Heidi R. Ries, Ph.D.

Dr. Heidi R. Ries is the Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) for the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), where she serves as the Dean for Research. As Co-PI, she represents AFIT at LEADER consortium meetings, coordinates AFIT’s Steering Committee activities, facilitates the work of AFIT’s Equity Advisor, and participates in the mini-grant proposal process.

Dr. Ries is the senior research officer at AFIT, responsible for research policy and initiatives, oversight of the Office of Sponsored Programs, thesis and dissertation processing, and research data collection. Prior to joining AFIT in 1999, Dr. Ries served as Professor of Physics and Director of the Center for Materials Research at Norfolk State University (NSU) in Norfolk, VA, acquiring over $15 million in extramural funding. While at NSU from 1986-99, she collaborated on a variety of materials-related research and science education initiatives involving regional universities, Jefferson Lab, NASA Langley Research Center, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dr. Ries’ research interests include nonlinear optical materials, radiation effects, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and laser processing of materials.

Heidi Ries received the B.S. and M.S. in Physics from The Ohio State University, and the Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Old Dominion University. Dr. Ries serves as a Consultant-Evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and serves on the Engineering and Science Foundation of Dayton Board of Trustees and the American Society for Engineering Education’s Engineering Research Council Board. She received the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 2008 and was named one of the Miami Valley’s 2009 “Ten Top Women” by the Dayton Daily News.