Alexandre Y. Fong, M.Sc., MBA, C.Eng., Optronic Laboratories and ChromoDynamics
Inc.
Alexandre Fong is Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Optronic Laboratories, Inc.
and ChromoDynamics, Inc. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in
Experimental Physics from York University in Toronto, Canada, an MBA from the
University of Florida and is a Chartered Engineer. Alex is a published author and lecturer
in the fields of precision light measurement, life sciences imaging, remote sensing,
applied optics and lasers, an active member of the American Physical Society, Optical
Society of America (OSA), SPIE—The International Society for Optical Engineering,
International Commission on Illumination CIE), Council for Optical Radiation
Measurement and the Institute of Physics. He is also a member of the OSA Public Policy
Committee. Prior to joining Optronic Laboratories, Inc. Alex held senior business and
technical management positions at ITT Industries, Newport Corporation and Honeywell
International. Alex is the current president of the Florida Photonics Cluster.
Dennis R. Pape, Ph. D., AlphaLaunch
Dennis R. Pape is President of AlphaLaunch in Orlando, Florida. He graduated from
Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with an A.B. degree and Duke University in Durham, NC
with a Ph.D. in Physics. He began his career in the Central Research Laboratories at
Texas Instruments in Dallas, TX where he worked on optically addressed spatial light
modulators. He then became a Group Leader in acousto-optics at Harris Corporation in
Melbourne, FL. In 1987 he founded Photonic Systems Inc. (PSI) in Melbourne, FL. He
wrote the business plan for the company and secured venture capital from a top-tier VC
firm. The company developed state-of-the-art optical information processing systems,
primarily for the government. Throughout his technical career he has been involved in
advancing the state-of-the-art in various optical technologies which have resulted in
publications in OSA, SPIE, and IEEE journals and presentations at those societies’
conferences. More recently he has been involved in starting-up new optics companies,
both at Milcom Technologies in Orlando, and now with his own consulting firm,
AlphaLaunch.
Jim Pearson, Ph.D., University of Central Florida
Director, Research & Administration, CREOL & FPCE, The College of Optics and
Photonics and Special Assistant to Vice President for Research University of Central
Florida
Dr. Pearson received his PhD in Electrical Engineering & Physics in 1972 from the
California Institute of Technology. In his duties at UCF, he is responsible for the
business operations of CREOL and FPCE, The College of Optics and Photonics, and for
the development and maintenance of effective relationships with a wide variety of
individuals, companies, and organizations for the purpose of establishing research
partnerships and funding in optics and photonics as well as in other areas of interest to
the UCF faculty. He leads the evaluation of partnership opportunities and related
proposal efforts, and supports other UCF programs related to the objectives of the Office
of Research and Commercialization. He is the UCF coordinator for homeland security
activities and programs.
Prior to joining UCF in February 2004, Dr. Pearson held the positions of Executive
Director of ISA – The Instrumentation, Systems, & Automation Society from 1999 – 2004,
and Executive Director of SPIE – The International Society for Optical Engineering from
1993-1999. From 1976 – 1993, he held several positions within United Technologies
Corporation, including Chief Scientist at United Technologies Research Center, and
President & General Manager of United Technologies Optical Systems.
Randy Berridge, Florida High Tech Corridor Council
Randy Berridge serves as the president of Florida High Tech Corridor Council, where he
manages a team whose mission is to attract, retain and grow high tech industry to
Florida’s High Tech Corridor. Other current management roles he maintains include
president of Berridge Consulting Group, and serving as an advisory board member at
SunTrust Bank, N.A. In addition, Mr. Berridge’s community involvement spans the
academic arena on the University of Central Florida’s Foundation Board to economic
development commissions in several Central Florida regions.
Geoff Burdge, PhD, Harris Corporation
Dr. Burdge is a Senior Scientist at Harris Corporation where his research is focused on
free-space laser communications and fiber optic components for telecommunications.
Prior to joining Harris, Dr. Burdge worked at the National Security Agency (NSA) for over
30 years developing advanced optical techniques and components. While at NSA, Dr.
Burdge was a visiting scientist at the University of Colorado, the University of
Southampton, UK and Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ. Throughout his NSA career, he
served as a technical advisor on a number of National Programs; and as a Senior
Executive, he directed NSA’s Laboratory for Physical Sciences. Upon retirement from
NSA, Dr. Burdge helped form Optium Corporation, builder of 10Gbps transponders for
telecommunications, where he served as Vice President for Advanced Components.
Optium is now traded on NASDAQ. Dr. Burdge received all of his degrees in Electrical
Engineering from the University of Maryland, and he is a member of OSA and SPIE, and a
Senior Member of IEEE. Throughout his career he has published more than 60 papers
in refereed journals, filed four patents, served as Program Chair of an OSA Topical
Meeting on Spatial Light Modulators, and chaired numerous IEEE CLEO conference
technical sub-committees.
Michael C. Dudzik, M.S., MBA, PE, Lockheed Martin Corporation
Michael Dudzik is the Director, Research & Technology for the Orlando Operation of
Lockheed Martin Corporation In this position he leads an organization that is
responsible for the identification and transition of new technology into current and future
products in support a $3.6 billion corporate line of business. The organization is currently
working areas to include: nanotechnology, microelectronic material structures (MEMS),
advanced electro-optic sensors, solid state detectors, image processing algorithms,
new materials & structures, and advanced electronic systems.
Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Michael was Director of Advanced Technology
Programs/ GTRI Technical Fellow Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory, Georgia Tech
Research Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Vice President and Managing
Director at Verdian/ERIM International in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Engineering Manager,
Texas Instruments, Dallas Texas.
Micahel holds a B.S. Physics (cum laude) from the University of Detroit, an M.S.
Engineering the Ohio State University and an MBA from the University of Dallas. He is the
author of over 40 professional publications, a registered Professional Engineer, past
Chairman for SPIE, MSS and other national level symposiums, holds 3 US Patents with
12 Records of Invention, is a national expert on military space sensor and systems and a
Brigadier General United States Air Force Reserve (active reserve).
Alfred Ducharme, Ph.D., University of Central Florida
Since graduating from UCF/CREOL in 1994 with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Alfred
Ducharme has lead a dynamic career in photonics and optics. His first patent while
working for Senior CREOL Affiliate Physical Sciences, Inc., entitled, “Integrating
Projections Optic,” was developed for the U.S. Department of Defense for testing
photovoltaic cells. Following that, he took a new product development position at
Visidyne, Inc., where his research lead to two more patents, the Digital Phase Processor
and the MicroTracker. A form of simple inexpensive lighting control developed by Dr.
Ducharme is now used commercially in venues such as Rain Forest Café as “Retail-
tainment.”
Dr. Ducharme now serves as a faculty member of the Engineering Technology
Department and has recently worked in conjunction with Valencia Community College to
establish the “Two-Plus-Two” program in photonics which allows students to earn their A.
A. at a community college and then immediately enroll at UCF to earn their B.S. in
photonics.
Dennis K. Killinger, Ph.D., University of South Florida
Dennis K. Killinger, Ph.D. is a Distinguished University Professor and Professor of
Physics at the University of South Florida in Tampa and is an expert in laser and optical
remote sensing/Lidar, applied laser spectroscopy, laser physics, and Free Space Optical
(FSO) laser communication. Research includes: radar analysis and microwave
atmospheric propagation while employed as a research physicist at the Naval Avionics
Facility, and he was on the research staff at Quantum Electronics at Lincoln Laboratory,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology conducting. In 1987, he joined the Physics faculty
at the University of South Florida and is director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric Lidar
and Laser Communication Studies, and past Technical Director of the Technology
Deployment Center working on technology transfer for the University and regional
industries.
He received a “B.A.” from the University of Iowa, “M.A.” degree from De Pauw University.
He also received his Ph.D. in Physics, from the University of Michigan.
Mike Morris, M.S., SpectrEcology LLC
Mike Morris is the president of SpectrEcology LLC. SpectrEcology develops applications
for optical sensing for the field sciences and creates new products for spectroscopy,
chemical sensing and detection.
Mike was also the founder of Ocean Optics, and president from garage start-up through
the sale of the company to Halma plc. in 2004. Mike is now a distributer for Ocean Optics
and is also a member of its Board of Directors.
A biochemist by training and entrepreneur by nature, Morris has nearly 20 years of
experience in the design, manufacture and marketing of technology-related products and
services. Mike began his career as a sales representative for laboratory products
supplier Fisher Scientific. Later, he earned a master's degree in Marine Science from the
University of South Florida (USF), where the seeds of what would become Ocean Optics
first were sown. Morris also spent six years as Associate Director of Technology Transfer
for the NASA-sponsored Southern Technology Applications Center, a clearinghouse of
resources for technology-minded entrepreneurs.
In his tenure at Ocean Optics, Morris has directed the development of > 1500 new
products, helped grow the company sales from zero to an annual rate of > $50M and
assembled a highly skilled workforce that has grown from a handful of pioneers in a
garage-floor operation to more than 300 employees at five locations worldwide.
Ray Pini, M.S., MBA, LightPath Technologies
Ray Pini is currently a Product Manager at LightPath Technologies specializing in molded
glass aspheric lenses for the visible, NIR and LWIR. His undergraduate degree in
Physics is from SUNY – Binghamton and his graduate degree in Physics is from the
University of Oregon. He later earned an MBA from Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ.
Ray is also an expert in designing, building, and marketing complex spectroscopic
systems for a variety of techniques including UV/VIS, Raman, and Fluorescence. Before
joining LightPath technologies in 2006, he was the Applications Manager for HORIBA
Jobin Yvon’s Optical Spectroscopy Division.
Gregory J. Quarles, Ph.D., VLOC Inc.
Dr. Gregory J. Quarles is currently employed as the Director of Research for VLOC
Incorporated, a subsidiary of II-VI Incorporated. Greg has been with VLOC (and formerly
Lightning Optical Corporation) for over 15 years, developing new solid state laser
materials and laser devices for medical, military and industrial applications. Dr. Quarles
is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, where he earned a dual BS (math and
physics), an MS and PhD degrees in Physics. Prior to joining VLOC, Greg was a
research physicist at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C. While at
NRL, he managed all materials characterization for the Electro-Optics Branch and led a
team in the development of optimized sources for solid state laser systems for IR
countermeasures. Greg has been an Associate Editor for Optical Engineering for six
years and for the IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics for one year. He is also a Fellow
of SPIE and has served as Conference and Symposia Chairman for various laser-related
conferences for the Optical Society of America, the IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics
Society, and SPIE. During his previous 24 years of lasers and materials research, Dr.
Quarles has been awarded five patents related to solid state lasers and has published
over 100 peer-reviewed publications and three books and chapters.
M.J. Solieu, Ph.D., University of Central Florida
As Vice President for Research and Professor of Optics at the University of Central
Florida in Orlando, Dr. Solieu provides oversight and management to the School of
Optics. He began his career as Director of the School of Optics/CREOL in 1987. Along
with extensive research and development projects, his community involvement in
laser/optic and research-based organizations has enhanced Central Florida’s standing
as a photonics leader.
At the University of Southern California, he received his Ph.D. in Electrical
Engineering/Quantum Electronics and a M.S. in Physics/Optics from the University of
Utah.
Eric Ushkowitz, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission
As Director of Technology Business Development, Eric Ushkowitz's main area of
responsibility is photonics, biomedical and life sciences with the focus of retaining,
growing and recruiting companies within the high-tech industry.
Prior to joining the EDC, Mr. Ushkowitz spent a year as the Director of Business
Development for Odyssey Creative, a local Corporate Theater and Digital Multimedia
Company. In addition he was the Regional Sales Manager for Verizon Wireless, formerly
PrimeCo Personal Communications, for over five years covering the Central Florida area.
He was responsible for the Business to Business sales team covering Orange, Lake,
Osceola, Seminole, Volusia and Brevard counties for the largest wireless service
provider in the United States. Eric holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of
Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Eric Van Stryland, Ph. D., University of Central Florida
Dr. Van Stryland received his PhD in Physics from the University of Arizona, Optical
Sciences Center in 1976. He has worked in the areas of optical coherent transients,
laser induced damage, femtosecond pulse production, nonlinear optical (NLO)
spectroscopy, NLO Kramers-Kronig relations, and jointly invented Z-scan. In l987 he
helped build CREOL (Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers) at the
University of Central Florida. His current research interests are in the characterization of
the nonlinear optical properties of materials and their temporal response as well as the
applications of these nonlinear materials properties for optical switching, beam control
etc. He is a fellow of the Optical Society of America and SPIE. He also served as a
topical editor for Optics Letters. He was President of the Optical Society of America, OSA,
in 2006. He graduated 28 Ph.D.'s and is on the ISI ‘highly cited’ list. He is Dean of the first
college devoted to optics in the US, The College of Optics and Photonics.
Ray Williamson, B.S., Physics (Optics Concentration)
Throughout his 35 years in the precision optics industry, Ray Williamson has built a
reputation as a practical, astute, and original problem-solver, skilled educator, and
multidisciplinary advisor. His main areas of concentration include optical fabrication,
metrology, polarization optics, and system configuration and design. Following his
positions as Engineering Manager and Quality Manager for several well-regarded firms,
he has built a consulting practice characterized by responsiveness, honesty,
communication, solution-orientation, and discretion.
Inc.
Alexandre Fong is Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Optronic Laboratories, Inc.
and ChromoDynamics, Inc. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in
Experimental Physics from York University in Toronto, Canada, an MBA from the
University of Florida and is a Chartered Engineer. Alex is a published author and lecturer
in the fields of precision light measurement, life sciences imaging, remote sensing,
applied optics and lasers, an active member of the American Physical Society, Optical
Society of America (OSA), SPIE—The International Society for Optical Engineering,
International Commission on Illumination CIE), Council for Optical Radiation
Measurement and the Institute of Physics. He is also a member of the OSA Public Policy
Committee. Prior to joining Optronic Laboratories, Inc. Alex held senior business and
technical management positions at ITT Industries, Newport Corporation and Honeywell
International. Alex is the current president of the Florida Photonics Cluster.
Dennis R. Pape, Ph. D., AlphaLaunch
Dennis R. Pape is President of AlphaLaunch in Orlando, Florida. He graduated from
Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with an A.B. degree and Duke University in Durham, NC
with a Ph.D. in Physics. He began his career in the Central Research Laboratories at
Texas Instruments in Dallas, TX where he worked on optically addressed spatial light
modulators. He then became a Group Leader in acousto-optics at Harris Corporation in
Melbourne, FL. In 1987 he founded Photonic Systems Inc. (PSI) in Melbourne, FL. He
wrote the business plan for the company and secured venture capital from a top-tier VC
firm. The company developed state-of-the-art optical information processing systems,
primarily for the government. Throughout his technical career he has been involved in
advancing the state-of-the-art in various optical technologies which have resulted in
publications in OSA, SPIE, and IEEE journals and presentations at those societies’
conferences. More recently he has been involved in starting-up new optics companies,
both at Milcom Technologies in Orlando, and now with his own consulting firm,
AlphaLaunch.
Jim Pearson, Ph.D., University of Central Florida
Director, Research & Administration, CREOL & FPCE, The College of Optics and
Photonics and Special Assistant to Vice President for Research University of Central
Florida
Dr. Pearson received his PhD in Electrical Engineering & Physics in 1972 from the
California Institute of Technology. In his duties at UCF, he is responsible for the
business operations of CREOL and FPCE, The College of Optics and Photonics, and for
the development and maintenance of effective relationships with a wide variety of
individuals, companies, and organizations for the purpose of establishing research
partnerships and funding in optics and photonics as well as in other areas of interest to
the UCF faculty. He leads the evaluation of partnership opportunities and related
proposal efforts, and supports other UCF programs related to the objectives of the Office
of Research and Commercialization. He is the UCF coordinator for homeland security
activities and programs.
Prior to joining UCF in February 2004, Dr. Pearson held the positions of Executive
Director of ISA – The Instrumentation, Systems, & Automation Society from 1999 – 2004,
and Executive Director of SPIE – The International Society for Optical Engineering from
1993-1999. From 1976 – 1993, he held several positions within United Technologies
Corporation, including Chief Scientist at United Technologies Research Center, and
President & General Manager of United Technologies Optical Systems.
Randy Berridge, Florida High Tech Corridor Council
Randy Berridge serves as the president of Florida High Tech Corridor Council, where he
manages a team whose mission is to attract, retain and grow high tech industry to
Florida’s High Tech Corridor. Other current management roles he maintains include
president of Berridge Consulting Group, and serving as an advisory board member at
SunTrust Bank, N.A. In addition, Mr. Berridge’s community involvement spans the
academic arena on the University of Central Florida’s Foundation Board to economic
development commissions in several Central Florida regions.
Geoff Burdge, PhD, Harris Corporation
Dr. Burdge is a Senior Scientist at Harris Corporation where his research is focused on
free-space laser communications and fiber optic components for telecommunications.
Prior to joining Harris, Dr. Burdge worked at the National Security Agency (NSA) for over
30 years developing advanced optical techniques and components. While at NSA, Dr.
Burdge was a visiting scientist at the University of Colorado, the University of
Southampton, UK and Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ. Throughout his NSA career, he
served as a technical advisor on a number of National Programs; and as a Senior
Executive, he directed NSA’s Laboratory for Physical Sciences. Upon retirement from
NSA, Dr. Burdge helped form Optium Corporation, builder of 10Gbps transponders for
telecommunications, where he served as Vice President for Advanced Components.
Optium is now traded on NASDAQ. Dr. Burdge received all of his degrees in Electrical
Engineering from the University of Maryland, and he is a member of OSA and SPIE, and a
Senior Member of IEEE. Throughout his career he has published more than 60 papers
in refereed journals, filed four patents, served as Program Chair of an OSA Topical
Meeting on Spatial Light Modulators, and chaired numerous IEEE CLEO conference
technical sub-committees.
Michael C. Dudzik, M.S., MBA, PE, Lockheed Martin Corporation
Michael Dudzik is the Director, Research & Technology for the Orlando Operation of
Lockheed Martin Corporation In this position he leads an organization that is
responsible for the identification and transition of new technology into current and future
products in support a $3.6 billion corporate line of business. The organization is currently
working areas to include: nanotechnology, microelectronic material structures (MEMS),
advanced electro-optic sensors, solid state detectors, image processing algorithms,
new materials & structures, and advanced electronic systems.
Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Michael was Director of Advanced Technology
Programs/ GTRI Technical Fellow Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory, Georgia Tech
Research Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Vice President and Managing
Director at Verdian/ERIM International in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Engineering Manager,
Texas Instruments, Dallas Texas.
Micahel holds a B.S. Physics (cum laude) from the University of Detroit, an M.S.
Engineering the Ohio State University and an MBA from the University of Dallas. He is the
author of over 40 professional publications, a registered Professional Engineer, past
Chairman for SPIE, MSS and other national level symposiums, holds 3 US Patents with
12 Records of Invention, is a national expert on military space sensor and systems and a
Brigadier General United States Air Force Reserve (active reserve).
Alfred Ducharme, Ph.D., University of Central Florida
Since graduating from UCF/CREOL in 1994 with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Alfred
Ducharme has lead a dynamic career in photonics and optics. His first patent while
working for Senior CREOL Affiliate Physical Sciences, Inc., entitled, “Integrating
Projections Optic,” was developed for the U.S. Department of Defense for testing
photovoltaic cells. Following that, he took a new product development position at
Visidyne, Inc., where his research lead to two more patents, the Digital Phase Processor
and the MicroTracker. A form of simple inexpensive lighting control developed by Dr.
Ducharme is now used commercially in venues such as Rain Forest Café as “Retail-
tainment.”
Dr. Ducharme now serves as a faculty member of the Engineering Technology
Department and has recently worked in conjunction with Valencia Community College to
establish the “Two-Plus-Two” program in photonics which allows students to earn their A.
A. at a community college and then immediately enroll at UCF to earn their B.S. in
photonics.
Dennis K. Killinger, Ph.D., University of South Florida
Dennis K. Killinger, Ph.D. is a Distinguished University Professor and Professor of
Physics at the University of South Florida in Tampa and is an expert in laser and optical
remote sensing/Lidar, applied laser spectroscopy, laser physics, and Free Space Optical
(FSO) laser communication. Research includes: radar analysis and microwave
atmospheric propagation while employed as a research physicist at the Naval Avionics
Facility, and he was on the research staff at Quantum Electronics at Lincoln Laboratory,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology conducting. In 1987, he joined the Physics faculty
at the University of South Florida and is director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric Lidar
and Laser Communication Studies, and past Technical Director of the Technology
Deployment Center working on technology transfer for the University and regional
industries.
He received a “B.A.” from the University of Iowa, “M.A.” degree from De Pauw University.
He also received his Ph.D. in Physics, from the University of Michigan.
Mike Morris, M.S., SpectrEcology LLC
Mike Morris is the president of SpectrEcology LLC. SpectrEcology develops applications
for optical sensing for the field sciences and creates new products for spectroscopy,
chemical sensing and detection.
Mike was also the founder of Ocean Optics, and president from garage start-up through
the sale of the company to Halma plc. in 2004. Mike is now a distributer for Ocean Optics
and is also a member of its Board of Directors.
A biochemist by training and entrepreneur by nature, Morris has nearly 20 years of
experience in the design, manufacture and marketing of technology-related products and
services. Mike began his career as a sales representative for laboratory products
supplier Fisher Scientific. Later, he earned a master's degree in Marine Science from the
University of South Florida (USF), where the seeds of what would become Ocean Optics
first were sown. Morris also spent six years as Associate Director of Technology Transfer
for the NASA-sponsored Southern Technology Applications Center, a clearinghouse of
resources for technology-minded entrepreneurs.
In his tenure at Ocean Optics, Morris has directed the development of > 1500 new
products, helped grow the company sales from zero to an annual rate of > $50M and
assembled a highly skilled workforce that has grown from a handful of pioneers in a
garage-floor operation to more than 300 employees at five locations worldwide.
Ray Pini, M.S., MBA, LightPath Technologies
Ray Pini is currently a Product Manager at LightPath Technologies specializing in molded
glass aspheric lenses for the visible, NIR and LWIR. His undergraduate degree in
Physics is from SUNY – Binghamton and his graduate degree in Physics is from the
University of Oregon. He later earned an MBA from Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ.
Ray is also an expert in designing, building, and marketing complex spectroscopic
systems for a variety of techniques including UV/VIS, Raman, and Fluorescence. Before
joining LightPath technologies in 2006, he was the Applications Manager for HORIBA
Jobin Yvon’s Optical Spectroscopy Division.
Gregory J. Quarles, Ph.D., VLOC Inc.
Dr. Gregory J. Quarles is currently employed as the Director of Research for VLOC
Incorporated, a subsidiary of II-VI Incorporated. Greg has been with VLOC (and formerly
Lightning Optical Corporation) for over 15 years, developing new solid state laser
materials and laser devices for medical, military and industrial applications. Dr. Quarles
is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, where he earned a dual BS (math and
physics), an MS and PhD degrees in Physics. Prior to joining VLOC, Greg was a
research physicist at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C. While at
NRL, he managed all materials characterization for the Electro-Optics Branch and led a
team in the development of optimized sources for solid state laser systems for IR
countermeasures. Greg has been an Associate Editor for Optical Engineering for six
years and for the IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics for one year. He is also a Fellow
of SPIE and has served as Conference and Symposia Chairman for various laser-related
conferences for the Optical Society of America, the IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics
Society, and SPIE. During his previous 24 years of lasers and materials research, Dr.
Quarles has been awarded five patents related to solid state lasers and has published
over 100 peer-reviewed publications and three books and chapters.
M.J. Solieu, Ph.D., University of Central Florida
As Vice President for Research and Professor of Optics at the University of Central
Florida in Orlando, Dr. Solieu provides oversight and management to the School of
Optics. He began his career as Director of the School of Optics/CREOL in 1987. Along
with extensive research and development projects, his community involvement in
laser/optic and research-based organizations has enhanced Central Florida’s standing
as a photonics leader.
At the University of Southern California, he received his Ph.D. in Electrical
Engineering/Quantum Electronics and a M.S. in Physics/Optics from the University of
Utah.
Eric Ushkowitz, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission
As Director of Technology Business Development, Eric Ushkowitz's main area of
responsibility is photonics, biomedical and life sciences with the focus of retaining,
growing and recruiting companies within the high-tech industry.
Prior to joining the EDC, Mr. Ushkowitz spent a year as the Director of Business
Development for Odyssey Creative, a local Corporate Theater and Digital Multimedia
Company. In addition he was the Regional Sales Manager for Verizon Wireless, formerly
PrimeCo Personal Communications, for over five years covering the Central Florida area.
He was responsible for the Business to Business sales team covering Orange, Lake,
Osceola, Seminole, Volusia and Brevard counties for the largest wireless service
provider in the United States. Eric holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of
Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Eric Van Stryland, Ph. D., University of Central Florida
Dr. Van Stryland received his PhD in Physics from the University of Arizona, Optical
Sciences Center in 1976. He has worked in the areas of optical coherent transients,
laser induced damage, femtosecond pulse production, nonlinear optical (NLO)
spectroscopy, NLO Kramers-Kronig relations, and jointly invented Z-scan. In l987 he
helped build CREOL (Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers) at the
University of Central Florida. His current research interests are in the characterization of
the nonlinear optical properties of materials and their temporal response as well as the
applications of these nonlinear materials properties for optical switching, beam control
etc. He is a fellow of the Optical Society of America and SPIE. He also served as a
topical editor for Optics Letters. He was President of the Optical Society of America, OSA,
in 2006. He graduated 28 Ph.D.'s and is on the ISI ‘highly cited’ list. He is Dean of the first
college devoted to optics in the US, The College of Optics and Photonics.
Ray Williamson, B.S., Physics (Optics Concentration)
Throughout his 35 years in the precision optics industry, Ray Williamson has built a
reputation as a practical, astute, and original problem-solver, skilled educator, and
multidisciplinary advisor. His main areas of concentration include optical fabrication,
metrology, polarization optics, and system configuration and design. Following his
positions as Engineering Manager and Quality Manager for several well-regarded firms,
he has built a consulting practice characterized by responsiveness, honesty,
communication, solution-orientation, and discretion.
Florida Photonics Cluster
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