Skip to main content

Directory

John Malas

Adjunct Professor

Adjunct

School of Engineering: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Contact

Email: John Malas
Phone: 937-478-0168
Kettering Laboratories Room 341
Website: Visit Site

Bio

From 1983-2015, Dr. John Malas worked in the areas of radar systems, target scattering, and signature information sensing supporting the research and development of technology for USAF airborne sensing systems.  Dr. Malas retired in 2015 from the Air Force Research Lab as Principle Research Scientist in the Layered Sensing and Exploitation Division of the Sensors Directorate.  He is now owner and principle of Malas Engineering LLC.  He received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Dayton in 2002, M.S. and B.S. degree in electrical systems engineering in 1990 and 1983 respectively from Wright State University. Dr. Malas is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Ohio and a senior member of IEEE.

Selected Publications

  • Vakil, M., Megherbi, D., & Malas, J. (2017, March). A robust multi-stage information-theoretic approach for registration of partially overlapped hyperspectral aerial imagery and evaluation in the presence of system noise. Journal Image Communication Archive, 52(C).
  • Malas, J. Cortese, J., & Ryan, P. (2015). Uncertainty propagation and the Fano based information theoretic method. Invited Paper, IEEE proceedings to the 2015 IEEE Radar Conference, Arlington, VA, 1638-1643.
  • Vakil, M., Megherbi, D., & Malas, J. (2015, April). An efficient multi-stage hyper-spectral aerial image registration technique in the presence of differential spatial and temporal sensor uncertainty with application to large critical infrastructures & key resources (CIKR) surveillance. IEEE proceedings to the International Symposium for Technologies for Homeland Security, Waltham, MA.
  • Malas, J., & Ryan, P. (2013, March).  Sensor system uncertainty and the Fano based information theoretic method. DTIC AFRL-RY-WP-TR-2012-0342.
  • Pasala, K., & Malas, J. (2011, April). HRR radar signature database validation for ATR: an information theoretic approach. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 47(2).
  • Malas, J., & Cortese, J. (2010). The radar information channel and system uncertainty. IEEE proceedings to the 2010 IEEE Radar Conference, Washington DC.
  • Malas, J., & Pasala, K. (2003, October). Automatic target classification of slow moving targets in clutter. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 39(4).

Selected Patents

  • Malas, J., & Pasala, K. Radar signature database validation for automatic target recognition. U.S. Patent No. 8,872,693, issued October 28, 2014.
  • Malas, J., & Pasala, K. Radar signature database validation for automatic target recognition. U.S. Patent No. 8-350-749 B1, issued January 8, 2013.

Selected Research and Work

  • Principle Research Scientist AFRL/Sensors directorate, USAF, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 2002-2015.
  • Radar Tech Expert, USAF, Aeronautical Systems Center, Engineering Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 1999-2002.

Selected Honors and Awards

  • Department of the Air Force Award for Exemplary Service, 2015
  • Department of the Air Force Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award, 2015
  • Department of the Air Force Special Act Award, 2015
  • AFRL Sensors Directorate Dr. Samuel M. Burka Scientific/Technical Memorial Award, 2011
  • Air Force Material Command General James Ferguson Engineering Award,1995

Courses Taught

  • Statistical Signal Processing (ECE-661)  2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 , 2015, 2017
  • Information Theory (ECE-535)  2012 , 2016
  • Engineering Probability and Random Processes ECE-340, 2016, 2017

Degrees

  • Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Dayton, 2002
  • M.S., Electrical Systems Engineering, Wright State University, 1991
  • B.S., Electrical Systems Engineering, Wright State University, 1983

Licenses, Certifications and Credentials

  • Ohio, Professional Engineer

Professional Activities

  • Senior Member, IEEE, since 2010, member since 1990

Research Interests

  • Information theory-based applications to sensors and natural phenomena
  • Parametric and non-parametric estimation, parametric modeling for inference within the finite sample regime 
  • Airborne radar architecture systems trade study techniques and associated modeling
  • Statistical characterization of RF target signature and scattering characterization and modeling
  • Radar signature phenomenology studies related to information sensing systems