Derek C Neal

Lt Col Derek C. Neal is an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He is affiliated with the Department of Electrical Engineering within the Graduate School of Engineering and Management. His career combines military aviation expertise with academic research in advanced power and communication systems.

Education:

• BS in Electrical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, CO (2004)
• MS in Electrical Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID (2013)
• DPhil in Engineering Science, University of Oxford, UK (2024)

Derek Neal's research focuses on modern power infrastructure, particularly microgrids, smart grids, demand-side management, and powerline communication. His work emphasizes reliable and efficient energy systems in isolated and rural environments. He also explores remote sensor networks, integrating energy generation and storage for autonomous data collection. His research bridges engineering and real-world deployment in challenging environments.

His recent publications show a strong trend in communication systems for islanded microgrids, combining power engineering with data transmission. Topics include broadband powerline communication, performance prediction models, and techno-economic analysis of microgrid networks. Earlier work includes rural energy management and sensor arrays for climate monitoring, indicating a long-standing interest in off-grid and remote applications.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in the provided text.

Derek Neal has served as a research director in unmanned aerial vehicles at the U.S. Air Force Academy and has operational experience influencing his applied research. While no formal grants or student advisement are mentioned, his leadership roles in both academic and military domains suggest mentorship and project oversight. He served in key planning and operations roles, including Chief of Tanker Plans and Exercises and Deputy Chief of Special Operations Air Refueling.

He is associated with research in power systems and sensor networks, particularly through projects like the Mountain Ecosystem Sensor Array (MESA) and integrated energy systems for isolated data collection. These reflect a lab-like or team-based approach to field-deployable and resilient energy solutions, though no formal lab name is provided.