A little something about me...
My life long passion for telescope making and astronomical imaging fueled my early interest in mechanical engineering leading to my position for the last 14 years as President of PI (Physik Instrumente) USA. PI is the world leading manufacture of piezoceramic based micro and nanopositioning equipment for a variety of research and industrial applications including adaptive optic positioners for astronomical telescopes (UKIRT, Keck, NASA IRTF, ESO, VLT, Subaru, SALT, Gemini, MRO, PanSTARR etc.), semiconductor equipment nanopositioners for optics, mask alignment and autofocusing mechanisms, automated optical fiber alignment systems for the optical telecom industry, and piezo scanning stages for advanced high resolution microscopies. Prior to PI, I was a Director of Operations with Newport Corporation.
To serve the optical sciences and engineering community I participate in a number of capacities for the SPIE (International Society of Optical Engineering) an organization with approximately 30,000 members and active participants worldwide. I was elected as the Society's Secretary/Treasurer for 2007/08/09, am a member of the Society's Executive Committee and Board of Directors. A very humbling moment was to be honored as a Fellow of the Society in 2008.
In the professional astronomical area I sit on the Arizona Astronomy Board serving the University of Arizona's Steward Mirror Labs and Observatories.
Links to the SPIE's Executive Leadership ( International Society of Optical Engineers):
Other tasks included working on the Board of Directors of LEOMA, the Laser and Electro-Optic Manufacturers Association of America and going to the "Hill" in Washington a number of times to work with Congressman and Senators on important issues to the US laser & optics industry......but it all stemmed from the love of the sky and the tools to reach for it!
I am a member of the Springfield Telescope Makers ( home of Stellafane) and judge the telescope making competition at their annual Stellafane meetings.
When I meet young people today who express a desire to learn about telescope making I encourage them strongly to pursue this hobby because the sky is truly the limit as they consider careers that are based on optical technologies. Understanding the fundamentals of telescope system design from optics to mechanics to controls can vault a young person to the head of his or her engineering or science class. With the growth in fiber based communications, digital imaging and increasing need for optical based sensors in a multitude of consumer product and defense/security applications, opto/mechanical and electro-optical engineers have exciting career opportunities to look forward too.
I was born in Toronto, Canada and my career moved me to Long Island and then to Massachusetts. My super wife of over 30 years ( my high school sweetheart) was noted in our senior high school yearbook as Brian’s favorite stargazing companion ( she was the only one who could put up with me! ) We have 3 daughters (2 now married and one who just finished with a BSc. in Biomedical Imaging from RIT). Overriding all of this though has been a desire to serve and honor God in all aspects of my life.
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Email me at brianl@heavensgloryobservatory.com
