Phillip Sprangle is Professor of Electrical &Computer Engineering and Physics and is a member of the Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics at the University of Maryland as well as an Emeritus Scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory. Dr. Sprangle has a Ph.D. degree in Applied Physics from Cornell University. His current research covers a wide range of fields and includes the atmospheric propagation of high-energy lasers, laser driven accelerators, high intensity ultra-short pulse laser matter interaction and propagation physics, nonlinear optics and plasma physics. He is a fellow of the OSA, APS, IEEE and DEPS and winner of the Presidential Rank Award (2015), Advanced Accelerator Concept Prize (2014), James Clerk Maxwell Prize (2013), Fred E. Saalfeld Award (2012), Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award (2011), IEEE Plasma Science Award (2008), Sigma Xi Pure Science Award, (1994), International Free Electron Laser Prize (1991), E.O. Hulburt Science and Engineering Award (1986), two Technology Transfer Awards (1995, 2004), as well as the Top Navy Scientist and Engineer of the Year Award (2008). He has published over 300 refereed scientific articles and holds 18 US patents.