Michael R. Murphy
michael.r.murphy98.civ@mail.mil
Dr. Murphy received a BS in psychology in 1967 from Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, and a PhD in brain science from MIT, Cambridge, MA, in 1972. He joined the US Air Force Research Laboratory in 1989 and was Chief of the Radio Frequency Radiation Branch from 1994-2004 and directly contributed to studies on the biological effects of millimeter waves and high peak power pulses.
Dr. Murphy is author or co-author of over 230 research publications and reports. He is an elected member of the Board and long-time sponsor of the Bioelectromagnetics Society (BEMS) and served as President BEMS 2009-2010. He is an active member of the Directed Energy Professional Society. He served as a member of the International Advisory Committee for the World Health Organization (WHO) project on electromagnetic fields (EMF) from 1995-2004. He is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, and the IEEE Standards Board. He participates in the IEEE International Committee for Electromagnetic Safety, for which he served as International Liaison for 10 years and currently serves as Membership Chair. Since 1999, Dr. Murphy has worked closely with the NATO on the topic of the human effects of non-lethal weapons.
Dr. Murphy has received many awards from the USAF, the most prestigious of which have been the 2002 AF S&E Award for Exploratory or Advanced Technology Development, the 1995 AFMC S&T Achievement Award, the 1993 AF Chief of Staff Team Quality Award, and the 1991 David M. Clark Technology Transition Award. In 2003 he received the IEEE Standards Board Medallion and in 2004 their International Award. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers, of the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the Directed Energy Professional Society.
Dr. Murphy is currently the Scientific Director, Directed Energy Bioeffects Division, where he champions the importance of bioeffects research for supporting military applications of directed energy and non-lethal weapons. His work enables weapons design, optimal safe Test and Evaluation, threat assessment, exposure standards, medical preparedness, protection, and policy decisions.