPIE.

Dr. John E. Hubbs
Chief Scientist, Infrared Radiation Effects Laboratory (IRREL)
Space Vehicles Directorate of Air Force Research Laboratory | Kirtland, AFB, NM

  • Dr. Hubbs has worked extensively on focal plane arrays (FPAs) in both clear and radiation environments—testing, characterizing and modeling array performance. He is a fellow of the Military Sensing Symposia (MSS) and SPIE.

Roger Holcombe
Roger Holcombe Engineering | Santa Barbara, CA

  • Mr. Holcombe has focused on the development and production of advanced infrared applications for military, commercial and scientific systems. He managed the mechanical design group at Raytheon Vision Systems and now is a consultant providing advanced system design and rapid prototyping services to the MEMS and infrared detector industries.

Ms. Ellen Chang
Research Scientist Stf, Lockheed Martin

  • Ms. Chang has over 10 years of experience in material characterization and test development of FPAs and detector materials. She is currently the lead test engineer for the Detector Physics group at Lockheed Martin.