Whiting School alumnus, L. Gordon Croft, established this lecture in in 2007 in honor of his late friend, Dr. Frederick Billig. The lecture highlights the work of leaders in the areas of mechanical engineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, and entrepreneurship and management.
Join us for "Insights into the Future of Hypersonics" by featured speaker Dr. James Weber. This lecture will explore the Department of War’s (DOW) Hypersonics Strategic Approach, which accelerates the development of strike weapons, missile defense systems, and reusable hypersonic aircraft. Dr. James Weber, Principal Director for Hypersonics, will discuss the programs and critical enablers driving this effort, including advancements in prototyping, science and technology, test and evaluation, industrial base capacity, and workforce development. The presentation will highlight recent accomplishments, such as successful weapon demonstrations, investments in test and evaluation infrastructure, and the Joint Hypersonic Transition Office, while addressing the challenges of scaling hypersonic capabilities to meet national defense priorities. Join us to gain insights into the future of hypersonics and its role in ensuring U.S. strategic advantage.
Reception to follow.
About the Speaker:
Dr. James W. Weber (Keynote)
Principal Director for Hypersonics
Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering
Dr. James W. Weber is the Principal Director for Hypersonics in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies, Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)). In this position, he serves as the Department of War’s senior official and subject matter expert for Hypersonics. Dr. Weber leads DoW’s vision, strategy, and roadmap for hypersonic weapons and platforms, and the defense against hypersonic threats. Additionally, he oversees the strategic alignment and coordination of the Department’s more than $6 billion annual portfolio in hypersonics including prototyping, test and evaluation, industrial base development, and science and technology.
Dr. Weber has more than 33 years of experience in the research and development of hypersonic systems. He has held multiple previous assignments in the United States Air Force including engineering and program management positions with the DoW/NASA National Aero-Space Plane (NASP), AFRL Hypersonic Technology (HyTech), DARPA/AFRL Affordable Rapid Response Missile Demonstrator (ARRMD), and AFRL High Speed Strike Weapon (HSSW) programs. In 2019, Dr. Weber was detailed to OUSW(R&E) as a Special Assistant for Hypersonics, where he led the development and execution of the first DoW Hypersonics Science & Technology Strategy.
Prior to assuming his current position, Dr. Weber served as the Air Force Senior Scientist for Hypersonics, where he was responsible for the department’s hypersonics science and technology enterprise and advised Air Force senior leadership on hypersonic systems development.
Dr. Weber received his B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park. He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a three-time recipient of the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
