Science & Technology 2026
Directed Energy Science & Technology Symposium
March 30 - April 2, 2026
Tuscon, AZ
Courses
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
DEPS offered both half-day and full-day Short Courses on Monday 30 March 2026 in conjunction with the Annual DE S&T Symposium. These courses provided up-to-date insights into the development and operational application of Directed Energy (DE) technologies for national defense and civil use and are taught by subject matter experts. Participants received Continuous Learning Point (CLP) credits upon successful completion of each short course. You can learn more about the short course program and past courses taught on our SHORT COURSE page. Also, see courses offered at the 2026 DE S&T SYMPOSIUM below. Please contact EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR for details.
All Day Courses
Atmospheric Laser Propagation addresses how atmospheric conditions affect directed‑energy weapon performance. It introduces and demonstrates LEEDR for generating atmospheric profiles and HELEEOS for applying those effects through high‑fidelity high‑energy‑laser propagation modeling. MORE
Morning Courses
Explore how optical and radio frequency directed energy interacts with biological systems with this science based foundation for understanding potential effects on human tissue. As DE technologies become more common in defense applications, it is critical to grasp their biological impact to ensure both operational effectiveness and personnel safety. MORE
Introduction to HEL Systems explores the fundamentals of HEL weapons and their associated technologies by interweaving technical requirements, history, and accomplishments. Attributes of HEL weapons, laser-material interaction, lethality, potential weapon applications, system requirements, laser power scaling, propagation, and beam control are covered. MORE
Come and learn the reasons why the laser subsystem might only occupy 15% of the size and weight of a laser weapon system but drives the size and weight of two-thirds of the system size and weight. MORE
Afternoon Courses
Systems Engineering for Directed Energy introduces how disciplined engineering practices help emerging high‑energy laser and high‑power microwave systems bridge the technology gap from research toward fighter‑ready capability. The course highlights core systems engineering principles, DoW guidance, and mission‑driven tools that shape effective HEL/HPM development, integration, and testing across the full lifecycle, showing how thoughtful SE application accelerates fielding and strengthens future force architectures MORE
Essential beam-control training spanning optics, controls, and adaptive systems. MORE
Counter‑Directed Energy Weapons introduces the core concepts behind protecting platforms and systems from high‑energy laser and high‑power microwave threats. The course surveys unclassified technical principles, historical insights, hardening techniques, propagation effects, and operational methods used to mitigate DEW attacks, while outlining emerging research paths that shape the future of counter‑DEW technologies. MORE
Gain a clear foundation in high power optical systems and the thin film coatings that shape High Energy Laser weapon performance. This course explains the critical optical subsystems, key components, and coating technologies that determine HEL effectiveness, along with the testing and validation processes used to ensure reliability MORE