Dr. Ruth M. Doherty is an internationally recognized expert in energetic materials, with more than 30 years of experience in the area of research and development of energetic materials and technology for countering improvised explosive devices. From 2012 to 2015 she served as the head of the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Department at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division. Prior to this position, she was the Chief Scientist in the Explosives Division of the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology (DHS S&T) Directorate. She is a subject matter expert in the development and characterization of explosives, particularly for studies on the factors affecting differences in shock sensitivity of explosives. In her role as Program Executive Officer for Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices from 2008 to 2010 at DHS S&T, she supported research in the areas of detection of explosives, approaches to rendering IEDs safe, and mitigation of blast effects from explosions. Dr. Doherty received a B.S. in Chemistry (1970), a M.S. in Organic Chemistry (1973) and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (1980), all from the University of Maryland. From 1982 to 2008 she was with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, starting as a Research Chemist and also serving as the Program Manager of the Explosives Thrust of the Explosives and Undersea Warheads Block Program, Director of the Detonation Physics Division, and Technical Advisor in the Research Department. She served as the U.S. Representative to the NATO Energetic Materials Subgroup within the Ammunition Safety Group, and chaired the Subgroup from 2007 to 2008. She was awarded the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service award, the third highest civilian award in the Navy, in 2004 for her contributions in the field of Energetic Materials. She is currently a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the journal Propellants, Explosives and Pyrotechnics.
Nonideal explosive, Cocrystals, Insensitive Energetics, Improvised explosives, Pyrotechnics, Green Energetics