Kelly Hammett, former head of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy Directorate, has assumed the role of director of the Space Rapid Capabilities Office at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.
Hammett worked on directed energy programs, including the development of high-power microwave and electro-optic systems, during his more than 20-year career at AFRL, the laboratory said Monday.
As director of the directed energy directorate, Hammett was responsible for managing more than 1,200 military and civilian personnel and on-site contractors and an annual budget of $355 million.
He previously served as the chief engineer of AFRL for four years and oversaw various projects including the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing site, dubbed AMOS, and the Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project, known as CHAMP.
Hammett also played a key role in the development and deployment of three Raytheon High Energy Laser Weapon Systems and the AFRL Tactical High Power Operational Responder system to overseas locations.
His new office, the Space RCO, serves as the space technology procurement agency for the U.S. Space Force.
