Expertise
S&T for Game-Changing Capabilities, S&T Partnering Strategies, International S&T Capability Development, Enterprise-level S&T Reviews, S&T Workforce Development
Profile
Dr. Siva Banda is a senior scientific and technical leader and executive with over 40 years of experience driving, performing and enabling the cutting-edge aerospace research critical to ensuring that the US possesses both technological superiority and the advantages of surprise over potential adversaries. He was a US Air Force (USAF) Senior Scientist (ST) for over two decades and was the first Chief Scientist of Aerospace Systems, the largest technology directorate in the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the epicenter of USAF science and technology (S&T). In this role, he ensured that the directorate’s $600M budget and 1,200+ technical staff always targeted the most critical USAF-relevant needs, ranging from the closing of fundamental knowledge gaps to the demonstrations of consequence key to rapidly delivering new capabilities to US warfighters. Internationally-recognized for his technical leadership abilities, his personal technical expertise also makes him a sought-after subject matter expert on modern flight control.
Significant Career Accomplishments
As Aerospace Systems Chief Scientist, led and directed: the first successful flight demonstrations of a hypersonic vehicle powered by a scramjet engine (X-51); the transition of an Automated Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS) to F-16 aircraft; creation of the S&T base for integration of laser weapons onto supersonic fighter aircraft; the use of manned/unmanned air vehicle teams for efficient and shared situational awareness; and the design and flight demonstration of unmanned aircraft that can serve as a forward-leaning wingman to extend the effects and reach of manned aircraft (XQ-58A).
Made pioneering, lasting personal contributions to robust multivariable control theory, on-line system identification, reconfigurable flight control, and the use of adaptive guidance and control for hypersonic and reusable space access vehicles. Aggressively advocated for, and established, cooperative control as the key to making autonomously-operating unmanned air vehicles an integral part of tomorrow’s airspace.
Led a high-performing research team in the development of new control system design and analysis methods and their application to address flight control challenges for multiple USAF platforms and weapon systems. Established the scientific and technical direction for multivariable flight control research for the 21st Century.
Transitioned flight control research results to Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and the USAF/DARPA JUCAS vehicle. Successfully flight-tested a neural network control guidance algorithm on the NASA/Boeing X-36 vehicle.
Served as the primary scientific and technical authority and advisor for USAF leaders on matters pertaining to flight control for USAF platforms.
Influenced the technical direction and emphasis of high-impact research programs in flight control technologies for the USAF, DoD, Navy, Army and DARPA.
Key Positions
Chief Technology Officer (Acting), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
Chief Scientist, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RQ)
Chief Scientist, Air Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RB)
USAF Senior Scientist for Control Theory, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RB)
Director, Air Force Control Science Center of Excellence, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RB)
Education
PhD, Aerospace Engineering, University of Dayton
MS, Systems Engineering, Wright State University
MS, Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science
BS, Electrical Engineering, Regional Engineering College, India
