Research pioneer in atmospheric, space sciences retires Published Oct. 12, 2006 By Dr. Robert White Air Force Office of Scientific Research historian ARLINGTON, Va. -- When Dr. Herbert C. Carlson Jr. accepted a job at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research here in 1998, he became the organization's first-ever permanently assigned chief scientist. Recently, he again made history as the first AFOSR chief scientist to retire. Dr. Carlson has proudly served his nation for 29 years as a distinguished scientist and scientific leader. He received his doctorate of philosophy in electrical engineering from Cornell University in 1965 and then served as director of the ionospheric research department at the Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory. He next went to the University of Texas at Dallas as a research scientist from 1973 to 1977. This was followed by a position as a program director at the National Science Foundation where he created a new national program office, the upper atmospheric research facilities. Prior to his current duties as chief scientist, he served as a deputy division director and chief scientist for the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory that is now part of the Air Force Research Laboratory. The international impact of Dr. Carlson's upper atmospheric and space science research has been significant and wide-ranging. He is the author of over 120 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, is cited in more than 2,000 reviewed publications and has lectured regularly at international symposia. He was named a fellow of the Air Force Research Laboratory, as well as receiving awards from NASA, and the National Science Foundation. The Chief Scientist of the Air Force, Dr. Mark J. Lewis, in reflecting on Dr. Carlson's tenure as chief scientist of AFOSR, said, "...it will be almost impossible to imagine AFOSR without the guiding hand of Dr. Herb Carlson. Dr. Carlson has been a leader in establishing the Air Force's basic research portfolio, and has overseen the development of new initiatives as well as the sustainment of core competencies." During his tenure as chief scientist, Dr. Carlson won the prestigious Presidential Rank Award honor in 2003 in the meritorious senior professional category. This was the first year that scientific senior executives became eligible for the award. In citing this prestigious honor at Dr. Carlson's retirement ceremony, Dr. Don Daniels, previously the executive director of the Air Force Research Laboratory and currently the associate vice-president of the University of Tennessee, said "...the President could not have picked a better person than Herb Carlson to set the trend for such an award." Significantly, Dr. Carlson's Long Term Challenges study inspired the current Air Force Research Laboratory Focused Long Term Challenges planning activity, and his singular efforts have assured that AFOSR is participating effectively in this program through forward-looking discovery challenge thrusts. Dr. Carlson also helped formulate the AFRL Rapid Access to Space research program in response to an urgent request by the undersecretary of the Air Force. Dr. Brendan Godfrey, the current director of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, summed up Dr. Carlson's contributions quite succinctly when he said, "...the Air Force owes Dr. Carlson a debt of gratitude that cannot be repaid."