OSSC October Meeting & Technical Presentation by Dr. Jim Burge

Jim Burge is President of AOM – Arizona Optical Metrology, a small company started in 2009 that manufactures computer-generated holograms and incorporates them into measuring equipment, and Professor Emeritus of Optics and Astronomy at the University of Arizona. Dr. Burge started his adventure in optics at Ohio State University earning a BS in Engineering Physics and working as a mechanical engineer building stabilized platforms for optical systems. From there he went to the University of Arizona to learn about the optical systems themselves. He worked as a research scientist for the astronomy department for nearly a decade — working on telescopes, instruments, and large mirror manufacture — and earned a PhD. in optics along the way. He then pursued a career in academia as a Professor of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona, performing research and teaching in optomechanics, optical systems engineering, and optical testing. He also served as advisor for many companies that build optical systems and government organizations that use them. Dr. Burge led the development of measurement systems for a wide range of projects, including mirrors and lenses for the world’s most powerful telescopes. Dr. Burge since graduated from the University and applies his energy to industry, leading AOM to develop custom metrology systems that support a wide range of applications from precision machining to consumer optics to space telescopes. He is a Fellow of SPIE and Optica and a 2011 recipient of the OSA Fraunhofer-Burley Award which recognizes significant research accomplishments in the field of optical engineering.