Andrew W. Decker

Andrew W. Decker is an Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). He earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Tennessee (2021), an M.S. in Nuclear Science from AFIT (2014), and a B.S. in General Psychology from the U.S. Military Academy (2002). He is a U.S. Army officer commissioned as a Military Intelligence officer (2002), later transitioning to Functional Area 52 (Nuclear and Countering WMD) and serving at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

• Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee (2021)
• M.S. in Nuclear Science, Air Force Institute of Technology (2014)
• B.S. in General Psychology, U.S. Military Academy (2002)

His research focuses on nuclear engineering, radiation effects, and computational modeling using the MCNP6.1 code for radiation protection factor estimation. He specializes in neutron and gamma radiography, plastic scintillators, and nuclear forensic systems. Publications highlight applications in radiation detection, shielding analysis, and fast neutron imaging.

Recent articles analyze high-Z loaded plastic scintillators for radiation detection, neutron/gamma radiography of armored vehicles, and Monte Carlo simulations for radiation protection. His work emphasizes verification & validation of computational models, bismuth-loaded materials, and fast-curing techniques for detector components.

• Collaborated with institutions like the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and University of Tennessee
• Contributed to advancements in nuclear forensics and radiation safety