Kullen Waggoner

Maj Kullen Waggoner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), where he joined the faculty in 2024. He teaches courses in spacecraft dynamics and control, contributing to AFIT's mission in advanced aerospace education and research.

Education:

• BS in Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, 2012
• MS in Electrical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, 2018
• PhD in Astronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, 2024

His research focuses on space situational awareness, particularly in the cislunar domain. He investigates spacecraft dynamics, stochastic estimation techniques, and optimal control strategies for tracking and navigating in deep space. His work leverages passive RF sensing, TDOA/FDOA measurements, and Doppler ratios to enhance the accuracy of orbit determination for distant objects.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend in advancing cislunar surveillance capabilities using existing and novel sensor architectures. These works span conference presentations at IEEE Aerospace, AIAA SCITECH, and AMOS, with a focus on estimation accuracy, trajectory tracking, and system design for deep-space object monitoring.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in the provided text.

There is no public information on student advising or research grants in the provided content. His research appears to be closely aligned with U.S. Air Force and intelligence community interests, particularly in space domain awareness and secure space operations.

While no specific lab or research team is named, his work suggests collaboration with space surveillance and aerospace control groups, potentially leveraging AFIT's partnerships with the Space Surveillance Network and intelligence research programs.