Lt Col Christopher A. Lenyk

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Lieutenant Colonel Lenyk is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Physics (ENP) at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Air University, Air Education and Traning Command (AETC), Wright Patterson AFB – Dayton, OH. He develops and teaches courses in the areas of nuclear weapon effects, nuclear weapon and reactor physics, and radiation effects in solids and devices.  He manages a research portfolio aligned with the operational needs for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center.  He leads 17 students as the academic advisor for nuclear engineering master’s students and organizes the departmental seminar for +130 students, faculty, and staff. His primary research interests are experimental solid state physics responsible for identifying and characterizing isolated point defects in electronic and optical materials, and fast computational models for predicting defect formation in bulk and 2D materials.

Lt Col Lenyk graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2002 with a Bachelor’s in Nuclear Engineering and commissioned through ROTC. Lt Col Lenyk has served in variety of technical and leadership positions.  As a technical officer he served at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Directed Energy Directorate (RD), Kirtland AFB, New Mexico working with both high powered lasers and microwave systems. He has a breadth of experience in intelligence, surveillence, reconnaissance serving  assignments at the Air Force Technical Applications Center conducting the nuclear treaty monitoring mission and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center.  He completed his Master’s in Nuclear Engineering in 2014 at the Air Force Institute of Technology researching nuclear weapon effects. He directed the scientific efforts on +60 tests supporting counter-weapons of mass destruction, and hardened, deeply buried target missions at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency at Kirtland, AFB.  He was admitted to the AFIT faculty pipeline program and began his PhD program in Sep 2016, graduating in Dec 2019 and joined the faculty in the Nuclear Engineering program.   

Lt Col Lenyk has taught courses in nuclear weapon physics, nuclear reactor theory and engineering, solid state physics, introductory and advanced nuclear weapon effects, and radiation effects on electronics.      

Education

PhD, Nuclear Engineering, Air Force Institute of Techology (AFIT), 2019

MS, Nuclear Engineering, AFIT, 2014

BS, Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2002

Awards

Military Decorations:

• Defense Meritorious Service Medal, 2016
•  Meritorious Service Medal, 2012
• Air Force Commendation Medal, 2005 & 2009

Other Recognition:

• Tau Beta Pi Honor Society, 2017
• Top 1/3 Graduate, Squadron Officer School (SOS), 2009
• Briefing Award, Squadron Officer School (SOS), 2009
• Outstanding Contributor, Squadron Officer School (SOS), 2009
• Outstanding Academic Performer, Air and Space Basic Course (ASBC), 2002

Publications

[11] T. D. Gustafson, N. C. Giles, B. C. Holloway*, C. A. Lenyk, J. Jesenovec, J. S. McCloy, M. D. McCluskey, L. E. Halliburton, “Cu²⁺ and Cu³⁺ acceptors in b-Ga₂O₃ crystals: A magnetic resonance and optical absorption study,” J. Appl. Phys. 131, 065702 (2022)

[10] B. C. Holloway*, T. D. Gustafson, C. A. Lenyk, N. C. Giles,K. T. Zawiliski, P.G. Schunemann, K. L. Averett, L. E. Halliburton, “Optically active selenium vacancies in BaGa₄Se₇ crystals,” J. Appl. Phys. 130, 173104 (2021)

[9]  T. D. Gustafson, J. Jesenovec, C. A. Lenyk, N. C. Giles, J. S. McCloy, M. D. McCluskey, L. E. Halliburton, “Zn acceptors in b-Ga₂O₃ crystals,” J. Appl. Phys. 129, 155701 (2021)

[8] T. D. Gustafson, C. A. Lenyk, L. E. Halliburton, N. C. Giles, “Deep donor behavior of iron in b-Ga₂O₃ crystals: Establishing the Fe^4+/3+ level,” J. Appl. Phys. 128. 145704 (2020)

[7] C. A. Lenyk, T.D. Gustafson, S. A. Basun, L. E. Halliburton, N. C. Giles, “Experimental determination of the (0/-) level for Mg acceptors in b-Ga₂O₃ crystals,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 116, 142101 (2020)

[6] O. M. Shumelyak, A. Yu. Volkov, Ya. M. Skrypka, L. E. Halliburton, N. C. Giles, C. A. Lenyk, S. A. Basun, A. A. Grabar, Yu. M. Vysochansky, S. G. Odulov, D. R. Evans, “Near-infrared-sensitive photorefractive Sn₂P₂S₆ crystals grown by the Bridgman method,” J. Appl. Phys. 127, 103103 (2020)

[5] C. A. Lenyk*, T. D. Gustafson, L. E. Halliburton, N. C. Giles, “Deep donors and acceptors in b-Ga₂O₃ crystals: Determination of the Fe^2+/3+ level by a noncontact method,” J. Appl. Phys. 126, 245701 (2019)

[4] T. E. R. Dodson, L. E. Halliburton, G. S. Kedziora, C. A. Lenyk*, N. C. Giles, “Self-trapped holes (small polarons) in ferroelectric KH₂PO₄ crystals,” J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 31, 505503 (2019)

[3] C. A. Lenyk*, N. C. Giles, E. M. Scherrer, B. E. Kananen, L. E. Halliburton, K. T. Stevens, G. K. Foundos, J. D. Blevins, D. L. Dorsey, S. Mou, “Ir⁴⁺ ions in b-Ga₂O₃: an unintentional deep donor,” J. Appl. Phys. 125, 045703 (2019)

[2] C. A. Lenyk*, M. S. Holston, B. E. Kananen, L. E. Halliburton, N. C. Giles, “Lithium and gallium vacancies in LiGaO₂ crystals,” J. Appl. Phys. 124, 135702 (2018)

[1] C. A. Lenyk*, D. J. Bunker, J. W. McClory, S. R. McHale, B. R. Kowash, “Defining a Methodology for Data Analysis Using Streak Films,” Journal of Radiation Effects, Research and Engineering, 33, 1-E, (2015)

Conference Presentations (not including publications listed above):

[5] C. A. Lenyk and N. C. Giles, “Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical studies of extrinsic point defects in b-Ga₂O₃,” 61^st Electronic Materials Conference of the Materials Research Society, 25 June 2019 (poster).

[4] L. E. Halliburton, T. E. R. Dobson, G. S. Kedziora, C. A. Lenyk, N. C. Giles, “Investigation of self-trapped holes (small polarons) in KH₂PO₄ crystals grown for nonlinear optical applications,” International Conference on Crystal Growth and Epitaxy (ICCGE)-19, 30 July 2019 (oral presentation).

[3] L. E. Halliburton, B. E. Kananen, C. A. Lenyk, E. M. Scherrer, N. C. Giles, “Identification and characterization of donors and acceptors in b-Ga₂O₃ crystals,” ICCGE-19, 1 August 2019 (oral presentation).

[2] C. A. Lenyk, T. D. Gustfason, B. C. Holloway, K. T. Zawiliski, P. G. Schunemann, L. E. Halliburton, N. C. Giles, “Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical studies of intrinsic point defects in BaGa₄Se₇ crystals.” Proc. SPIE. 11670, 2021 (oral presentation).

[1] B. C. Holloway, T. D. Gustafson, C. A. Lenyk, N. C. Giles, K. T. Zawiliski, P. G. Schunemann, K. L. Averett, L. E. Halliburton, “EPR and optical studies of intrinsic point defects in BaGa₄Se₇ crystals.” Photonics West, 25 Jan 2022, (oral presentation).