Management Team and Senior Staff
James E. Murguia Founder, President and CEO
Dr. Murguia graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1983 with degrees in electrical engineering, physics, and mathematics. An honors graduate, ranked first in his class in electrical engineering, he worked for Rome Air Development Center for five years specializing in infrared sensor image processing and data acquisition. Dr. Murguia received his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in electrical engineering and computer science in 1990, and worked at MIT/Lincoln Laboratory until 1995. At Lincoln Laboratory, Dr. Murguia worked in the microelectronics laboratory and the integrated circuits group developing an ultra-low power 0.4 mm CMOS process. Dr. Murguia founded Solid State Scientific Corporation to develop advanced imaging systems for remote sensing applications.
Dr. Murguia graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1983 with degrees in electrical engineering, physics, and mathematics. An honors graduate, ranked first in his class in electrical engineering, he worked for Rome Air Development Center for five years specializing in infrared sensor image processing and data acquisition. Dr. Murguia received his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in electrical engineering and computer science in 1990, and worked at MIT/Lincoln Laboratory until 1995. At Lincoln Laboratory, Dr. Murguia worked in the microelectronics laboratory and the integrated circuits group developing an ultra-low power 0.4 mm CMOS process. Dr. Murguia founded Solid State Scientific Corporation to develop advanced imaging systems for remote sensing applications.
Darlene S. Franco Program Manager
Dr. Franco joined Solid State Scientific Corporation in 1999 and oversees programs from inception to completion. She has lead groups in developing cutting-edge LADAR detectors, semiconductor device fabrication, epilayer transfer integration, SWIR imaging, low-light level imaging, threat warning and ISR. Dr. Franco has experience developing visible to LWIR optical sensors. She has investigated and fabricated near to mid IR optical sensors in such material systems as SiGe and InGaAs for optoelectronic applications. Dr. Franco received her B.S. in physics from Fordham University in 1991. She earned an M.S. in physics in 1993 and a Ph.D. in materials science in 1996 from the University of Connecticut and was subsequently awarded a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Dr. Franco joined Solid State Scientific Corporation in 1999 and oversees programs from inception to completion. She has lead groups in developing cutting-edge LADAR detectors, semiconductor device fabrication, epilayer transfer integration, SWIR imaging, low-light level imaging, threat warning and ISR. Dr. Franco has experience developing visible to LWIR optical sensors. She has investigated and fabricated near to mid IR optical sensors in such material systems as SiGe and InGaAs for optoelectronic applications. Dr. Franco received her B.S. in physics from Fordham University in 1991. She earned an M.S. in physics in 1993 and a Ph.D. in materials science in 1996 from the University of Connecticut and was subsequently awarded a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Jonathan M. Mooney Chief Scientist and Subject Matter Expert
Dr. Mooney is a fellow of both SPIE and the Air Force Research Laboratory. He has over twenty years of experience in advanced sensor design, digital imaging, algorithm development, image processing and staring infrared camera characterization. He has more than ten years of experience in visible and infrared hyperspectral imaging and spectral-temporal image processing. He has in-depth experience in the application of image decomposition techniques to both spectral and temporal image sequences. Dr. Mooney invented the CTHIS tomographic hyperspectral imager, the CDP sensor for spectrally characterizing resolving rapidly evolving events, and the hostile fire threat warning sensor. Dr. Mooney was awarded the Military Sensing Symposia Specialty Group On Passive Sensors Best Paper Award in 1990 and again in 2006. He holds seven patents. He graduated in 1986 with a Ph.D. in optical sciences from the University of Arizona.
Dr. Mooney is a fellow of both SPIE and the Air Force Research Laboratory. He has over twenty years of experience in advanced sensor design, digital imaging, algorithm development, image processing and staring infrared camera characterization. He has more than ten years of experience in visible and infrared hyperspectral imaging and spectral-temporal image processing. He has in-depth experience in the application of image decomposition techniques to both spectral and temporal image sequences. Dr. Mooney invented the CTHIS tomographic hyperspectral imager, the CDP sensor for spectrally characterizing resolving rapidly evolving events, and the hostile fire threat warning sensor. Dr. Mooney was awarded the Military Sensing Symposia Specialty Group On Passive Sensors Best Paper Award in 1990 and again in 2006. He holds seven patents. He graduated in 1986 with a Ph.D. in optical sciences from the University of Arizona.
Freeman Shepherd Senior Scientist and Subject Matter Expert
Dr. Shepherd brings unsurpassed experience in detector and sensor design to SSSC. Previous positions include Air Force Senior Scientist for Infrared Arrays and Sensors (a flag rank science and technology position) at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Chief of the Electronic Device Technology Division at Rome Laboratory, and twenty years as research scientist at the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory. He is co-inventor of the platinum silicide infrared camera and directed its development, which is employed in the U-2, B-52, Predator, Outrider, E-FOGM and in several commercial sensors. He was Technical Director of the B-52 IR Camera advanced technology transition demonstration program, and is internationally known for his work in IR sensor development and IR sensor application. A graduate of MIT and Northeastern University, Dr. Shepherd is a fellow of numerous societies including IEEE, SPIE, and the National Academy of Engineering. Dr Shepherd has more than 70 publications and 8 patents to his credit.
Dr. Shepherd brings unsurpassed experience in detector and sensor design to SSSC. Previous positions include Air Force Senior Scientist for Infrared Arrays and Sensors (a flag rank science and technology position) at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Chief of the Electronic Device Technology Division at Rome Laboratory, and twenty years as research scientist at the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory. He is co-inventor of the platinum silicide infrared camera and directed its development, which is employed in the U-2, B-52, Predator, Outrider, E-FOGM and in several commercial sensors. He was Technical Director of the B-52 IR Camera advanced technology transition demonstration program, and is internationally known for his work in IR sensor development and IR sensor application. A graduate of MIT and Northeastern University, Dr. Shepherd is a fellow of numerous societies including IEEE, SPIE, and the National Academy of Engineering. Dr Shepherd has more than 70 publications and 8 patents to his credit.
Stephen M. Spaziani Production Transition Manager
Mr. Spaziani joined Solid State Scientific Corporation in 2008 as the Production Transition Manager. In his current capacity, he oversees all aspects of manufacturing and uses his R & D background to integrate the Engineering and the Production Teams into a cohesive unit. Mr. Spaziani is a US Air Force veteran and holds an Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering. His background includes eight years active duty followed by 20 years working for the Department of Defense in the Air Force Research Laboratory where he managed an AFRL cleanroom environment. Prior to running the processing team, he was active in lasers, fiber optics, and optical characterization of non-linear optical thin films. He is co-patent holder of five US patents and has authored or co-authored 17 refereed publications.
Mr. Spaziani joined Solid State Scientific Corporation in 2008 as the Production Transition Manager. In his current capacity, he oversees all aspects of manufacturing and uses his R & D background to integrate the Engineering and the Production Teams into a cohesive unit. Mr. Spaziani is a US Air Force veteran and holds an Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering. His background includes eight years active duty followed by 20 years working for the Department of Defense in the Air Force Research Laboratory where he managed an AFRL cleanroom environment. Prior to running the processing team, he was active in lasers, fiber optics, and optical characterization of non-linear optical thin films. He is co-patent holder of five US patents and has authored or co-authored 17 refereed publications.
