Daniel Haegele

Series: 1701 - Grade: 21. Hours per week: 20

Graduate Research Assistant - Air Force Institute of Technology - Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH

(2024-01)

Series: 1701 - Grade: 21. Hours per week: 20

• Synthesized multi-source atmospheric data using LEEDR, HELEEOS, MATLAB and Python to analyze environmental variability and its direct impact on optical propagation.
• Operated advanced atmospheric modeling tools (LEEDR; HELEEOS) and developed procedures to evaluate forecast sensitivity and model behavior.
• Designed and executed rigorous data-collection protocols ensuring traceability and reliability across multiple measurement campaigns.
• Developed analytical techniques and methodological improvements to better compare observational data with model output.
• Contributed to U.S. Air Force R&D by testing and validating weather data collection and analysis methods to support directed energy system performance.
• Communicated complex meteorological findings clearly to both scientific and non-technical audiences, presenting at AMS and other professional conferences.
• Troubleshot and improved data-processing workflows to increase research throughput under time-sensitive conditions.

Research Assistant Intern - Air Force Institute of Technology Center for Directed Energy - Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

(2023-05 - 2024-01)

Hours per week: 40

• Supported an optical-turbulence research study by applying quantitative atmospheric analysis methods to evaluate thermal turbulence impacts on beam propagation.
• Operated the Scintec MFAS Sodar system to collect structured datasets (wind, temperature, acoustic backscatter), developing data-collection strategies tailored to environmental conditions.
• Performed data processing using APRUN and Python-based scientific computing tools (NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib) to produce statistical metrics, visualizations, and comparative analyses.
• Applied model-adaptation and data-reduction techniques to derive turbulence parameters relevant to directed-energy system performance.
• Provided new insights on Sodar-based measurement fidelity and limitations, enabling AFIT researchers to refine future test methodologies.

Airlift/Special Mission Aircraft Maintenance - United States Air Force - Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA

(2012-01 - 2018-01)

Hours per week: 40

• Conducted detailed diagnostics, inspections, and system-integrity analysis on 26 C-17 aircraft valued at over $300M each, ensuring operational reliability for time-critical global mobility missions.
• Managed a $2M avionics inventory, using quantitative tracking processes to reduce waste by 5% and improve accountability.
• Collected, validated, and reconciled aircraft maintenance and engine-hour datasets within IMDS, ensuring zero discrepancies between electronic and paper-based documentation.
• Trained and mentored five junior technicians, improving their troubleshooting performance by 20%, demonstrating ability to lead small study/technical teams.
• Delivered daily analytical summaries of prior-day maintenance events for leadership decision-making, presenting technical issues in clear operational terms.
• Maintained strict adherence to safety, regulatory guidance, and standard procedures, consistently meeting mission timelines under constrained conditions.

Master's degree - Atmospheric Science - Air Force Institute of Technology (2025-12)

Bachelor's degree - Atmospheric Sciences - The Ohio State University (2023-05)