Courses

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

DEPS is pleased to offer Short Courses on Monday, 16 November 2026 in conjunction with the Directed Energy System Symposium. Both half-day and full-day Short Courses will be available. These courses provide 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 will receive Continuous Learning Point (CLP) credits upon successful completion of each short course. A list of courses offered at this event appears below.

See our SHORT COURSE page to learn more about courses offered by DEPS, or contact the EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR for details.

All Day Courses

Atmospheric Laser Propagation

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

Tri-Service HEL Lethality Testing & Modeling

Laser Lethality Testing and Modeling offers a comprehensive look at how high‑energy laser performance is measured, analyzed, and validated. The course examines data‑driven testing practices, beam diagnostics, experimental setups, and dynamic test strategies, then connects these real‑world measurements to high‑fidelity physics models, fast‑running vulnerability codes, and end‑to‑end DoW analytical tools used across operational scenarios. MORE

Morning Courses

AI for DE Systems

Explore the fundamentals of machine learning with examples in radar applications, descriptions of some common machine learning algorithms, and the basics of neural networks. MORE

Introduction to High Energy Laser Systems

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

Introduction to High Power Microwave Systems

Introduction to HPM Systems offers a foundational understanding of RF Directed Energy weapons including basic terms and concepts, power systems needed to drive HPM devices, HPM sources, narrowband and wideband antennas, and the design and fabrication of HPM systems. MORE

Wargaming Directed Energy

Wargaming Directed Energy addresses how wargaming can be used to explore the operational value, limitations, and consequences of directed-energy capabilities. It introduces methods for incorporating high-energy lasers and high-power microwave systems into tactical, operational, and campaign-level games, including scenario design, adjudication, and analysis, to examine how DE capabilities and constraints change operational outcomes and how forces fight. MORE

Afternoon Courses

Beam Control for Laser Systems

Essential beam-control training spanning optics, controls, and adaptive systems MORE

HPM Effects and Data Collection

This course will provide a basic overview of Radio Frequency Directed Energy (RF DE) and its effects on electronic systems. The statistical nature of RF coupling to electronics and effects and how effect levels are best described as a probability of effect or failure will be discussed. MORE

Introduction to Counter DE Weapons (CDEW)

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

Systems Engineering for DE Systems

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