PERSON · Main Graph

Dr. Franklin B. Mead, Jr.

ID: franklin-mead-afrl-prsp

PERSON Main Graph Dossier Available

Summary

Senior scientist at AFRL/PRSP (Propulsion Directorate, Edwards AFB) who managed a continuous 30+ year advanced propulsion and plasma research program from 1972 through at least 2007. Funded Nachamkin's force-free plasmoid model (1992), Davis's Ball Lightning Study (2003), Davis's Teleportation Study (2004), and the Knecht/Mead DPF paper listing 'plasmoid weapons' (2006). All under project JON 48470159.

Deep Dive Analysis

Dr. Franklin B. Mead, Jr. had a 34-year career at AFRL and its predecessor laboratories at Edwards AFB. In 1972, he edited 'Advanced Propulsion Concepts - Project Outgrowth' (AFRPL-TR-72-31) at the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory. In 1990, he was project manager for a DPF fusion propulsion study at Phillips Laboratory. In 1992, he managed Nachamkin's force-free time-harmonic plasmoid model (PL-TR-92-3044) under contract F04611-88-C-0020. From 1996-2001, he co-managed the Lightcraft Technology Demonstrator program with Dr. Leik Myrabo of RPI, demonstrating laser propulsion at the High Energy Laser System Test Facility. In 2003, he was Principal Investigator/Project Manager for the Davis Ball Lightning Study (AFRL-PR-ED-TR-2002-0039, JON 48470159). In 2004, he managed the Davis Teleportation Physics Study (AFRL-PR-ED-TR-2003-0034) and the Davis Advanced Propulsion Study (AFRL-PR-ED-TR-2004-0024), both under contract F04611-99-C-0025. In 2006, he co-authored the Knecht/Mead DPF paper (AFRL-PR-ED-TP-2005-359) that explicitly lists 'pulsed-train plasmoid weapons' and 'gravity devices' as military applications. In 2007, he co-authored the Davis/Mead Laser Lightcraft review (AFRL-PR-ED-TP-2007-470). The same project number (JON 48470159) and the same AFRL office (PRSP, Edwards AFB) funded all of the plasma orb research.

Key Findings

  • ▸ had a 34-year career at AFRL and its predecessor laboratories at Edwards AFB.
  • ▸ In 1972, he edited 'Advanced Propulsion Concepts - Project Outgrowth' (AFRPL-TR-72-31) at the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory.
  • ▸ In 1990, he was project manager for a DPF fusion propulsion study at Phillips Laboratory.

Citations (8)

  1. [1]
  2. [2]
  3. [3]
  4. [4]
  5. [5]
  6. [6]
  7. [7]
  8. [8] (2003) — Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command / Warp Drive Metrics

Related Entities (11)

Armour Research Foundation

ORGANIZATION
→ connected
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Winston Bostick

PERSON
→ connected
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US Patent 5,590,031 (Mead-Nachamkin EM Conversion)

PATENT
→ invented
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Phillips Laboratory

ORGANISATION
→ managed by
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Kepler Aerospace / Fusion Technologies

ORGANISATION
→ now at
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H. David Froning

PERSON
← co-authored DPF paper with
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John E. Brandenburg

PERSON
← colleague at Kepler
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Dr. George H. Miley

PERSON
→ co-authored DPF weapons paper with
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EricDavis

PERSON
→ AFRL program manager for
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Jack Nachamkin

PERSON
→ AFRL program manager for
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Classified USAF Pulsed-Train Plasmoid Weapon Program (1950s–60s)

PROGRAM
→ Named responsible person in corroboration chain (C07 upstream)
Dossier Main Graph

Network Graph

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Timeline Mentions (1)

1992-10-01

Nachamkin Force-Free Plasmoid Model

Jack Nachamkin (University of Dayton Research Institute) develops a 'heretofore unexplored solution of Maxwell's equations' for self-stable plasma orbs. Resonant sizes exist where the plasmoid does not exchange energy with surroundings. Project manager: Dr. Franklin B. Mead, Jr. Contract F04611-88-C-0020. Same year as Seward's ESTS patent.

Research
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Glossary Definition

Senior scientist at AFRL/PRSP (Propulsion Directorate, Edwards AFB) who managed a continuous 30+ year advanced propulsion and plasma research program from 1972 through at least 2007.

Category: Personnel View in Glossary →

Source Documents (1)

Research References

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dr. Franklin B. Mead, Jr.? ▾
Senior scientist at AFRL/PRSP (Propulsion Directorate, Edwards AFB) who managed a continuous 30+ year advanced propulsion and plasma research program from 1972 through at least 2007. Funded Nachamkin's force-free plasmoid model (1992), Davis's Ball Lightning Study (2003), Davis's Teleportation Study (2004), and the Knecht/Mead DPF paper listing 'plasmoid weapons' (2006). All under project JON 48470159.
What is Dr. Franklin B. Mead, Jr. connected to? ▾
Dr. Franklin B. Mead, Jr. is directly connected to 11 entities in the network graph, including Armour Research Foundation, Winston Bostick, US Patent 5,590,031 (Mead-Nachamkin EM Conversion). These connections represent documented relationships such as connected, connected, invented. Explore the full network using the interactive graph for complete relationship mapping.
When did Dr. Franklin B. Mead, Jr. appear in the timeline? ▾
Dr. Franklin B. Mead, Jr. is referenced in 1 timeline event, spanning from 1992-10-01 to 1992-10-01. Key events include "Nachamkin Force-Free Plasmoid Model" and "Nachamkin Force-Free Plasmoid Model". View the full timeline for chronological context.
Where can I find more details about Dr. Franklin B. Mead, Jr.? ▾
A full intelligence dossier is available for Dr. Franklin B. Mead, Jr., including 1 source document, deep-dive analysis, and network linkage assessment. Visit the dossier page for the complete profile.

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