Air University Research Projects

  • Published

In furtherance of Air University's mission to "Access, train, educate and develop Air and Space Warfighters in support of the National Defense Strategy," AU students undertake research across the wide spectrum of CSAF priorities. For more information about Maxwell-based research, contact the AUResearch@au.af.edu  For AFIT-based research, contact the Office of Research & Outreach.

Maxwell-Gunter Based

China
Pacific War Case Study for Contemporary Competition
Deterring Chinese Aggression towards Taiwan (RTF)
Focus on PACAF Operational Planning for Taiwan Conflict

Russia/Ukraine
Cultural Context of the Russia/Ukraine War
Evaluating the Russia/Ukraine Conflict (RTF)
Russian Patterns of Armed Force 

Strategic Competition 
Historical Models for Great Power Competition 
Arctic Strategy in Great Power Competition
Strategic Competition and Influence in Africa (RTF)
Strategic Competition and Humanitarian Assistance

Emerging Technology
Ethics and Emerging Military Technology (RTF)
Military Futures Literacy and Problem Solving (RTF)
Meta-Strategy for the Age of Surprise (Blue Horizons)
Modernizing Airpower Ideas & Weapons (RTF)

AI/ML and Automation 
Data Science and AI Leadership
AI and the VR/Immersive Learning Experience

Airpower Concepts
Information Warfare and Cyberspace
Analyzing Modern Air Campaigns (KASS)
Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Making the World Transparent
Operational and Strategic Obstacles to the USAF in the Pacific Theater

Nuclear and Integrated Deterrence 
Dimensions of US Nuclear Strategy
Formulating Nuclear Strategy in an Age of Strategic Competition
Lessons from the Manhattan Project 
Nuclear Culture and Strategy

Joint Warfighting
Historical Models of Irregular Warfare
Illicit Activity at Sea
Intermediate Force Capabilities
Logistics in an A2AD Environment
Projecting Naval Power
Wargaming and Operational Design Applications

Whole of Society
Defense Economics
Intersections of Peoples, Cultures and War
Women, Peace and Security
Air Force in Popular Culture for Recruiting and Retention
Civil-Military Relations and the Constitution
Long-Term Grand Strategy for the US (GSS)
Reconstruction and Nation Building
War and Genocide 
When Systems Fail: Homeland Security and the Unexpected
Illicit Finance in Strategic Competition 

Allies and Partners
African Security in the 21st Century
Alliances in Great Power Competition 
Asia Rebalance in US Strategy
Europe's Security Architecture
Iran and the Middle East
Korean War Case Study: Coalition Warfighting

Talent Management
Effective Messaging and the Modern Warfighter
Families & the Fight: Wellness, Readiness and Retention 
Inclusive Leadership

Leadership & Decisions
Advancing Warfighter Performance (RTF)
Civil Right Movement Lessons for Leading Difficult Change
Creating Resilient Cultures, Leading Resilient Teams (RTF)
Historical Models of Combat Motivation 
Leadership and the Changing Character of War (RTF)
Negotiation and the Military Leader
Timeless Leadership Lessons from Military Commanders
Transforming Toxic Leadership

AFIT Research Themes

Quantum Computing
Logistics
Applied Artificial Intelligence
Low Observables

Center for Directed Energy
Modeling and Simulation 
Atmospheric Effects on Directed Energy Propagation 
Laser Weapons Systems
Beam Control for Lasers Systems
Fiber Lasers
Optics

Autonomy and Navigation Technology Center
Autonomous and Cooperative Systems
Non-GPS Precision Navigation
Robust GPS Navigation/NAVWAR
Relative Navigation System
Autonomous Formation Flight Control Algorithms
Fully Autonomous Precision Formation Flight Appropriate for Aerial Refueling

Center for Cyberspace Research and Cyberspace Technical Center of Excellence
Critical Infrastructure Protection
Cyber-Physical Systems
Network Intrusion Detection and Avoidance
Insider Threat Mitigation 
Cyberspace Situational Awareness
Malicious Software Detection and Analysis
Software Protection and Anti-Tamper Technologies 

Center for Space Research and Assurance
Additive Manufacturing & Space Materials
Satellite Design and Build
Space Flight Qualification 
Space Propulsion 
Space Mission Modeling, Simulation and Analysis 

Center for Technical Intelligence Studies and Research
Signature Measurement
Phenomenological Understanding
Algorithm Development for Target Detection and Tracking
Battle Space Combustion Characterization 
Event Classification
Material Identification 
Dim Target Detection and Tracking

Nuclear Expertise for Advancing Technologies
Weapon Effects
Survivability
Nonproliferation 
Counterproliferation
Forensics

Digital Innovation & Integration Center of Excellence
Digital Materiel Management

Scientific Test and Analysis Techniques
Design of Experiments
Observational Studies
Survey Design

Applied Research Center for Hypersonics
Thermal Management
Additive Manufacturing of High Temperature Materials
Hypersonic Propulsion