Our speaker was Dr. Michael Francis, Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA’s) Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) Office. The (J-UCAS) Program is based on a network-enabled system-of-systems concept has the potential to serve as a catalyst for change in several dimensions within the defense establishment. This experimental system development targets “raising the bar” for unmanned vehicle capabilities, pioneer a novel approach to acquiring information-enabled systems, and provide the war fighting community with a unique capability for neutralizing one of the most dangerous, high priority threats – the integrated air defense system (IADS). Dr. Francis will discuss the J-UCAS concept and the current development effort, along with its larger implications for defense issues in areas ranging from acquisition to operations.

His office is charged with leading the joint (U.S. Navy, U.S.A.F. and
DARPA) effort to demonstrate the technical feasibility, utility and operational value of a networked system of weaponized unmanned air vehicles.

Dr. Francis managed space system development programs for the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center and the Strategic Defense Initiative
Organization. While assigned to the Department of Defense’s Airborne
Reconnaissance Office, Dr. Francis led the development of the first
integrated air-space surveillance architecture. Dr. Francis has also
held several key positions in the aerospace industry. Dr. Francis holds undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado.

Dr. Francis' Presentation (PDF 3.13MB)