About Us - Physics

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About Us

The mission of the Department of Physics is to provide relevant and advanced education and research programs in applied physics, tailored to the defense and intelligence needs of the present and future. Physics is the fundamental science that explores matter, energy, and their interactions, and is the key to the development of new technologies.

The technological edge provided by systems such as GPS, IR guided missiles, laser guided bombs, wake-homing torpedoes, mobile satellite communications, underwater acoustic communications, and unmanned aerial vehicle imagery have enabled today’s war-fighter to strike with unprecedented speed, accuracy, and effect. The development of systems such as these requires a deep and creative understanding of the basic disciplines of physics, such as mechanics, electrodynamics, fluid dynamics, sound and vibrations, thermodynamics, quantum physics, solid-state physics, and others.

Our program produces officers who can apply broad technical, scientific and engineering principles to combat systems operation, evaluation, design, and development. Throughout the course of their career and beyond, their education in the fundamental principles of physics prepares them for opportunities to decrease cost, increase quality, and speed development of important projects for the Navy and the DOD. Our graduates fill a spectrum of assignments in the development of future combat systems, working creatively and practically in conceiving, developing, and acquiring advanced combat systems.

Physics - People - Faculty Heading
Nested Applications
Asset Publisher
Fabio Alves
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Instituto Tecnologico de Aeronautica, Brazil, 2008
fdalves@nps.edu
(831) 656-3884

Joe Blau
Research Associate Professor
Ph.D., Naval Postgraduate School, 2002
blau@nps.edu
(831) 656-2332

Abram H. Clark
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Duke University, 2014
abe.clark@nps.edu
(831) 656-2732

Keith Cohn
Senior Lecturer
Ph.D., Stanford, 2007
krcohn@nps.edu
(831) 656-2322

Bruce C. Denardo
Associate Professor
Ph.D., UCLA, 1990
denardo@nps.edu
(831) 656-2952

Raymond Gamache
Associate Professor, Associate Chair for Research
Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1999
rmgamach@nps.edu
(831) 656-7916

Kai Gemba
Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2015
kay.gemba@nps.edu
(831) 656-2855

Oleg A. Godin
Professor
Chair, Engineering Acoustics Academic Committee
Ph.D., Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 1984
oagodin@nps.edu
(831) 656-2982

Asset Publisher
Dragoslav Grbovic
Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Tennessee-Knoxville, 2008
dgrbovic@nps.edu
(831) 656-2276

John Hammerer
Professor of the Practice, IAMD Chair

john.hammerer@nps.edu
(831) 656-1825

Emil P. Kartalov
Associate Professor
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 2004
epkartal@nps.edu
(831) 656-2125

Gamani Karunasiri
Distinguished Professor
Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 1984
karunasiri@nps.edu
(831) 656-2886

Paul Leary
Research Assistant Professor
Physics

pleary@nps.edu

Ian R. McNab
Research Professor
Ph.D., Reading University, 1974
ian.mcnab@nps.edu
(831) 656-2872

Brian Mason
Research Associate Professor
Physics

brian.mason@nps.edu
(831) 656-2950

Asset Publisher
Frank Narducci
Professor and Department Chair
Ph.D., University of Rochester, 1996
frank.narducci@nps.edu
(831) 656-2635

Sean Peters
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Stanford University, 2020
sean.peters@nps.edu
(831) 656-3007

Craig F. Smith
Research Professor
Ph.D., UCLA, 1975
cfsmith@nps.edu
(831) 656-2185

Kevin B. Smith
Professor
Ph.D., University of Miami, 1991
kbsmith@nps.edu
(831) 656-2107

Christopher G. Smithtro
Senior Lecturer, Associate Chair for Academics
Ph.D., Utah State University, 2004
cgsmitht@nps.edu
(831) 656-3939

Warren W. Tomlinson, CDR, USN
Permanent Military Professor
Ph.D., Naval Postgraduate School, 2017
wwtomlin@nps.edu
(831) 656-2877

Physics - People - Title 2
Nested Applications
Asset Publisher
Bob Armstead
Emeritus Associate Professor
Ph.D. Physics, UC Berkeley, 1964

Steven R. Baker
Emeritus Associate Professor
Ph.D, UCLA, 1985
srbaker@nps.edu

Brett Borden
Emeritus Professor
Ph.D. Physics, University of Texas at Austin, 1986
bhborden@nps.edu

Bill Colson
Emeritus, Distinguished Professor
Ph.D. Physics, Stanford University, 1977

Asset Publisher
Alfred Cooper
Emeritus Professor
Ph.D. Physics, The Queens University of Belfast, 1961

Peter Crooker
Emeritus Senior Lecturer
Ph.D. Physics, Naval Postgraduate School, 1967
ppcrooke@nps.edu
(831) 656-2232

Richard M. Harkins
Emeritus Senior Lecturer
M.S. Physics, Naval Postgraduate School, 1988
rharkins@nps.edu
(831) 656-2828

Andres Larraza
Emeritus Associate Professor
Ph.D. Physics, UCLA, 1987
larraza@nps.edu
(831) 656-3007

James Luscombe
Emeritus Professor
Ph.D. Physics, University of Chicago, 1983
luscombe@nps.edu
(831) 656-2431

Asset Publisher
Daphne Kapolka
Emeritus Senior Lecturer
Ph.D. Applied Physics, Naval Postgraduate School, 1997
dkapolka@nps.edu

David Trask
Emeritus Professor Of The Practice
M.S. Aeronautical Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 2001
dmtrask@nps.edu
(831) 656-2219

Postdocs/PhD Students heading

Postdocs/PhD Students 


 

Nested Applications
Asset Publisher
Alexandre Guarino
PhD Student
Physics


Jeffrey Lee
NRC Postdoctoral Research Associate
Physics


Jordan Planillo
PhD Student
Physics


Renato Rabelo
Postdoctoral Research Associate

rcrabelo@nps.edu
(831) 656-2540

faculty associates title

Faculty Associates


 

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John Audia
Faculty Associate – Research
Physics

john.audia@nps.edu

Jeffrey Catterlin
Faculty Associate – Research
Physics

jkcatter@nps.edu
(831) 656-7761

Amanda Coleman
Faculty Associate - Research
Physics

arcolema1@nps.edu

Jacob Kline
Faculty Associate - Research
Physics

jckline@nps.edu
(831) 656-2385

Dean Quan
Faculty Associate - Research
Physics

dean.quan@nps.edu