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Dr. Laurence D. Merkle is a Research Assistant Professor of Computer Science in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). In this role, which he has held since 2022, he plans and executes computer science research programs and works with Air Force and Department of Defense (DoD) organizations to meet their research needs. He also directs, coordinates, and evaluates research programs for master’s and doctoral students, providing authoritative consultation in computer science to Air Force and DoD organizations. Dr. Merkle has chaired 2 Ph.D. committees and 13 master’s thesis committees, co-chaired 2 master’s thesis committees, and been a member of 19 other graduate thesis committees.
Prior to his current position, Dr. Merkle served as an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at AFIT from 2015 to 2022. During this time, he taught graduate-level computer science courses for degree programs and professional continuing education, and developed curricula to meet the Air Force’s educational needs. His responsibilities also included research, collaboration with colleagues, publication of results, and mentoring graduate students. He has published numerous works, including 15 journal articles and over 30 refereed conference papers, as well as 34 invited presentations, technical reports, and workshop papers. His successful funding proposals as PI or Co-PI total over $1.1 million.
Before returning to AFIT, Dr. Merkle was the Founder of Computational Optimization Services, LLC, from 2011 to 2015, where he provided custom websites, computational optimization, and technical writing services. He also served as the Assistant to the Chair in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Wright State University from 2008 to 2011, where he coordinated curriculum conversion, advised students and faculty, and led accreditation activities. The department had a significant research component, with approximately $875K/year in external funding expenditures.
Dr. Merkle’s extensive academic career includes roles as an Assistant Professor at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (2002-2008) and the United States Air Force Academy (1999-2002). He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering (1996) and an M.S.C.E. (1992) from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in Computer and Systems Engineering (1987) from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
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