cfr-team-status-2026
ASSESSMENT dossier

CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed

ASSESSMENT General ASSESSMENT // CFR TEAM STATUS Also: CFR team 2026, McGuire Font Qerushi, CFR team still at Lockheed

01 Executive_Summary

ASSESSMENT: The ENTIRE CFR team — McGuire, Font, Qerushi — remained at Lockheed Martin after the 'cancellation' in 2020. This is the strongest evidence yet for classified continuation. Tom McGuire: Research Engineer and Scientist, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (CURRENT 2026, 18+ years). 'Lockheed Martin Fellow and Principal Investigator of the Compact Fusion Reactor Project.' 2023 patent on magnetic shielding. Artan Qerushi: Senior Research Development Scientist, Lockheed Martin (CURRENT 2026). PhD Plasma and High-Temperature Physics, University of Florida (2000). Department: Research, Level: Specialist. Gabriel Font: Lockheed Martin Fort Worth (named on 2018-2019 T4B papers). APS DPP 2019 papers: 'Simulation Support of T4B' (Font, McGuire, Schinder, Qerushi) — Grad-Shafranov, PIC, neutral beam heating. 'Magnet Support Shielding for T4B' (Gucker, Bersohn, Font, McGuire, Qerushi, Scott) — 55% plasma loss reduction. ASSESSMENT: If CFR was genuinely cancelled because physics didn't work, team would have dispersed to Avalanche, Helicity, Princeton, etc. Instead ALL stayed at Lockheed. In private fusion, talent is scarce and mobile — companies would have hired them immediately. Their continued employment suggests they're working on something they can't leave — a classified program. Timeline: 2018-2019 T4B papers -> 2020 'cancellation' -> 2021 Building 648 -> 2023 McGuire patent -> 2024-2025 $1.6B losses -> 2026 all still at Lockheed.

03 Deep_Dive_Intelligence

Overview

ASSESSMENT: The ENTIRE CFR team — McGuire, Font, Qerushi — remained at Lockheed Martin after the 'cancellation' in 2020. This is the strongest evidence yet for classified continuation. Tom McGuire: Research Engineer and Scientist, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (CURRENT 2026, 18+ years). 'Lockheed Martin Fellow and Principal Investigator of the Compact Fusion Reactor Project.' 2023 patent on magnetic shielding. Artan Qerushi: Senior Research Development Scientist, Lockheed Martin (CURRENT 2026). PhD Plasma and High-Temperature Physics, University of Florida (2000). Department: Research, Level: Specialist. Gabriel Font: Lockheed Martin Fort Worth (named on 2018-2019 T4B papers). APS DPP 2019 papers: 'Simulation Support of T4B' (Font, McGuire, Schinder, Qerushi) — Grad-Shafranov, PIC, neutral beam heating. 'Magnet Support Shielding for T4B' (Gucker, Bersohn, Font, McGuire, Qerushi, Scott) — 55% plasma loss reduction. ASSESSMENT: If CFR was genuinely cancelled because physics didn't work, team would have dispersed to Avalanche, Helicity, Princeton, etc. Instead ALL stayed at Lockheed. In private fusion, talent is scarce and mobile — companies would have hired them immediately. Their continued employment suggests they're working on something they can't leave — a classified program. Timeline: 2018-2019 T4B papers -> 2020 'cancellation' -> 2021 Building 648 -> 2023 McGuire patent -> 2024-2025 $1.6B losses -> 2026 all still at Lockheed.

Entity Type: Assessment — CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed is an analytical assessment synthesizing multiple data points.

Research Findings

CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed appears in 5 research analysis documents:

AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025:

Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025

Source PDF: [AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025](/archive/AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025) Date range: 1972-2025 Source org: AFRL

Summary

The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement to solicit research in 'Air Delivered...

AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025:

Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025

Source PDF: [AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025](/archive/AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025) Date range: 1972-2025 Source org: AFRL

Summary

The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement to solicit research in 'Air Delivered...

AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024:

Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024

Source PDF: [AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024](/archive/AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_BAA_2024) Date range: 1972-2024 Source org: AFRL

Summary

The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement in 2024 to solicit research a...

AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024:

Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024

Source PDF: [AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024](/archive/AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_BAA_2024) Date range: 1972-2024 Source org: AFRL

Summary

The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement in 2024 to solicit research a...

AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016:

Findings: AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016

Source PDF: [AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016](/archive/AFRL_LANL_FRCHX_2016) Date range: 1981-2022 Source org: LANL

Summary

This programmatic analysis investigates the 2014-2016 closeout of the Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX), a joint initiative by the Air Force ...

Source Documents

Intelligence derived from 5 source documents:

  • APS DPP 2019 — UP10.95 'Simulation Support of T4B' (Font, McGuire, Schinder, Qerushi)
  • APS DPP 2019 — UP10.94 'Magnet Support Shielding for T4B' (Gucker, Font, McGuire, Qerushi, Scott)
  • LinkedIn — Artan Qerushi (2026)
  • 4ORBS — 'Charles Chase: The Skunk Works Engineer Behind Compact Fusion'
  • Academia.edu — Artan Qerushi (CFR diagnostic development papers)

05b Related_Topics (4)

Field-Reversed Configuration
usa → russia → china → japan → israel →
Compact Fusion Reactor
usa → china → israel →
Directed Energy
usa → russia → china → israel → uk → germany → france → japan →
Patent Analysis
usa →

06 Research_Findings (5)

Finding

# Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025 **Source PDF:** `AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025.pdf` **Date range:** 1972-2025 **Source org:** AFRL ## Summary The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement to solicit research in 'Air Delivered Effects,' focusing on advanced airframe systems, bioprincipic sensing, and autonomous munitions technology. Updated in 2025, the document outlines a five-year solicitation for basic and applied rese

View Source PDF → AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025
technology

# Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025 **Source PDF:** `AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025.pdf` **Date range:** 1972-2025 **Source org:** AFRL ## Summary The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement to solicit research in 'Air Delivered Effects,' focusing on advanced airframe systems, bioprincipic sensing, and autonomous munitions technology. Updated in 2025, the document outlines a five-year solicitation for basic and applied rese

View Source PDF → AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025
Finding

# Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024 **Source PDF:** `AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_BAA_2024.pdf` **Date range:** 1972-2024 **Source org:** AFRL ## Summary The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement in 2024 to solicit research and development proposals for conventional munitions technology under the 'Air Delivered Effects' program. The initiative covers basic and applied research in areas such as agile weapon airframes, aut

View Source PDF → AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024
technology

# Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024 **Source PDF:** `AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_BAA_2024.pdf` **Date range:** 1972-2024 **Source org:** AFRL ## Summary The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW) issued this Broad Agency Announcement in 2024 to solicit research and development proposals for conventional munitions technology under the 'Air Delivered Effects' program. The initiative covers basic and applied research in areas such as agile weapon airframes, aut

View Source PDF → AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024
Finding

# Findings: AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016 **Source PDF:** `AFRL_LANL_FRCHX_2016.pdf` **Date range:** 1981-2022 **Source org:** LANL ## Summary This programmatic analysis investigates the 2014-2016 closeout of the Field-Reversed Configuration Heating Experiment (FRCHX), a joint initiative by the Air Force Research Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory. The report concludes with high confidence that the technology was not terminated but successfully transitioned to a classified program at Lockh

View Source PDF → AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016

07 Key_Findings

  • ▸ Entity Type: Assessment — CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed is an analytical assessment synthesizing multiple data points.
  • ▸ AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025:
  • ▸ Source PDF: `AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025.pdf`
  • ▸ AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025:
  • ▸ Source PDF: `AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025.pdf`

09 Timeline_Mentions (2)

2019

CFR team publishes T4B results (2019) — all members still at Lockheed in 2026 despite 'cancellation'

T4B: 55% plasma loss reduction. Team: McGuire, Font, Qerushi, Schinder, Gucker, Scott. All still at Lockheed 2026. Consistent with classified continuation.

defense-programs
2026

Lockheed 2025 10-K: THREE classified programs ($3.58B losses) + $2.67B IRAD — MFC stabilized, RMS new

Three programs: Aero $1.5B (platform), MFC $1.4B (weapons, now stable), RMS $665M (new, integration). IRAD $2.67B. Total $6.25B over 2 years.

defense-programs
View Full Timeline → View on Network Graph →

10 FAQ

What is CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed? ▾
The ENTIRE CFR team — McGuire, Font, Qerushi — remained at Lockheed Martin after the 'cancellation' in 2020. This is the strongest evidence yet for classified continuation. Tom McGuire: Research Engineer and Scientist, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (CURRENT 2026, 18+ years). 'Lockheed Martin Fellow and Principal Investigator of the Compact Fusion Reactor Project.' 2023 patent on magnetic...
What role does CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed play in the research network? ▾
CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed is classified under the "General" category, belonging to the ASSESSMENT // CFR TEAM STATUS vertical group. ASSESSMENT: The ENTIRE CFR team — McGuire, Font, Qerushi — remained at Lockheed Martin after the 'cancellation' in 2020. This is the strongest evidence yet for classified continuation. Tom...
What evidence supports the CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed assessment? ▾
The intelligence assessment for CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed is supported by 4 primary sources and 5 research findings. Key sources include "Lockheed Martin Pursuing Compact Nuclear Fusion Reactor Concept — Lockheed Martin Press Release", "US9947420B2 — Magnetic field plasma confinement for compact fusion power — Google Patents", and "Overview of the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) Project — APS DPP 2019". These documents provide the evidentiary basis for the analysis.
What does the CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed assessment conclude? ▾
The ENTIRE CFR team — McGuire, Font, Qerushi — remained at Lockheed Martin after the 'cancellation' in 2020. This is the strongest evidence yet for classified continuation. Tom McGuire: Research Engineer and Scientist, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (CURRENT 2026, 18+ years). 'Lockheed Martin Fellow and Principal Investigator of the Compact Fusion...
What evidence is the CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed assessment based on? ▾
The assessment is based on 4 primary sources and 5 research findings. Overview ASSESSMENT: The ENTIRE CFR team — McGuire, Font, Qerushi — remained at Lockheed Martin after the 'cancellation' in 2020. This is the strongest evidence yet for classified continuation....
What research findings mention CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed? ▾
CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed appears in 5 research analysis documents, including "AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025", "AFRL Air Delivered Effects BAA 2024", and "AFRL LANL FRCHX 2016". Findings: AFRL Air Delivered Effects 2025 Source PDF: AFRL_Air_Delivered_Effects_2025.pdf Date range: 1972-2025 Source org: AFRL Summary The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate...
What are the alternative names or aliases for CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed? ▾
CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed is also known as: CFR team 2026, McGuire Font Qerushi, and CFR team still at Lockheed. These alternative names appear across different source documents and may reflect codenames, abbreviations, or historical references.
What external sources document CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed? ▾
CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed is documented by 4 external sources, including 1 press release, 1 patent, and 2 academic conference. Notable references include "Lockheed Martin Pursuing Compact Nuclear Fusion Reactor Concept — Lockheed Martin Press Release", "US9947420B2 — Magnetic field plasma confinement for compact fusion power — Google Patents", and "Overview of the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) Project — APS DPP 2019".
Why is CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed considered classified or significant? ▾
The ENTIRE CFR team — McGuire, Font, Qerushi — remained at Lockheed Martin after the 'cancellation' in 2020. This is the strongest evidence yet for classified continuation. Tom McGuire: Research Engineer and Scientist, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (CURRENT 2026, 18+ years). 'Lockheed Martin Fellow and Principal Investigator of the Compact Fusion Reactor Project.' 2023 patent on magnetic shielding. Artan Qerushi: Senior Research Development Scientist, Lockheed Martin (CURRENT 2026). PhD Plasma and High-Temperature Physics, University of Florida (2000). Department: Research, Level: Specialist. Gabriel Font: Lockheed Martin Fort Worth (named on 2018-2019 T4B papers). APS DPP 2019 papers: 'Simulation Support of T4B' (Font, McGuire, Schinder, Qerushi) — Grad-Shafranov, PIC, neutral beam heating. 'Magnet Support Shielding for T4B' (Gucker, Bersohn, Font, McGuire, Qerushi, Scott) — 55% plasma loss reduction. ASSESSMENT: If CFR was genuinely cancelled because physics didn't work, team would have dispersed to Avalanche, Helicity, Princeton, etc. Instead ALL stayed at Lockheed. In private fusion, talent is scarce and mobile — companies would have hired them immediately. Their continued employment suggests they're working on something they can't leave — a classified program. Timeline: 2018-2019 T4B papers -> 2020 'cancellation' -> 2021 Building 648 -> 2023 McGuire patent -> 2024-2025 $1.6B losses -> 2026 all still at Lockheed.
What is the historical timeline for CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed? ▾
CFR Team Status (2026) — All Members Still at Lockheed is referenced across documents spanning 1972–2026, with activity noted in 1972, 1981, and 2000. This temporal range is derived from the primary source documents in the research archive.

Source_Documents 5 FILES

APS DPP 2019 — UP10.95 'Simulation Support of T4B' (Font, McGuire, Schinder, Qerushi)
PDF Archive →
APS DPP 2019 — UP10.94 'Magnet Support Shielding for T4B' (Gucker, Font, McGuire, Qerushi, Scott)
PDF Archive →
LinkedIn — Artan Qerushi (2026)
PDF Archive →
4ORBS — 'Charles Chase: The Skunk Works Engineer Behind Compact Fusion'
PDF Archive →
Academia.edu — Artan Qerushi (CFR diagnostic development papers)
PDF Archive →

External_References 5 REFS

APS DPP 2019 — UP10.95 'Simulation Support of T4B' (Font, McGuire, Schinder, Qerushi) ref
APS DPP 2019 — UP10.94 'Magnet Support Shielding for T4B' (Gucker, Font, McGuire, Qerushi, Scott) ref
LinkedIn — Artan Qerushi (2026) url ↗
4ORBS — 'Charles Chase: The Skunk Works Engineer Behind Compact Fusion' ref
Academia.edu — Artan Qerushi (CFR diagnostic development papers) url ↗

External_Primary_Sources 6

patent
US Patent 9,947,420 B2 — Magnetic field plasma confinement for compact fusion power
patent
US Patent 9,959,942 — Compact fusion reactor
patent
US Patent 9,502,202 B2 — Compact cylindrical plasma fusion reactor with coherent beam emission
news 2023-08-30
Skunk Works Halted Nuclear Fusion Effort Before 2021 — Aviation Week
Steve Trimble
reference
Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor — Wikipedia
corporate
Compact Fusion — Lockheed Martin

Verified_Primary_Sources 4 SOURCES

primary lockheedmartin.com press_release
Lockheed Martin Pursuing Compact Nuclear Fusion Reactor Concept — Lockheed Martin Press Release
Verifies: Tom McGuire is compact fusion lead for Skunk Works Revolutionary Technology Programs; CFR combines alternative magnetic confinement approaches with 90% size reduction
External Link ↗
primary patents.google.com patent
US9947420B2 — Magnetic field plasma confinement for compact fusion power — Google Patents
Verifies: Inventor: Thomas John McGuire, Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp; Patent filed 2014, granted 2018; Compact fusion reactor small enough to mount on vehicles including aircraft, ships, submarines
External Link ↗
primary meetings.aps.org academic_conference
Overview of the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor (CFR) Project — APS DPP 2019
Verifies: Thomas McGuire presented CFR overview at APS Division of Plasma Physics 2019; CFR uses diamagnetic, high beta, magnetically encapsulated, linear ring cusp plasma confinement; T4B and T5 plasma heating experiments described
External Link ↗
primary meetings.aps.org academic_conference
Diagnostic Development for the Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor Project — APS DPP 2019
Verifies: Tom McGuire and Artan Qerushi both at Lockheed Martin Palmdale; T4B experiment is linear, encapsulated ring cusp confinement device; Part of compact fusion reactor program
External Link ↗
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ID: cfr-team-status-2026
Type: assessment
Region: intel-base
Last updated: Research database snapshot