Draper Hosts U.S. Air Force Officials and Student Airmen

CAMBRIDGE, MA—Draper recently hosted officials of the U.S. Air Force for a briefing on the company’s efforts to increase the nation’s capacity for research and development of advanced systems for national security. Air Force officials took time out during the visit to interact with and recognize a group of students in military education programs for their continued pursuit of advanced education and service to the nation.

Officials underscored the value to the nation for organizations like Draper, not just in terms of advancing capacity for research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E), but their continued leadership to develop and promote tech talent on behalf of the U.S. The Air Force’s close partnership with Draper includes the company’s fellowship program that includes 11 top-tier science and technology universities. The Draper Fellow Program has supported over 1,000 graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in engineering and the sciences since 1973.

Draper’s major contributions to national defense include the development of inertial guidance systems for ballistic missile applications and space missions; autonomous guidance, navigation & control systems for unmanned underwater vehicles; highly reliable computing systems for undersea, air and space vehicles; miniature electromechanical systems for guided munitions; and the world’s smallest electronics packaging technology. In each example, Draper developed and advanced the technology, built the first prototypes and conducted field tests and operational demonstrations.

Released March 16, 2021

Draper CEO and President Dr. William LaPlante hosts a meeting with senior officials of the U.S. Air Force at the company’s offices in Cambridge, Mass., on March 8. Draper has supported the U.S. military’s mission for more than 85 years. Credit: Draper
Tony Kourepenis of Draper addresses U.S. Air Force officials on research and development updates.
Tony Kourepenis, vice president of strategic systems at Draper, addresses a meeting of senior officials of the U.S. Air Force on March 8. The officials received updates on research and development in the realms of inertial guidance, autonomous GN&C, MEMs and other areas. Credit: Draper
Lt. Gen. Timothy G. Fay attends a technology briefing by Draper’s leadership team on March 8.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Timothy G. Fay attends a briefing by Draper’s leadership team on March 8. The briefing focused on recent developments in technology and engineering in support of national defense. Credit: Draper.
Gen. David W. Allvin receives updates on Draper’s R&D efforts at a meeting in Cambridge, Mass.
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin receives updates on Draper’s efforts to increase the nation’s capacity in the areas of research, development, test and evaluation. The meeting on March 8 took place at Draper, Cambridge, Mass. Credit: Draper.
Group of Air Force officials
Draper hosted a meeting of Air Force officials at the company’s offices in Cambridge, Mass. on March 8. (L-R) Information and Cognition Division Leader Troy Lau, Draper; Chief of Staff Michael Crones, Draper; Principal Director Strategic Systems Frank Serna, Draper; Vice President of Operations and Commercial Tara Clark, Draper; Vice President of National Security and Space Systems Neil Adams, Draper; Vice President of Engineering Richard Russell, Draper; Lt. Gen. Timothy G. Fay, Director of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force; Gen. David W. Allvin, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force; President and CEO William LaPlante, Draper; Col. Scott D. McKeever, Director, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Strategic Studies Group at Headquarters U.S. Air Force; Vice President of Strategic Systems Anthony Kourepenis, Draper; and Group Captain (Colonel) Gareth J. Littlechild OBE, U.K. Exchange Officer to the Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force. Credit: Draper.
Dr. William LaPlante, Gen. David Allvin, Lt Gen. Timothy Fay, and students at Draper on March 8.
Draper CEO and President Dr. William LaPlante (right) met with Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin (center), Air Force Lt Gen. Timothy G. Fay (left) and students enrolled in military education programs at Draper on March 8. Allvin and Fay visited Draper to interact with and recognize the Airmen for their continued pursuit of advanced education and service to the nation. Students are (L-R) Cadet Delia Stephens, MIT, Aeronautics and Astronautics; Cadet Carson Smith, MIT, Computer Science; Lt. Chris Clark, MIT, Draper Fellow, Aeronautics and Astronautics master’s program; and Capt Riley Vann, Harvard Law. Credit: Draper.
Draper CEO and President Dr. William LaPlante hosts a meeting with senior officials of the U.S. Air Force at the company’s offices in Cambridge, Mass., on March 8. Draper has supported the U.S. military’s mission for more than 85 years. Credit: Draper
Draper CEO and President Dr. William LaPlante hosts a meeting with senior officials of the U.S. Air Force at the company’s offices in Cambridge, Mass., on March 8. Draper has supported the U.S. military’s mission for more than 85 years. Credit: Draper
Tony Kourepenis, vice president of strategic systems at Draper, addresses a meeting of senior officials of the U.S. Air Force on March 8. The officials received updates on research and development in the realms of inertial guidance, autonomous GN&C, MEMs and other areas. Credit: Draper
Tony Kourepenis, vice president of strategic systems at Draper, addresses a meeting of senior officials of the U.S. Air Force on March 8. The officials received updates on research and development in the realms of inertial guidance, autonomous GN&C, MEMs and other areas. Credit: Draper
Air Force Lt. Gen. Timothy G. Fay attends a briefing by Draper’s leadership team on March 8. The briefing focused on recent developments in technology and engineering in support of national defense. Credit: Draper.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Timothy G. Fay attends a briefing by Draper’s leadership team on March 8. The briefing focused on recent developments in technology and engineering in support of national defense. Credit: Draper.
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin receives updates on Draper’s efforts to increase the nation’s capacity in the areas of research, development, test and evaluation. The meeting on March 8 took place at Draper, Cambridge, Mass. Credit: Draper.
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin receives updates on Draper’s efforts to increase the nation’s capacity in the areas of research, development, test and evaluation. The meeting on March 8 took place at Draper, Cambridge, Mass. Credit: Draper.
Draper hosted a meeting of Air Force officials at the company’s offices in Cambridge, Mass. on March 8. (L-R) Information and Cognition Division Leader Troy Lau, Draper; Chief of Staff Michael Crones, Draper; Principal Director Strategic Systems Frank Serna, Draper; Vice President of Operations and Commercial Tara Clark, Draper; Vice President of National Security and Space Systems Neil Adams, Draper; Vice President of Engineering Richard Russell, Draper; Lt. Gen. Timothy G. Fay, Director of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force; Gen. David W. Allvin, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force; President and CEO William LaPlante, Draper; Col. Scott D. McKeever, Director, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Strategic Studies Group at Headquarters U.S. Air Force; Vice President of Strategic Systems Anthony Kourepenis, Draper; and Group Captain (Colonel) Gareth J. Littlechild OBE, U.K. Exchange Officer to the Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force. Credit: Draper.
Draper hosted a meeting of Air Force officials at the company’s offices in Cambridge, Mass. on March 8. (L-R) Information and Cognition Division Leader Troy Lau, Draper; Chief of Staff Michael Crones, Draper; Principal Director Strategic Systems Frank Serna, Draper; Vice President of Operations and Commercial Tara Clark, Draper; Vice President of National Security and Space Systems Neil Adams, Draper; Vice President of Engineering Richard Russell, Draper; Lt. Gen. Timothy G. Fay, Director of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force; Gen. David W. Allvin, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force; President and CEO William LaPlante, Draper; Col. Scott D. McKeever, Director, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Strategic Studies Group at Headquarters U.S. Air Force; Vice President of Strategic Systems Anthony Kourepenis, Draper; and Group Captain (Colonel) Gareth J. Littlechild OBE, U.K. Exchange Officer to the Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force. Credit: Draper.
Draper CEO and President Dr. William LaPlante (right) met with Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin (center), Air Force Lt Gen. Timothy G. Fay (left) and students enrolled in military education programs at Draper on March 8. Allvin and Fay visited Draper to interact with and recognize the Airmen for their continued pursuit of advanced education and service to the nation. Students are (L-R) Cadet Delia Stephens, MIT, Aeronautics and Astronautics; Cadet Carson Smith, MIT, Computer Science; Lt. Chris Clark, MIT, Draper Fellow, Aeronautics and Astronautics master’s program; and Capt Riley Vann, Harvard Law. Credit: Draper.
Draper CEO and President Dr. William LaPlante (right) met with Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin (center), Air Force Lt Gen. Timothy G. Fay (left) and students enrolled in military education programs at Draper on March 8. Allvin and Fay visited Draper to interact with and recognize the Airmen for their continued pursuit of advanced education and service to the nation. Students are (L-R) Cadet Delia Stephens, MIT, Aeronautics and Astronautics; Cadet Carson Smith, MIT, Computer Science; Lt. Chris Clark, MIT, Draper Fellow, Aeronautics and Astronautics master’s program; and Capt Riley Vann, Harvard Law. Credit: Draper.