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Goal: Increase the safety and security of the United States by fostering technological…
Articles by Derek
Activity
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There are two major causes for the terrible state of the defense industrial base. 1) incumbent defense contractors hacking the requirements…
There are two major causes for the terrible state of the defense industrial base. 1) incumbent defense contractors hacking the requirements…
Liked by Derek Tournear
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SDA welcomes Tyvak, a Terran Orbital Corporation, as a prime vendor delivering 10 Tranche 2 Transport Layer Gamma #satellites. We're glad to have…
SDA welcomes Tyvak, a Terran Orbital Corporation, as a prime vendor delivering 10 Tranche 2 Transport Layer Gamma #satellites. We're glad to have…
Liked by Derek Tournear
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I'm really excited to share some new developments in the Space Development Agency small business program! More coming soon.
I'm really excited to share some new developments in the Space Development Agency small business program! More coming soon.
Liked by Derek Tournear
Experience
Education
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Stanford University
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Activities and Societies: Society of Physics Students, SLAC Users Organization
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Licenses & Certifications
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PMP IV
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Publications
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Gamma-ray waveguides
” Applied Physics Letters 92, 1 2008
"A new approach to gamma-ray optics provides flat and curved waveguides for 122 keV gamma rays and could be useful up to a few mega-electron-volts. Instead of using shallow angle reflection, which typically implies focal lengths of around 10 m, D M Tournear and colleagues at Los Alamos National Laboratory have used multilayer gold–palladium and polymer films to get focal lengths an order of magnitude smaller. This novel optics could find use in fields ranging from astrophysics to medical…
"A new approach to gamma-ray optics provides flat and curved waveguides for 122 keV gamma rays and could be useful up to a few mega-electron-volts. Instead of using shallow angle reflection, which typically implies focal lengths of around 10 m, D M Tournear and colleagues at Los Alamos National Laboratory have used multilayer gold–palladium and polymer films to get focal lengths an order of magnitude smaller. This novel optics could find use in fields ranging from astrophysics to medical imaging." - CERN Courier July 2008
Other authors -
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Background Simulations of Advanced Compton Telescopes for Nuclear Gamma-ray Astronomy
High Energy Astrophysics Division Meeting
We present the initial results of a set of tools to simulate the predicted background of on-orbit high-energy astrophysics experiments.
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X-ray Bursts in Neutron Star and Black Hole Binaries: Detections and Upper Limits
The Astrophysical Journal
Certain theories speculate that black holes may be composed of forms of matter possessing a surface. We calculate a limit ruling out the existence of these surfaces, thereby giving further evidence to the existence of black holes.
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Long Term X-ray Variability in Circinus X-1
The Astrophysical Journal
We present an analysis of long-term X-ray monitoring observations of Circinus X-1 (Cir X-1) made with four different instruments: Vela 5B, Ariel 5 all-sky monitor (ASM), Ginga ASM, and RXTE ASM, over the course of more than 30 yr.
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Non-quiescent x-ray emission from neutron stars and black holes
Stanford University
PhD Dissertation - Quantifies limits on the existence of surfaces on black holes, which some theories predict.
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Active Cooling Control of the CLEO Detector Using A Hydrocarbon Coolant Farm
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A
The authors describe the design and performance of the cooling system used on the CLEOIII high-energy physics experiment.
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The Silicon Tracker for the GLAST Large Area Space Telescope
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A
Authors give a brief overview of the GLAST (now FERMI) tracker design and development.
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Patents
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Space Asset Tracker
Issued US 10484082
Autonomous and self-contained system for identifying and tracking satellites.
Honors & Awards
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Space Force Association Spacepower Innovation Award
Space Force Association
For exceptional leadership and innovation in the space domain. This significant event celebrated individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to enhancing U.S. national spacepower, ensuring the United States Space Force provides credible deterrence, dominant combat capabilities, and unparalleled service to all partners and allies.
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DefenseScoop 50 - Defense Leadership Award
DefenseScoop
As leader of the Space Force’s disruptor for space acquisition, Tournear has embraced a “spiral development” approach that calls on the agency to incrementally deliver new capabilities work in multiple iterations, enabling for the latest technology advancements and quick pivots in responses to threats.
https://defensescoop.com/list/announcing-the-2023-defensescoop-50/#derek-tournear -
Aviation Week 2022 Laureate
Aviation Week
Honoring innovators, extraordinary achievements and exemplary leadership in the aerospace, defense and aviation industries.
https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/aviation-week-announces-2022-laureate-award-winners -
Theodore Roosevelt Government Leadership Awards
Government Executive
Honors those individuals who have stood out in the effort to protect the United States. Winners have demonstrated sustained achievement in advancing the country’s security interests at home and abroad.
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Wash100 award
Executive Mosaic
The Wash100 is the premier group of private and public sector leaders selected by Executive Mosaic's organizational and editorial leadership as the most influential leaders in the GovCon sector.
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OSD Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service
Office of the Secretary of Defense
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ODNI Medal for Exceptional Public Service
IARPA Director
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OSD Medal for Exceptional Public Service
DARPA Director
Organizations
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Optical society of America
Member
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AFCEA
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- Present
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Last week marked the end of my assignment at the Space Development Agency. I leave very proud of all we have managed to accomplish together over the…
Last week marked the end of my assignment at the Space Development Agency. I leave very proud of all we have managed to accomplish together over the…
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SDA has received the warmest welcome since becoming a tenant on Grand Forks Air Force Base. We especially would like to thank Senator Kevin Cramer…
SDA has received the warmest welcome since becoming a tenant on Grand Forks Air Force Base. We especially would like to thank Senator Kevin Cramer…
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Dr. Derek Tournear, Director, Space Development Agency: "Building 542, the ops center that we turned operational today, will be flying by the end of…
Dr. Derek Tournear, Director, Space Development Agency: "Building 542, the ops center that we turned operational today, will be flying by the end of…
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Terran Orbital, York Space win U.S. military satellite contracts https://lnkd.in/gB4-bSDK
Terran Orbital, York Space win U.S. military satellite contracts https://lnkd.in/gB4-bSDK
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I have been asked to be the National co-chair of the “New Space and Cislunar” session at the American Astronautical Society’s Guidance, Navigation…
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