Dr. Brandon Cochenour is the deputy program manager for the Department of Defense’s SMART Scholarship Program. Prior to his current role, he spent 16 years as a civilian researcher at the Naval Air Warfare Center in Patuxent River, Maryland, where he led basic and applied research in underwater laser communications, imaging, sensing, and oceanographic lidar. He has over 50 scientific publications, 5 US Patents, and 1 textbook chapter. Dr. Cochenour is a 2019 recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), a previous Department of Defense Laboratory Scientist of the Quarter, and a three-time Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Navy Scientist awardee. Dr. Cochenour is also a former SMART Scholar.