Iain Boyd News

Aerospace professor one of three 3 �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder faculty elected to National Academy of Engineering

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 23:08:02 +0000

Aerospace professor one of three 3 �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder faculty elected to National Academy of Engineering Jeff Zehnder Fri, 02/13/2026 - 16:08

This week, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) announced that three faculty members at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder were elected to the ranks of this prestigious organization. Dana Anderson, Iain Boyd and Bob Erickson are among the 130 scientists and engineers from around the country who will be inducted as members of the NAE at a meeting this fall.

According to an announcement: “Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice, or education.”

Richard Obermann, senior technical advisor for the Colorado Space Policy Center at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, was also elected as a member of the NAE.

The new members of the Class of 2026 join Scott Diddams, Hanspeter Schaub, Dan Frangopol and Charles W. Hull, engineers with ties to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, who were elected to the NAE last year. More than 20 engineers with ties to the College of Engineering and Applied Science at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder have been elected to the NAE over the years.

Dana Anderson

Dana Anderson (Credit: Infleqtion)

JILA Fellow; Professor, Department of Physics; appointment to the Department of Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering

Anderson was recognized for "for contributions to optical quantum engineering of ultracold atoms."

He joined the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder faculty in 1984 and has long been at the forefront of translating laboratory science into real-world impact. As founder and chief science officer of Infleqtion (formerly ColdQuanta), he has helped lead the development of practical quantum systems including clocks, inertial sensors, radio frequency sensors, networks, and quantum computing platforms. Infleqtion systems are currently operating on the International Space Station through NASA’s Cold Atom Laboratory mission, with continuous operation for over five years.

Anderson's academic research spans quantum optics, atomic physics, atom-chip technologies and precision measurement, areas in which his group has developed integrated atom interferometers and practical devices based on ultracold atoms. He earned his doctorate in physics from the University of Arizona and is a fellow of the American Physical Society and the Optical Society of America.

Reflecting on his election to the NAE, Anderson emphasized the community that helped make it possible: “I owe much to the support that �鶹��Ѱ��Physics, JILA and Engineering have given me over the years to transition atom-based quantum technology into the ‘real’ world.”

Iain Boyd

H.T. Sears Memorial Professor, Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences; Director, Center for National Security Initiatives

Boyd is recognized "for contributions to the computational simulation of high-temperature gases and plasmas using kinetic methods for hypersonics and space propulsion."

He is an internationally recognized expert in the field of aerothermodynamics. Boyd's research focuses on physical and computational methods for analysis of nonequilibrium gas and plasma dynamics processes that occur around hypersonic vehicles and in space propulsion systems.

He has authored over 250 journal articles, more than 450 conference papers, and a book titled "Nonequilibrium Gas Dynamics and Molecular Simulation." He joined �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder in 2019 following positions at the University of Michigan, Cornell University and NASA Ames Research Center.

Boyd earned his doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics from the University of Southampton in England. He is a fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA), the American Physical Society and the Royal Aeronautical Society.

"Hypersonics is so engaging to me because it involves so many different disciplines including gas dynamics, chemistry, materials, structures and propulsion," Boyd said. "Interest in hypersonic systems has never been greater with major activities in national security, space exploration and the evolving space economy."

Bob Erickson

Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering

Erickson is recognized "for advances in modeling, control, education and massive open online courses in power electronics."

He is a pioneering figure in power electronics whose innovative research has transformed the field and set new standards for efficiency and performance in electric vehicles, as well as in inverters for solar power, wind power and battery energy storage systems. He joined the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder faculty in 1982 and served as chair of the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering from 2002-06, 2014-15 and 2018-2020.

Erickson is a life fellow of IEEE, a fellow of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and is the author of the textbook Fundamentals of Power Electronics. He received the IEEE William E Newell Power Electronics Award in 2021, the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Inventor of the Year award in 2015, the Holland Teaching Excellence Award in 2010, and the IEEE Power Electronics Society Transactions Prize Paper Award in 1996.

His research interests include modeling and control of power conversion systems, modular and multilevel converter systems and power electronics for electric vehicles, renewable energy sources, and data centers. Erickson received his doctorate in electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology.

“I am most grateful for this honor, and I very much appreciate the support and collaboration of my colleagues in ECEE, the college and �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder through the years," Erickson said.

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Iain Boyd discusses how antidrone lasers work

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:18:24 +0000

Iain Boyd discusses how antidrone lasers work Jeff Zehnder Fri, 02/13/2026 - 11:18

Iain Boyd was interviewed in a new Scientific American piece on the use of laser-based weapons systems.

Boyd, a professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, is a national security expert and also the director of the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Center for National Security Initiatives.

The article discusses the development of military lasers and the recent temporary airspace restriction over the El Paso International Airport, reportedly to avoid conflicts with laser weapons being used to target drones crossing into the U.S. from Mexico.

Boyd said laser weapons systems have significant benefits, as they can fire continuously without being reloaded. However, they also present a unique negative.

“If you fire a laser at a drone and miss it, that laser beam will keep on going for a long way. It might hit something else or dazzle a pilot," Boyd said.

Read the full article at Scientific American...

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Boyd interviewed on potential sonic weapons

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:40:30 +0000

Boyd interviewed on potential sonic weapons Jeff Zehnder Thu, 01/15/2026 - 13:40

Iain Boyd discusses the raid to capture Nicolas Maduro in a new interview with The Telegraph (UK).

The article explores if the United States used a sonic weapon as part of the raid. Such instruments are associated with the Havana Syndrome, a mysterious ailment that has impacted American diplomats around the world.

Boyd suggests the weapon used in the Maduro raid could have combined sonic and radio waves, but many questions remain.

Read the full story at The Telegraph...

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Nuclear-powered missiles—How they work, what Russia's claimed test means for global strategic stability

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 21:59:22 +0000

Nuclear-powered missiles—How they work, what Russia's claimed test means for global strategic stability Jeff Zehnder Fri, 10/31/2025 - 15:59

The Russian military claims to have flown its Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile 8,700 miles over 15 hours. Read from �鶹��Ѱ��expert Iain Boyd on The Conversation.

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Boyd discusses military lasers with The Sun UK

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 19:59:09 +0000

Boyd discusses military lasers with The Sun UK Jeff Zehnder Thu, 10/09/2025 - 13:59

Iain Boyd gave a lengthy interview to The Sun UK newspaper about the use of lasers as a military weapon

"So if you use traditional kinetic weapons, like bullets, you've got a finite number that you can fire. And once you're out of ammunition, you're done," Boyd said. "But with lasers, the idea is as long as you have them plugged into an electrical source, you know, you can keep on firing."

The interview and article discusses positives and negatives of laser-based weapons technology, which have been used in the Ukraine War and the war in Gaza.

Check out the full piece in The Sun UK...

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Boyd interviewed on military lasers

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:30:27 +0000

Boyd interviewed on military lasers Jeff Zehnder Wed, 08/13/2025 - 08:30

Iain Boyd was interviewed about laser weapons like Israel's Iron Beam system in a new article from the New York Post.

The article discusses the development of military lasers over the last four decades and recent successful military uses.

“They are described as having an ‘infinite magazine.' Unlike guns and rocket launchers that have a finite number of munitions available, as long as a high energy laser has electrical power, it can keep on firing ‘bullets’ of photons,” Boyd said.

Read the full article at the NY Post...

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Golden Dome: Aerospace engineer explains proposed nationwide missile defense system

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 23 May 2025 17:10:39 +0000

Golden Dome: Aerospace engineer explains proposed nationwide missile defense system Jeff Zehnder Fri, 05/23/2025 - 11:10

Professor Iain Boyd has a new column in The Conversation about the Golden Dome missile defense proposal.

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Missile developments in the AI era

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 14:17:56 +0000

Missile developments in the AI era Jeff Zehnder Mon, 03/24/2025 - 08:17

Iain Boyd was interviewed for a new feature in Army Technology.

The business-to-business publication is spotlighting use of artificial intelligence in the military.

Read the full article at Army-Technology.com...

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Listening for the right radio signals could be an effective way to track small drones

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:47:57 +0000

Listening for the right radio signals could be an effective way to track small drones Jeff Zehnder Wed, 12/18/2024 - 14:47

Tracking drones is difficult, especially at night. Detecting the radio signals used to control them is a promising approach, though it’s no silver bullet. Read from �鶹��Ѱ��expert Iain Boyd in The Conversation.

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Scientific American spotlight on Artemis interviews AES faculty member

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 16:21:55 +0000

Scientific American spotlight on Artemis interviews AES faculty member Jeff Zehnder Wed, 12/11/2024 - 09:21

Iain Boyd was interviewed for a new piece on NASA's Artemis missions.

Boyd, a professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, is a leading researcher in hypersonic aerothermodynamics.

The article focuses on delays to Artemis driven by an investigation into the main material of the Orion capsule’s heat shield, an epoxy resin called Avcoat that misbehaved during Artemis I.

NASA says the results of the research have pushed back launch of Artemis II to at least 2026.

Read the full article at Scientific American...

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Iain Boyd News

Aerospace professor one of three 3 �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder faculty elected to National Academy of Engineering

Dana Anderson

Iain Boyd

Bob Erickson

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Iain Boyd discusses how antidrone lasers work

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Boyd interviewed on potential sonic weapons

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Nuclear-powered missiles—How they work, what Russia's claimed test means for global strategic stability

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Boyd discusses military lasers with The Sun UK

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Boyd interviewed on military lasers

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Golden Dome: Aerospace engineer explains proposed nationwide missile defense system

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Missile developments in the AI era

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Listening for the right radio signals could be an effective way to track small drones

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Scientific American spotlight on Artemis interviews AES faculty member

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Aerospace professor one of three 3 �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder faculty elected to National Academy of Engineering