Dr. Robert J. “Jake” Carter is an interdisciplinary research engineer and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel with extensive leadership and technical experience spanning nuclear detection, embedded electronics, aerospace systems, and national security applications. He holds a PhD in Energy Science and Engineering and BS/MS degrees in Electrical Engineering, complemented by senior-level military education through Air War College, Joint Forces Staff College, and NATO staff programs. At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Dr. Carter leads R&D in electronics and embedded systems for nuclear material detection and characterization, including analog/digital design, program management, and reactor antineutrino monitoring. Previously, he served as Senior Manager for the Air Vehicles Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory, overseeing 550 personnel and a $195M development portfolio focused on unmanned aircraft systems and advanced avionics. His earlier roles include research engineering positions at NASA Langley, The Aerospace Corporation, and IBM Semiconductor Development, where he contributed to aerospace controls, satellite targeting automation, and large-scale memory development. A retired airline pilot and federal law enforcement officer, he has decades of operational experience across AWACS, high-performance trainers, and widebody (777, 747) commercial jets. He continues to fly general aviation aircraft holding ATP and CFII FAA certifications. Dr. Carter is also the author of numerous technical publications from ORNL, USAF, and DOE on nuclear detection, neutron systems, avionics, nuclear weapons delivery systems, and semiconductor technologies.
