Mike leads Skyward's efforts in physics, laser and materials applications, and technology transition of R&D output to military and commercial products. Mike's current focus relates to Skyward's patented fire suppression technologies for protection of military flight and ground vehicles. Contact Mike regarding solutions for your vehicle protection and laser/optical applications.

Mike lead sales activities resulting in multiple systems and sensor sales and over $10M growth in market opportunity. Mike also provided technical leadership in the areas of lasers, optical design, sensor development and configuration, and helped establish limited additive manufacturing services.

Mike conducted research and helped organize research activities for Materials Resources, LLC (MRL). MRL is a leader in materials informatics, specializing in harvesting information from materials characterization methods including micrographs, microstructure, textures, materials properties, and image analyses. MRL's research portfolio includes small business innovative research (SBIR) and research contracts with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA), the US Air Force, the US Navy and the US manufacturing industrial base. Mr. Lander adds over 32 years of research laboratory experience with high power lasers, materials characterization testing, electro-optical systems development, optical system design, program and project management, and research team leadership to the highly dynamic MRL team.

Advised and assisted research to combine lasers, optics, sensors, automation, analytics and materials as solutions to expand the scope and impact of Additive Manufacturing. Provided reasonable solutions to reasonable people faced with extraordinary challenges. Explored and advocated market positions for the most promising solutions.

Developed and marketed innovative solutions for additive manufacturing at the Universal Technology Corporation research laboratory. Mr. Lander participated in the development of metallic additive manufacturing processes, advanced diagnostics to measure AM process conditions, and business development and marketing of AM services and products

Developed strategies to convert research technologies into commercial market possibilities. Identified market potential relevant to UTC alignment of research activities with US defense industrial base-related manufacturing needs. Developed strategic partnerships and customer relationships for technologies relating to advanced manufacturing, including additive manufacturing.

Devised technology solutions aimed at quantifying, qualifying, and certifying industrial processes involving directed laser deposition, directed electron beam deposition, laser-based powder fusion techniques, and, directed laser ablative processing.

Developed and managed UTC's business base centered upon materials technologies relevant to the Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate and related military and industrial applications. Managed multiple contract activities to provide exceptional value to customers. Cultivated dynamic, mutually-beneficial partnerships with large and small businesses. Identified opportunities consistent with the positive growth strategies successfully applied across multiple organizations. Provided positive performance-focused leadership for technical staff, colleagues, customers and partners.

Managed multiple contracts spanning materials, manufacturing, research and development. Developed Task Order opportunities based upon customer interests and needs and UTC and industry partner capabilities. Delivered research and study results in scope, on budget and on schedule.

Evaluated, pursued and secured opportunities to provide new technical business opportunity areas and secure new technical contracts. Emphasis centered on Technology Transition, Electro-Optical and Directed Energy Technologies, and, Applied Technical Solutions. Evaluated technologies relevant to military applied engineering and commercial market needs and advocates demonstration and validation activities to secure contract opportunities and product sales. Devised and applied strategy for growth related to Electro-Optical and Directed Energy technologies relevant to the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Initiated, Developed and Managed the Systems Science and Supportability Division encompassing two major high-energy laser test facilities, multiple active R&D contracts and a staff of 110 scientists, engineers, technicians and business professionals at multiple locations including Dayton, Ohio, White Sands, New Mexico, Ogden, Utah and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Concurrently lead multiple teams of scientists performing first discovery research activities and engineers performing sustainment tasks to create a thriving environment emphasizing materials research, structural systems engineering, laser and electro-optical systems development, laser materials interaction testing, laser applications development and technology development and transition. Served as a Subject Matter Expert consulting in the fields of laser systems development, laser facilities operation, laser-related safety, and, Air Force systems logistics.

Lead engineer overseeing the design, construction and operation of the Laser Hardened Materials Evaluation Facility (LHMEL) - a complex facility dedicated to testing materials with high power lasers. Led the design and implementation of laser devices, optical resonators, output beam propagation/delivery to target, laser diagnostics, laser/materials interaction modeling, materials response diagnostics, and, overall associated safety systems and procedures. Designed high-power gas laser systems up to 500kW and oversaw the project that produced, characterized and operated the 150kW CO2 laser currently located at LHMEL. Designed and implemented laser support systems including high power electrical, high-pressure gas delivery and large-volume high-capacity vacuum systems. Note: The LHMEL is a national laboratory asset housing the U.S.’s highest power continuous wave carbon dioxide laser systems (up to 150kW), a 10 kilojoule pulsed Nd:Glass laser system and various lower power calibration and alignment laser systems. The LHMEL combines substantial thermal diagnostics and environmental simulation systems with high power laser systems to investigate the thermal properties and responses of materials.

Led a research group that produced the 150 kilowatt Carbon Dioxide laser at the Laser hardened Materials Evaluation Laboratory (LHMEL) for the Air Force Research Laboratory Materials Directorate (AFRL/ML). Oversaw all aspects covering the development of this one-of-a-kind facility including the laser system, laser and test diagnostics, high pressure gas delivery, vaccum systems, high power electrical systems, control and data collection systems. Supervised the research team operating the Air Force facility to perform testing and characterization of materials subjected to intense laser irradiation conditions.

Developed a Raman Microprobe system to identify crystal structure of ceramic materials near micro-crack regions. Designed and implemented a system that successfully identified crystal phase structure to a spatial resolution of 1 micron. This work was performed in satisfaction of the University of Dayton requirements for the Electro-optics Graduate Program and led to the “Application of Laser Raman Macro- and Microprobes Using Cylindrical Optics to the Study of Zirconia Ceramic Materials,” University of Dayton, Masters Thesis, April 1987