45 year old Male. Avocations include:
Advanced rated hang glider pilot;
Bicycling (road/cross/mountian);
Beginner @ fly fishing;
Alpine skiing;
Snowshoeing;
Bikram yoga;
etc....

My most memorable days are those where I've been able to get in three of these activities in one day, particularly when flying one of my hang gliders is one of them.

Science and Technology have always been passions for me. I've been fortunate in that I have been able to work with many of the best scientists and engineers in the defense community over the last 25 years. My interest in science has carried through into most of my advocations as well: Knowledge of weather forecasting tools enhances my hang gliding and other outdoor pursuits; knowledge of electronics and related technologies helps understand the hang gliding instruments; Mechanical engineering and materials science helps with bikes, gliders, flyrods, etc.

Science is fun, science is cool!

Mr. Ford is a Research Specialist at DRI with broad work experience in the fabrication, testing, and design of explosive ordnance systems and components. He has been a key participant in DRI projects involving high velocity impact and dynamic loading of materials, and has managed programs at the DRI Ballistic Test Facility since 1993. Much of the data generated by these programs has been used in the development of vulnerability and penetration mechanics computer models. He has also been a key participant in Hard Target Assessment research, impact vulnerability studies using simulated and actual fragments, evaluation of blast and fragment mitigation systems, and projects requiring a specialized knowledge of explosive loading and fabrication techniques. These duties have included the development of written SOPs and test plans for DRI facilities as well as for off site work at Eglin AFB, NSWC Indian Head Shock Physics, and Holloman AFB High Speed Test Track. 
 
While at Unidynamics/Phoenix, he worked on a wide range of explosive ordnance systems and components. Some examples include components for the C4/D5 Trident missiles and DOE missile systems, the Shipboard Document Destruct Safe system, and components for the Space Shuttle as well as other NASA programs. He also participated in the failure analysis of ordnance systems and components, characterization of new explosive materials, explosive and propellant mixing and preparation, and machining of explosives and propellants. He also developed the DCMA approved inventory control system for seven (7) Engineering Laboratory explosive storage magazines per the guidance in DOD 4145.26M. 
 
He gained specialized knowledge of anti-armor weapons during his employment with Physics International. Work included loading, preparation, and testing of anti-armor warheads such as the DRAGON, TOW, Swiss versions of these warheads, and DRAGON Generation 2. 
 
Mr. Ford’s security clearance is information available upon qualified request submitted to the University of Denver Facility Security Officer. 
 
Publications: 
 
TEST AND EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF INTERNAL DETONATIONS OF PENETRATING WARHEADS by: J. A. Keller, J. M. Lesko, and S. R. Ford of DRI; R Clike, F. A. Maestes, and B. L. Bingham of ARA; J. A. Collins of USAF Wright Laboratory, WL/MNMW. Final report for USAF Wright Laboratory, WL/MNMW, Eglin AFB, 8/91 
 
IN-BORE ACCELERATION MEASUREMENT IN A 60MM POWDER GUN by: 1Lt T. W. Cunningham and 1Lt K. P. Conner of USAF Wright Laboratory, ML/MNMW; S. R. Ford of DRI. Presented at the 1993 JANNAF Propulsion Meeting, Monterey, CA, 11/93. 
 
COUPLED DYNAMICS DATA FOR PENETRATION OF THICK CONCRETE SLABS by: J. A. Keller, M. Plooster, S. R. Ford, and C. Reed of DRI; F. A. Maestes, et al of ARA. Annual report on research for USAF Wright Laboratory, Armament Directorate, Technology Assessment Branch, WL/MNSA, Eglin AFB, 2/94. WL-TR-95-7040 
 
DEBRIS CLOUD CONSTITUENTS AND PLATE DAMAGE THROUGHOUT A SPACED PLATE ARRAY IMPACTED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 1.5-4.0 KM/SEC by: Dr. J. D. Yatteau and R. H. Zernow of ARA; S. R. Ford of DRI; D. L. Dickinson of NSWC, Dahlgren Division. International Symposium On Ballistics in Jerusalem, Israel, 1995 
 
INTERNAL EFFECTS OF EXPLOSIONS DUE TO PARTIALLY EMBEDDED WARHEADS by: Dr. S. Wright, R. Hanson, J. A. Keller, S. R. Ford, and C. Reed of DRI; G. Bessett and 2Lt C. Rauls of USAF Wright Laboratory, WL/MNSA. Annual report on research for USAF Wright Laboratory, Armament Directorate, Technology Assessment Branch, WL/MNSA, Eglin AFB, 6/95. 
 
EFFECTS OF PANEL THICKNESS AND IMPACT OBLIQUITY ON BALLISTIC LIMIT VELOCITIES FOR GRAPHITE-EPOXY COMPOSITE PANELS by: Dr. J.D. Yatteau and G.W. Recht of ARA; Dr. C.T. Sun of Purdue University; S.R. Ford of DRI; D. L. Dickinson of NSWC, Dahlgren Division. ASME Conference on Composites, summer of 1999. 
 
SIZE SCALING IN BALLISTIC LIMIT VELOCITIES FOR SMALL FRAGMENTS PERFORATING THIN PLATES by: E. J. O’Connor and J.W. Black of NSWC Dahlgren Division; J.D. Yatteau, P.T. Dzwilewski of ARA; S.R. Ford DRI. International Symposium on Ballistics, 2001. 
 
PERFORMANCE TESTING OF PROPOSED IED CONTAINMENT BOXES by: S.R. Ford and P. Reining of DRI/NLECTC. Report on test program with DRI acting as 3rd party reviewer for the National institute of Justice, August 2001.