Dennis Lockwood of Cutting Edge Optronics (CEO) received the Outstanding Advisory Award during the Spring Advisory Meeting on May 4th at Indian Hills Community College (IHCC) in Ottumwa, IA. Dennis has been providing support and guidance for the Lasers & Optics Technology Program at IHCC for over 20+ years.
Helping Our Customers, Helping Our Future
Pictured: Dennis Lockwood holding the 2023 Outstanding Advisory Award alongside Michael Shay, Instructor of the IHCC Lasers & Optics Technology Program.
The Advisory Board at IHCC meets twice annually, with two advisors recognized at the spring session. Dennis, a 1989 graduate of the program, understands the criticality of feedback from industry to better prepare the students for the workforce. “It’s a great experience, we travel to IHCC, discuss the curriculum, and get the opportunity to meet the students. We make suggestions to help classes fit our requirements.”
His contributions have also been successful in guiding the future of CEO. Over twenty graduates of IHCC are currently employed in all levels of the company. Their contributions improve not only the quality of CEO’s products, but the company itself.
Dennis makes the trip to Ottumwa multiple times a year (he just completed his 42nd trip) to provide feedback on a program that’s constantly evolved since his student days. “My classes back in the late 80’s were in a basement with very few labs and only a few lasers. We helped design the lab space the program moved into a few short years after I graduated.”
In addition to Dennis’ guidance, CEO provides equipment like modules and electronic drivers for the students to use in their studies. This gives current students experience with the same technology used by CEO every day, providing them an edge in a very competitive hiring field. In 2023, 15 companies showed up to interview a pool of 11 graduates. Two chose CEO to start their careers.
It’s not all about CEO, of course. Dennis’ duties with the advisory board involve advising the students on the industry. He also makes suggestions on ways for the program to recruit future students and ways for the program to fundraise for an annual trip to Photonics West, the “world’s leading photonics technologies event.”
In a crowd of over 300 advisors on the board, receiving the Outstanding Advisory Award certainly does stand out. “I just thoroughly enjoy being a part of it, not just getting to meet the students, but to be involved,” Dennis says.
A group of current IHCC graduates employed at CEO. From left to right: James Armstrong, Drew Overturf, Ryan Crittenden, Jevon Bailey, Dustin Garrett, Pat Johnson, Joe Redding, Max Stursma, Christian Burgess, Ian Terry Boyenga, Daniel Henderson, Amir Abdalla, Michael Snethen. Not pictured: Scott Taylor, Mike Fischer, Marlos Hickam, Brandon Hymes, Kaci Loggia, Sage Rupp, Vicente Guerrero, and Dennis Lockwood.
In the captivating world of diamond cutting, precision and finesse reign supreme. The transformation of rough stones into dazzling gemstones requires cutting-edge technology that can bring out the true brilliance and beauty hidden within. At Cutting Edge Optronics (CEO), we have harnessed the power of advanced laser technology to help revolutionize the diamond cutting process. Our state-of-the-art Iklwa/Patara lasers set new standards of excellence in diamond cutting machines, offering unparalleled performance and elevating diamond cutting capabilities to unprecedented heights.
At CEO, we recognize the intricate artistry, science and technology behind diamond cutting. With our pioneering Iklwa/Patara lasers, we have unlocked new possibilities and pushed the boundaries of precision. Powered by innovative design and manufacturing technologies, our lasers offer exceptional control and accuracy, enabling diamond cutting machine manufacturers to achieve remarkable results that were once deemed unattainable. At the heart of each laser resides CEO’s advanced SilentLight DPSS laser module, ensuring superior beam pointing and pulse to pulse stability as well as a nearly perfectly round beam shape at focus, allowing for precise material removal without damaging the surrounding areas. With our lasers installed in their machines, diamond cutters can achieve the ideal symmetry, proportions, and facets that bring out the mesmerizing brilliance of each stone.
CEO has been at the forefront of laser technology advancements for years. Our commitment to continuous innovation and research has allowed us to develop laser systems specifically tailored for diamond cutting, of both traditionally mined as well as new, synthetically grown crystals. Paying attention to the 24/7/365 operational requirements of the diamond cutting business, our Iklwa/Patara lasers set the standard of excellence in the industry for performance, reliability and lifetime, empowering diamond cutters to create extraordinary gems that capture the hearts and imaginations of admirers worldwide.
All Iklwa/Patara laser modules are pumped with CEO’s own laser diode arrays – designed and manufactured in the same factory as the laser systems themselves – ensuring optimal performance and efficiency. The lasers are designed for easy serviceability with straightforward laser diode replacement once end of life (EOL) has been reached after years of operation in diamond cutting factories.
As the world of diamond cutting evolves, CEO remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Our state-of-the-art Iklwa/Patara lasers offer unparalleled precision and finesse, elevating the diamond cutting experience to extraordinary levels. By choosing CEO’s lasers, diamond cutting machine makers gain access to revolutionary tools that unlock new realms of creativity and enable the creation of truly exceptional diamond masterpieces. Join us in embracing the power of laser technology and witness the transformation of rough stones into dazzling works of art.
Cutting Edge Optronics (CEO) leverages automated bonders in its automation center to increase capacity and improve quality across many of its product lines. These bonders are routinely employed to build subassemblies with one or multiple diode bars which are then incorporated into CEO’s diode arrays, laser amplifiers, and DPSS lasers.
Automated Bonders
According to Jeremy Junghans, CEO’s Engineering Manager for Laser Diode Production, “We have developed a wide range of die attach processes utilizing gold-tin (AuSn) solder and various CTE-matched heatsinks. We apply these processes to build subassemblies that are used in numerous applications across our customer base.”
The bonders are operated on multiple shifts, nearly around the clock, which facilitates the manufacture of high-volume products. One of the products that makes extensive use of the automated bonders is the H-package, shown below. These arrays feature full-hard-solder construction and are commonly used in long (> 50ms) pulse applications, such as hair removal.
Cutting Edge Optronics (CEO) has developed the DC2P, a dual-channel laser diode driver that reduces diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser system complexity and cuts required electronics rack space in half. Many high-energy DPSS laser systems utilize multiple large amplifier modules with a significant number of pump laser diode bars required to pump the laser crystal in each module. An example DPSS laser for materials processing employs 10 of CEO’s 1” REA Power PulseTM amplifier modules with almost 500 pump laser diode bars per module, along with several smaller modules. In place of 30 stand-alone 2U eDrives, CEO’s new DC2P dual-channel driver (also 2U) condenses the total number of drivers in the system’s electronics rack to 15. Each of the two channels in the DC2P delivers 300A current pulses and supports loads up to 365V (~168 laser diode bars.)
DC2P Dual-Channel Driver
The new driver also simplifies overall laser system architecture, particularly for industrial applications that rely on remote computer control. Communication utilizes the Telnet protocol over TCP instead of a front panel interface, with built-in safety features to protect the laser system if communication is lost. AC input power and Ethernet network connection is shared between the channels in a single unit, with each channel independently controlled and triggered remotely for fine-tuning of each module’s performance and timing within the laser system.
“This new dual-channel driver is a significant advancement for controlling any DPSS laser system more complex than a simple, single-module laser,” said Ryan Feeler, CEO’s CTO / Director of Business Development. Added Feeler, “Many large OEM, scientific and industrial DPSS laser applications will benefit from the significantly lowered system footprint and ease of use afforded by the DC2P dual-channel driver.”
The DC2P represents the latest development in CEO’s laser diode drive electronics product line. CEO continues to push the envelope of what’s possible in sophistication, functionality, and size reduction, and is looking forward to releasing the next generation stand-alone eDrive soon.
For additional information on CEO’s custom high-energy DPSS laser systems, see this short video. Contact us for more information about the DC2P and any of our laser diode, laser module, drive electronics, and laser system products for more details.
In the same year it celebrated its 30th anniversary, Cutting Edge Optronics (CEO) set record achievements across multiple business categories. Annual external shipments were at an all-time high, increasing by nearly 70% over the past two years.
“This strong performance and growth was achieved through the dedicated efforts of our talented and customer-focused team at CEO,” said Scott Mize, CEO General Manager. “Each and every employee contributed to these record results and is committed to serving our customers.”
Cutting Edge Optronics Headquarters, St. Charles, MO
CEO entered 2023 well-positioned with a record backlog after acquiring several key contracts among its highest-ever annual bookings total. The significant growth CEO experienced in the past several years continued to fuel its laser diode-based business across diverse commercial markets such as semiconductor manufacturing, materials processing, and high energy science, and well as the defense and aerospace sectors.
“CEO has experienced excellent growth over the past two years, and we owe a great deal of that to our customers – old and new”, said Ryan Feeler, CTO / Director of Business Development. “It has been fascinating to watch customers and markets develop over the past several years and for CEO to play a key role in their success.”
In the coming year, the company’s focus will be on continuing the expansion of its manufacturing capabilities along with its workforce to respond to the sustained increase in demand of its diode bars, laser diode arrays, laser modules, drive electronics, and custom diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser systems. The doubling of CEO’s GaAs wafer processing clean room space has begun, with installation of new wafer processing equipment following shortly. CEO also continues to add to our team of highly skilled and engaged employees. For information about employment opportunities at CEO, visit our careers website.
Cutting Edge Optronics (CEO) celebrated its 30th year of operation on October 8th, 2022. Located in St. Charles, MO, CEO is a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation. The company manufactures sophisticated high-powered diode-pumped solid-state lasers (DPSSLs) and key subcomponents for DPSSLs, including laser gain modules, laser diode arrays and laser diode bars. As one of the only vertically integrated laser manufacturers in the United States with 100% domestic production, CEO has grown into a thriving, competitive global business. CEO credits its success to the sustained efforts of a highly diverse, committed and skilled workforce where every employee contributes in a meaningful way to every product shipped. The company celebrated its 30th year with a company picnic. Current, past and retired employees were all invited with their families to celebrate the milestone, with every employee receiving a commemorative t-shirt.
The History of CEO
1992 – 2000: CEO as a Small Business
Cutting Edge Optronics was founded in 1992 near St. Louis by two former McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company (MDAC) employees. MDAC had a long history of developing lasers for optical communication, laser range finders, and directed energy (Star Wars) weapons. CEO began its business as a small custom laser development group focused on commercial lasers for use in industrial manufacturing.
The first products produced by CEO were complete laser systems and important subcomponents such as laser drive electronics and laser gain modules. In the first few years before CEO developed its own sophisticated manufacturing operations, the company purchased subcomponents for laser gain modules, assembled them, and then performed final testing. CEO expanded its capabilities to laser bar packaging with the Silver Bullet product and opened its own laser diode bar and array manufacturing facility in 1995/1996. In a few short years, with in-house laser diode bar production combined with the design flexibility of the Silver Bullet package, CEO became a market force supplying the laser industry with cost effective, quick turnaround laser solutions.
Throughout the late 1990s CEO continued to sell full custom lasers, but its real growth came from developing cost effective gain modules and arrays that were sold to Asian companies making laser marking/engraving machines. In 1998 CEO moved to its current St. Charles, MO facility and expanded production capabilities further by doubling manufacturing floor space, which allowed the business to further increase its breadth of product offerings.
2000 – 2002: TRW
In 2002, CEO was purchased by TRW, a large manufacturer of satellite & space hardware, automotive parts and a developer of large custom laser systems. It acquired CEO as a way to transition TRW’s large, military laser systems into commercial products for industrial manufacturing. TRW doubled the size of CEO’s manufacturing space and transferred ~20 employees from California to CEO to pursue laser based Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) photolithography technology for use in the production of microprocessors (such as Intel PC chips). TRW also had a long historical involvement with directed energy weapons and was the first company to shoot down a missile in flight with a high-powered laser.
2002 – Present: Northrop Grumman
TRW was acquired by Northrop Grumman in 2002 for its technology in satellites, space systems and high-powered lasers enabling CEO to develop high powered laser technology and accomplish large increases in power and performance. With the inclusion of components and technology developed at CEO, Northrop Grumman produced a world record high-powered directed energy weapon exceeding 100,000 watts. In the past decade, CEO has expanded its product lines and markets to over 400 customers in 40 different countries.
CEO products can be found in:
Ultra-high power laser weapons for the U.S. military (missile defense)
Underwater mine hunting systems
Bathymetry (underwater mapping) systems
Target designation and range finding apparatus
High power lasers for diamond cutting
Laser and optical amplifiers for scientific research
Microelectronic manufacturing
Laser marking systems
Laser annealing systems
Coating removal systems
Dermatology (hair removal) laser systems
CEO has experienced tremendous growth during the past three years, with a record backlog that has positioned the company for continued success in both current and new markets. To address this significant upturn, CEO is expanding its cleanroom manufacturing space to increase capacity and improve capability in wafer processing, laser diode packaging and diode array production, which are the foundation of its overall business. The next decade should be the most exciting of CEO’s history. We look forward to celebrating the next anniversary in 2032.
Current and past employees celebrate “30 Years of Awesomeness” at the CEO company picnic.
Cutting Edge Optronics (CEO), a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, is pleased to announce the appointment of Scott Mize to the role of General Manager, reporting to Frank Bernas, Vice President of NGC’s Space Components and Strategic Businesses BU. In his more than 21-year tenure at the company, Mize has previously held the positions of Chief Operating Officer (COO), Director of Engineering, and Engineering Programs Manager, among others.
Scott Mize, General Manager
Mize brings a wealth of operations and engineering management experience along with strong business development capabilities to lead CEO on its continued growth trajectory. In the previous three years during Mize’s time as COO, CEO’s revenue grew by 50% and its productivity by 33%. As Engineering Manager, he directed the successful expansion of CEO’s capabilities into the high energy laser market with the development of 2J green to 10J IR laser systems that are operating in the world’s leading scientific laser facilities, including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Laboratory for Laser Energetics – University of Rochester in the USA, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM) in China, and ELI Beamlines in Czech Republic. These initial high energy laser systems enabled CEO’s foray into commercial markets that utilize high energy lasers such as laser shock peening and additive manufacturing/3D printing.
“I’m excited and proud to serve and support this exceptional team of employees in providing 100% US-made, vertically integrated laser diode arrays, diode-pumped laser gain modules and laser systems to our defense and commercial industry partners. Our strong performance and expansion of product capabilities are a direct result of the dedicated, talented, team focused efforts of each and every employee at CEO,” said Mize.
Prior to starting at CEO, Mize worked as an Operations Manager for MEMC Electronic Materials after serving seven years as a Nuclear Submarine Officer in the US Navy.
Originally from California and an avid skydiver, Mize graduated from UC San Diego with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering and holds a MS degree in Engineering Management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Cutting Edge Optronics (CEO) recently announced plans to significantly expand its laser diode manufacturing capabilities as part of its continued growth. The first phase will be an expansion of the front-end manufacturing area which processes Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) wafers for use in laser diode arrays. This project will more than double CEO’s cleanroom space in 2023. Installation of a new set of wafer processing equipment will follow shortly.
Demand for CEO’s products is at an all-time high, and sales of CEO’s laser diode-related products have increased by nearly 70% over the past two years. “We have experienced record sales growth in the past two years,” said Ryan Feeler – CTO and Director of Business Development. “The upcoming expansion will help us continue to meet the needs of our current customers and expand our customer base.”
The new cleanroom space will be a welcome addition to the company, according to General Manager Scott Mize. “A facility expansion is always an exciting time. This investment shows that we are committed to providing an excellent workspace and equipment set for our employees, and we are also committed to our customers’ continued volume and technical requirements.”
CEO recently celebrated its 30th anniversary in the laser business and has been producing laser diode bars and arrays at its St. Charles, MO (USA) facility since 1996. The planned expansion is the latest in a series of recent upgrades to the facility that have been focused on automation, manufacturing efficiencies, and improved product quality.
Cutting Edge Optronics, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, has extensive experience developing and manufacturing military and aerospace solid state laser systems. Applications for these systems include LIDAR, bathymetry, satellite tracking, illumination, imaging, non-destructive testing, aircraft paint stripping, and nuclear fuel enrichment. Many of these applications are airborne in nature and often operate in harsh environments. Environmental stress screening (ESS) plays a key role in validating these systems prior to deployment. CEO recently completed ESS re-qualification testing after pre-planned engineering updates to one such laser system, the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) Laser.
Figure 1 – The ALMDS laser system is shown mounted on a MH-60S helicopter (https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/air/airborne-laser-mine-detection-system/).
The ALMDS laser is a well-established system that has been flight qualified on multiple airborne platforms. The laser’s design was recently updated to allow one of the components to be replaced with a more optimal model. MIL-STD-810F thermal, vibration and shock testing was completed at CEO on a representative laser following the design modifications. The laser’s performance parameters were measured before and after each environmental exposure. Design, manufacturing, optical testing and environmental testing were all completed at CEO’s facility in St. Charles, MO. “The capability to complete ESS testing in-house allows CEO to minimize the duration and cost of the design, manufacturing and qualification processes” said Jeremy Junghans, Senior Engineer.
Figure 2 – CEO’s temperature and humidity test chambers (left) and shock and vibration lab (center, right) allows ESS testing to MIL-STD levels to be completed in house.
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Figure 3 – An ALMDS laser system is shown during operational thermal testing (external chamber left; internal chamber right).
Additional information about CEO is below: – CEO is experienced with the design, development and manufacturing of DPSS lasers for airborne LIDAR. – CEO also provides Laser Diode Arrays specifically designed for high-temperature operation.
Cutting Edge Optronics (CEO), a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, recently demonstrated the robustness and reliability of its long pulse laser diode array product line. These arrays are often used as a direct diode source for medical, industrial and military products. Many of these applications require 0.5-100ms pulse lengths and life times of greater than 1 million shots at high peak output powers.
