Education
1980 Doctor of Philosophy, Electrical Engineering
University of New Mexico
1975 Master of Science, Electrical Engineering
University of Florida
1969 Bachelor of Science, Physics
University of Wisconsin-Green
Employment History
2006 - Present Manager, Albuqerque Field Office
Georgia Institute of Technology
2003–2006 Principal Research Scientist, Electro-optical System Laboratory
Georgia Institute of Technology
1999–2003 Director, New Mexico Office
General Dynamics, Advanced Information Systems
1995–1999 President and CEO
JSA Photonics Inc.
1994–1995 Vice President, Research and Engineering
Perceptron Inc.
1989–1994 Director, Infrared and Electro-Optics Laboratory
Environmental Research Institute of Michigan
1986–1989 Director SENSIAC (frmly Infrared Information and Analysis Center)
Environmental Research Institute of Michigan
1984–1986 Research Engineer
Environmental Research Institute of Michigan
1983–1984 Director, New Products Development
Photon Sources Inc.
1982–1983 Laser Physicist
Photon Sources Inc.
1980–1982 Research Specialist
LockMart (fmrly Lockheed Missiles and Space Co.)
1976–1980 Physicist, Air Force Research Laboratory
United States Air Force
Kirtland AFB, New Mexico US
1974–1976 Physicist, Los Alamos National Laboratory
United States Air Force
1969–1974 Physicist, Air Force Research Laboratory
United States Air Force
Eglin AFB, Florida US
Experience Summary
Dr. Accetta is senior executive engineer/scientist with over 35 years of experience and broad technical background in electro-optical systems, laser and directed energy, optical, infrared and radar remote sensing, sensors, electronic systems and software development spanning the military, national laboratory, aerospace and industrial sectors. He holds a TS/SBI clearance.
Since 2003 he has been a Principal Scientist member of the research faculty at Georgia Tech Research Institute in Albuquerque, NM and manager of the GTRI field office representing GTRI to the AFRL Space Vehicles and Directed Energy Directorates, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and other local state and federal agencies. He is Instructor and Chairman for Hyperspectral Imaging Systems and Polarimetric Imaging Continuing Education Short Courses and conducted a number of research activities including the thermal analysis and design of the Magdelena Ridge Observatory Interferometer, polarimetric effects of the atmosphere, imaging of geosynchronous satellites, fiber optic neutron detection, special IED devices and traffic flow monitoring.
Prior, he held the position of Manager of Southwest Operations, General Dynamics, Albuquerque, NM and conducted various research activities electro-optical systems and technology including the design, analysis, modeling and simulation efforts of active and passive polarimetric systems, hyperspectral imaging systems, laser radar, lidar, radar and optical sensor systems and spacecraft survivability.
He has held a number of research and management positions in the aerospace, industrial and national laboratory environment including Vice-President, Research and Engineering for Perceptron Inc. Southfield, MI, a machine vision company specializing in automotive and industrial applications of optics and lasers, Laboratory Manager and Associate Division Director at the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI with oversight of 40 Ph.D. level research staff 25 diverse civilian and DoD, Intel and USG research programs in laser, optics, infrared sciences, modeling and simulation, image and signal processing, multi-spectral remote sensing, optical signal processing, ocean sciences, holography and machine vision. He is a former Director, Infrared Information and Analysis Center with a focus of activity in the DoD infrared and electro-optical technical communities and the architect, executive editor and author of the 8 volume reference work “The Infrared and Electro-optical Systems Handbook”. At Photon Sources Inc, He held the position of Director and Principal Scientist of a CO2 laser systems development for industrial materials processing. At Lockheed Missiles and Space Company he conducted research the development of performance models and numerical simulation programs for laser beam propagation through aerodynamic flow fields; simulated thermo-optical effects in laser systems and conducted design and analyses of various tracker modalities and control systems; conducted systems optical quality analysis using physical optics models for the space based laser systems and Large Optics Development Experiment (LODE).
Current Fields of Interest
Optical Systems Anaysis, Laser Directed Energy Systems, Hyperspectral and Polarimetric Imaging, Synchronous Behavior and Chaos, Thermal Effects in Optical Systems and Facilities, Interferometric Imaging, Radiation Detection and Homeland Security
Certifications, Affiliations & Special Honors
Member, IEEE
Sigma Xi
Managing Editor, Directed Energy Professional Society
Adjunct Research Faculty, New Mexico Tech
Adjunct Research Scientist, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan
Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering, Wayne State University
Chairman and Instructor, Advanced Infrared and Electro-Optics, University of Michigan
Past President, Ann Arbor Chapter, Optical Society of America
Executive Editor, Infrared and Electro-Optics Handbook Editorial Board, The Journal of Infrared Physics and Technology
Board of Directors, NASA SPARC
Board of Directors, Shroud of Turin Research Project
Former private pilot CAP,
Advisory Board, Manufacturing and Technological Services, Oakland Community College
Member, SPIE
Member, OSA
Member, Planetary Society
Fellow, Optical Engineering Society
Distinguished Graduate, United States Air Force Officers Training School
Phi Kappa Phi
Committee Memberships
ASME Committee on Gear Metrology
Reports and Publications
1. The Infrared and Electro Optics Handbook. Executive Editor, 1993.
2. "Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy and Thermographic Investigations of the Shroud of Turin." Applied Optics (1980): page(s) 1921.
3. "A High Resolution Synthetic Aperture Imaging Laser Radar." Proceedings IRIS Specialty Group on Active Systems (1986).
4. "Far Field Performance of Deterministic Phase Distributions Representative of High Power Mirror Distortions." Proceedings of the High Power Laser Components Conference (1978).
5. "Ultra Sensitive Optical Sensor for Robotic Touch and Hearing." Robotic Intelligence and Productivity Conference (1983).
6. "Selected Papers on Detectors and Materials," IRA Center, ERIMEditor (October 1993).
7. Infrared Sensors. VCH Publishers Inc, 1996.
8. "Pulsed Laser Beam Control by Hot Spot Tracking." Applied Optics (1983): page(s) 2286.
9. "Synthetic Aperture Imaging with a Pulsed CO2 Laser." Proceedings SPIE (May 1987): page(s) 29.
10. "The Reflectance Properties of Various Materials Relevant to Applications of Laser Radar in Strategic Defense." Proceedings IRIS Specialty Group on Active Systems (1988).
11. "Sources of Optical Distortions in High Energy Laser Systems." Proceedings SPIE, Optics in Adverse Environments (1977).
12. "Selected Papers on Targets, Backgrounds and Discrimination," Infrared Information and Analysis Center, ERIMEditor (August 1993).
13. Infrared Search and Tracking Systems. SPIE Press, 1993.