Consultant, Kevin Kennedy Associates Inc.
Providing electrical and electronics engineering, physics, power conditioning expertise, technical and scientific consulting, high power electronics consulting, research, high voltage engineering, and related expertise to a wide variety of clients.
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Director, a major university
Provided teaching and directed research of electrical engineering students in the area of lasers, high voltage, and high power electronics engineering. Was directly responsible for the funding, planning, staffing and recruitment of students, as well as direct management of all research activities of the High Power Electronics Institute. This included research on enabling factors in insulation life of High Power Electronics materials and systems (including, energy storage, filter, and high-frequency capacitors; polymer laminates; impregnating fluids; and pulse transformers/magnetics). Supervised a team of engineers, 1 post-doctoral fellow and 18 Master's and Doctoral students, in conjunction with visiting scientists and industrial technology-transfer participants. The Institute to date has engaged in numerous research programs totaling over $2.8 million, and has served to establish an integrated graduate and undergraduate program in High Power Electronics Engineering, electrical insulation, power conditioning and related technologies. Established the first integrated B.Sc. through Ph.D. program and laboratory facilities in High Power Electronics, emphasizing electrical insulation behavior in the repetitive pulse environment; thesis supervision, dielectrics teaching, teaching laboratories and individual projects supported through continuing federal and state funding. Developed a senior, doctoral-level graduate course in Advanced Topics in High Voltage Engineering as well as a truly engineering-oriented undergraduate applied electromagnetics course. Served on several university and educational committees. Was technical adviser to the Federal Government on many committees and programs.
Project Leader, Power Conditioning and Applications, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory
As Project Leader for Power Conditioning and Applications, was responsible for design and development of new, advanced state-of-the-art high average power pulse power components and systems, including energy storage devices, switches, and high power modulators as well as developing the pre-requisite impulse measurement systems. Initiated and created at LANL the first group for R&D in repetitive power conditioning. Initiated several novel R&D programs forming part of the group activities, including development of long-life, high-repetition rate capacitors, switches, and voltage and current monitors all closely allied with industry and universities. Initiated and successfully completed interactions with outside contract agencies. DARPA, for example has recently awarded LASL major project responsibilities in the laser component area; in particular R&D with industry of ultra long-life energy storage components. Technically directed in detail R&D projects in capacitor switching, charging techniques, and voltage and current monitors to the present point where staff engineers are effectively completing the subsequent development phases. Served as a scientific advisor to several LANL divisions in Power Conditioning, Lasers, Advanced Weapons, and Measurement Techniques. Established first LANL training programs in Pulse Power at the technician and staff levels. Prepared, with other LANL staff, full written lecture material.
Resident Research Scientist, Air Force Weapons Laboratory, Albuquerque, NM
Was co-principal investigator in a long-term AFOSR research program to understand hot-cathode electron-beam gun breakdown mechanisms to improve gun reliability.
Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Adjunct Professor of Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, Chicago, IL
Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Established first Graduate Course in Pulse Power/High Voltage Technology at the University of New Mexico (UNM) and created with LANL staff full written course text. Actively worked with the university towards establishing a B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. curriculum in High Power Electronics.
Staff Scientist (Physics), National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Was Scientific Team Leader directing the High-Energy Gas Laser Physics research program in the Division of Physics. Was responsible for program management and execution of research and technology development on ultrafast, discharge-pump gas lasers as well as picosecond electrical pulse generation and measurement techniques for present and future laser plasma diagnostic requirements. Successfully carried out research on and development of Impulse measurement systems, low-voltage triggered, subnanosecond spark gaps and thyratron devices for low-jitter applications, pyroelectric detectors, gaseous pulse-discharge induced chemical processes. Developed first high-energy rare gas halide laser system, as well as other laser and discharge devices having explicit size and repetition rate scalability. Served as a government advisor in high-reliability, high-repetition-rate power conditioning systems and components to several Canadian and American government agencies and numerous industrial concerns.
