AMTA BOOT CAMP
Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 8:00 am–5:20 pm
The AMTA Boot Camp is a 1-day course on antenna and related measurement fundamentals. Live hands-on demonstrations complement the material presented. The Boot Camp is an ideal training opportunity for those new to the antenna and related measurements community and for those who would appreciate an update or “refresher” course on these topics. Instructors are academic and industry experts who were selected based not only on their expertise, but for their ability to communicate effectively.
The AMTA Boot Camp Back-to-Basics Topics Include:
- General RF Measurements
- Material Measurements
- Antenna Measurements
- RCS Measurements
- EMC/EMI Measurements
- New Innovations and Trends
Technical Goals and Objectives of the AMTA Boot Camp Include:
- Gain Basic Understanding of the AMTA-Relevant Measurement Systems and Associated Equipment
- Obtain Basic Understanding of the Theory and Physical Principles of each Measurement System
- Acquire Technical Vocabulary for each Measurement System
- Gain appreciation for similarities and differences of each Measurement System
- Establish appreciation for the Challenges/Applications that are Driving the Need for Each Measurement System
- Identify Common Themes in Each Measurement System (Calibration, Standards, Best Practices, Uncertainties, etc.)
Boot Camp Schedule:
| Time | Subject | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 7:15 – 8:00 | Registration & Breakfast | |
| 8:00 – 8:05 | Introduction | Dr. Lydell Frasch, Dr. Daniel Aloi |
| 8:05 – 9:05 | General RF Measurements | Mr. Bruce Williams |
| 9:05 – 10:05 | Material Measurements | Dr. Michael Havrilla |
| 10:05 – 10:20 | Material Measurements Demonstration | Dr. John Schultz |
| 10:20 – 10:35 | Break | |
| 10:35 – 11:35 | Antenna Measurements | Ms. Kim Hassett |
| 11:35 – 11:55 | Antenna Measurements Demonstration | Ms. Kim Hassett |
| 11:55 – 12:55 | Lunch | |
| 12:55 – 13:55 | EMI/EMC Measurements | Mr. Zhong Chen |
| 13:55 – 14:15 | EMI/EMC Demonstration | Mr. Zhong Chen |
| 14:15 – 14:25 | Break | |
| 14:25 – 15:25 | RCS Measurements | Mr. Stephen Blalock |
| 15:25 – 15:45 | RCS Measurements Demonstration | Mr. Stephen Blalock |
| 15:45 – 15:55 | Break | |
| 15:55 – 17:10 | New Innovations & Trends | Mr. Dennis Lewis |
| 17:10 – 17:20 | Conclusions | Dr. Lydell Frasch |
Boot Camp Instructors
Mr. Bruce Williams
NSI-MI Technologies
Bruce Williams develops applications both within and outside the antenna test and measurement
markets at NSI-MI and was instrumental in developing our Vector Field Analyzer, as well as
various other standard products. He has extensive experience working with electronic,
RF/microwave, and motion control produces and is a graduate of the Microwave Remote
Sensing Lab at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he earned his Master of
Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He’s been a part of AMTA for many years, and was
named an AMTA Fellow in 2024.
Dr. Michael Havrilla
Air Force Institute of Technology
Michael J. Havrilla received B.S. degrees in Physics and Mathematics in 1987, the M.S.E.E degree in 1989 and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering in 2001 from Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. From 1990-1995, he was with General Electric Aircraft Engines, Evendale, OH and Lockheed Skunk Works, Palmdale, CA, where he worked as an electrical engineer. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. He is a Fellow of the Antenna Measurement Techniques Association (AMTA), a senior member of the IEEE, a member of URSI Commission B, and a member of the Eta Kappa Nu and Sigma Xi honor societies. His current research interests include electromagnetic theory and measurement of complex media, electromagnetic propagation and radiation in anisotropic and bianisotropic materials, and quantum field theory.
Dr. John Schultz
Compass Technology Group, LLC.
John Schultz is the Chief Scientist at Compass Technology Group, a small engineering company that specializes in electromagnetic materials measurements and the development of measurement devices. He received a B.A. in Physics (1987) from the University of Maryland, a M.S. in Physics (1990) from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering (1997) from the University of Dayton. At the beginning of his career, he worked as an intel analyst both for several defense companies and then for the U.S. Air Force at the Air Force Information Warfare Center. From 1998 to 2013 he was research faculty at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, where he attained the rank of Tech Fellow. Since 2013, he has led research and product development efforts at Compass Technology Group. He is lead author on dozens of journal and conference publications, hundreds of technical reports, and has over half a dozen patents. His most recent book was published by Artech in 2023 and is titled, Wideband Microwave Materials Characterization
Ms. Kim Hassett
Next Phase Measurements, LLC.
Kim Hassett is currently a Senior Staff Engineering for Next Phase Measurements, LLC. Prior to joining NPM, Kim served as a SME and Business Development Manager for MVG, Systems Engineer for NSI-MI Technologies, and a Senior Application Engineer for Near-field Systems, Inc. Kim received her BSEE from the University of Maryland in 1985, followed by graduate studies in Electromagnetics at The John Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering. After graduation, she worked for Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems) in Baltimore, Maryland and spent the early part of her career designing phased array antennas and later became involved with phased array analysis, simulation, and modeling. This eventually led her to the antenna range where she worked for seven years specializing in phased array calibration and testing. She joined Hewlett-Packard/Agilent technologies in 1998 as a Support Engineer for antenna measurement systems, and later as a Technical Consultant for network analysis, spectrum analysis, satellite test systems, and wideband surveillance systems.
Kim is a Senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE); a Fellow member and Distinguished Service Award recipient of the Antenna Measurement Techniques Association (AMTA); and has served AMTA as a member of the Technical Committee, Web Oversight Committee, Newsletter Editor, and on the Board of Directors as President, Treasurer, AMTA 2015 Symposium Host, and AMTA 2019 Symposium Host.
Mr. Zhong Chen
ETS-Lindgren
Zhong Chen is the Chief Engineer at ETS-Lindgren, located in Cedar Park, Texas. He has 30 years of experience in RF testing, anechoic chamber design, as well as EMC antenna and field probe design and measurements. He is serving as Vice-Chair of ANSI C63 (American National Standards Committee on EMC) and is the immediate past Chair of Subcommittee 1 which is responsible for the antenna calibration (ANSI C63.5) and chamber/test site validation standards (ANSI C63.4 and the ANSI C63.25 series). Mr. Chen is chair of the IEEE Standard 1309 committee responsible for developing calibration standards for field probes, and IEEE Standard 1128 for absorber evaluation. Currently he is a member of the IEEE EMC Society Board of Directors and a former member of the Antenna Measurement Techniques Association (AMTA) Board of Directors. His research interests include measurement uncertainty, data post-processing techniques for site validation and antenna calibration, and development of novel RF absorber materials. He has received recognition for numerous best papers at global conferences. Zhong Chen received his M.S.E.E. degree in Electromagnetics from the Ohio State University at Columbus. He may be reached at zhong.chen@ets-lindgren.com.
Mr. Stephen Blalock
NSI-MI Technologies
Stephen Blalock is Vice President, Engineering at NSI-MI Technologies, an AMETEK business unit. In this role, he oversees all engineering activity for the development of sophisticated measurement systems. The company’s engineering department is responsible for the design, integration, verification, and deployment of advanced microwave measurement systems used for characterizing antennas, radomes and other devices from UHF to millimeter wave frequencies. Mr. Blalock is responsible for the electrical, mechanical, software and systems engineering activity needed to bring these systems to market.
He has more than 25 years of experience in antenna, radar signature, and materials characterization using a variety of test systems including compact range, free space and resonant cavity materials measurement apparatus, image plane antenna range, near-field and far-field antenna ranges. In addition to system development and operation, he lectures for short courses in the area of Radar Cross Section Measurement methods. Previously, he lectured for a Radar Cross Section Reduction short course for 12 years and developed a hands-on compact range laboratory as part of the capstone to the short course.
Mr. Blalock is a vetted reviewer for the National Radar Cross Section Measurement Facility Certification program. This national level program consists of national experts who review and certify the nation’s premier radar signature measurement ranges.
Mr. Blalock holds a Master’s degree in Applied Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology as well as a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from the Southern Polytechnic State University.
Mr. Dennis Lewis
Boeing
Dennis Lewis received his BS EE degree with honors from Henry Cogswell College and his MS degree in Physics from the University of Washington. He has worked at Boeing for 36 years and is recognized as a Technical Fellow, leading the enterprise antenna measurement capability for Boeing Test and Evaluation. Dennis holds twelve patents and is the recipient of the 2013 & 2015 Boeing Special Invention Award. He is a senior member of the IEEE and several of its technical societies including the Microwave Theory and Technology Society, the Antennas and Propagation Society and the Electromagnetic Compatibility Society. He is a Senior Member and past Vice President of the Antenna Measurements Techniques Association and chaired its annual symposium in 2012 & 2023. Dennis developed and taught a course on The Fundamentals of Measurement Science at North Seattle College and serves on their Technical Advisory Committee.