Melissa K. Beason

Dr. Melissa K. Beason is a Research Assistant Professor of Engineering Physics at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), specializing in atmospheric propagation and laser beam control. She holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Central Florida, an MS in Mathematical Sciences from UCF, and a BS in Physics from the University of Florida. Her research focuses on optical turbulence theory, beam propagation modeling, and experimental methods for characterizing atmospheric conditions. Dr. Beason serves as an Air Force Subject Matter Expert for JDETO Beam Control & Propagation, NATO SCI-316 member, and U.S. representative to NATO SET-304. Her work includes collaborative projects on turbulence profiling, sensor development (e.g., SMASH), and applications of sonic anemometry for turbulence parameter estimation.

• Education:
  • PhD, Electrical Engineering, University of Central Florida
  • MS, Mathematical Sciences, University of Central Florida
  • BS, Physics, University of Florida
• Awards:
  • European Research Consortium Fellowship (2019)
  • Preeminent Postdoctoral Scholar (2019)
  • Special Act Award (1996)

Her research spans theoretical and experimental studies in atmospheric optics, including turbulence parameterization, beam wander effects, and free-space optical communication metrics. Recent work emphasizes non-Kolmogorov turbulence models, anisotropic effects, and sensor validation for defense applications. She has advised over 20 years of R&D projects involving sonar systems, laser research, and collaborative NATO initiatives. Dr. Beason's contributions include co-authoring textbooks on laser beam propagation and asymptotic methods in wave theory.

Labs/Teams: Involved in AFIT's Engineering Physics research group, cross-functional teams at NATO, and partnerships with organizations like the Naval Undersea Warfare Center.