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Optical Engineering Services Team Members
The group consists of optical engineers who use our products: CODE V imaging design software, LightTools illumination design software and LucidShape automotive lighting design software. Members of the optical engineering team have been awarded over 130 patents in the field of optical design and optical engineering.
David R. Jenkins
DIRECTOR, R&D, OPTICS
Dave Jenkins’ product and system design experience includes novel illumination systems in automotive exterior lighting, street lighting, medical lighting, architectural lighting, avionics, display systems, projection systems, machine vision, scanners, R&D instrumentation, entertainment lighting, LED packages and light engines. He often employs innovative modeling and optimization techniques, algorithms, mapping strategies, and geometry parameterizations. Dave has developed numerous metrology systems to aid in characterizing optical materials, light sources, LEDs, and illumination products focusing most recently on electrical-thermal-optical characterization of LEDs for color mixed systems and characterization of phosphors and optical materials exhibiting volumetric scattering.
Mark Kahan
CHIEF ENGINEER OF ELECTRO-OPTICAL SYSTEMS
Mark Kahan is an expert in optical systems engineering, error budgeting, the interdisciplinary modeling of environmental effects on and the cost of optical systems, materials/stability, radiative loads/shielding and aircraft windows/boundary layers. He has served in roles that have included full performance accountability, research, computer code development, and technology assessments from the UV to the IR in environments from underwater to outer space.
Imaging Design
Mike Rodgers, Ph.D.
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER, OPTICAL DESIGN
Dr. Mike Rodgers experience is primarily in the area of the design, analysis, and tolerance allocation of optical systems. A significant fraction of his recent and ongoing work is in support of specialized advanced programs, conducted on-site at the customers’ facilities, which has led to successfully fabricated optics. One of Mike’s unique areas of expertise is the optical design of unobscured mirror systems with 3-7 mirrors.
John Rogers, Ph.D.
SYNOPSYS SCIENTIST, IMAGING OPTICS
Dr. John Rogers has designed such diverse systems as photogrammetry for clinical dental use, ophthalmic surgical systems, biocular and binocular systems, FLIR systems, helmet-mounted displays, zoom lenses, and systems using Gradient Index (GRIN) lenses, all of which resulted in operational hardware. He has expertise in optical fabrication and metrology and is an expert with the process of taking an optical design into production.
Dr. Rogers is the 2020 recipient of the SPIE Rudolf and Hilda Kingslake Award and was recognized as an Optica Fellow in 2025.
Scott W. Sparrold, M.S.
STAFF OPTICAL ENGINEER, OPTICAL DESIGN
Scott Sparrold is an experienced optical engineer with extensive experience in lens design, analysis, and tolerancing in visible through long-wavelength IR in the military, commercial, and optical research applications. His background spans the full engineering life cycle from research into freeform optics, diffractives, and compact imaging spectrometers (hyperspectral) to manufacturing engineering for optical production systems with drop-together processes.
Eric A. Herman
STAFF OPTICAL ENGINEER, OPTICAL DESIGN
Eric Herman is an optical engineer with a focus on optical design, analysis, and tolerancing. His experience varies across many different applications, from biomedical to space systems. He has experience with taking a design from concept to successful end use and is an expert in international standards, with a focus on lens specification and environmental testing.
David Lippman, Ph.D.
STAFF OPTICAL ENGINEER, OPTICAL DESIGN
Dr. David Lippman is an optical designer with experience ranging from zoom systems and cine lenses to riflescopes and gradient-index (GRIN) optics. He also has a background in freeform design including Alvarez lenses and freeform-GRIN optimization. David is well-versed in aberration theory and leverages this background in the design process.
Illumination Design
Bill Cassarly, Ph.D.
SENIOR SCIENTIST,
ILLUMINATION ENGINEERING
Dr. Bill Cassarly is a driving force in the movement to create the field of computer-aided illumination engineering. His efforts include illumination optimization, illumination engineering consulting, technical papers and invited talks, educational course development, and intellectual property development.
Mike Zollers
STAFF OPTICAL ENGINEER,
ILLUMINATIONS SYSTEM DESIGN
Mike is an experienced illumination engineer with extensive experience working with solid-state (LED) light systems and applications, stray light analysis, color science, BSDF and optical scattering materials, human vision modeling, injection-molded plastic optics, CAD software (including SOLIDWORKS, Rhinoceros, and CATIA V5), and software development in Visual Basic, C#, and C++. His design experience spans multiple domains, from automotive exterior lighting to airfield lighting and from portable lighting to streetlighting.
Larry Boxler
SENIOR STAFF OPTICAL ENGINEER,
ILLUMINATIONS SYSTEM DESIGN
Larry is an experienced illumination engineer with extensive experience developing illumination systems and applications, stray light analysis, scattering characterization and modeling, and software development to support illumination design and application. In addition to his design engineering roles, he has also spent several years as a process engineer for injection molding plastic optical elements and experience with the manufacture, assembly and testing of lighting components. His projects have spanned multiple domains including automotive lighting, airfield, naval, medical device and large area outdoor lighting.
Need Design Help?
From concept to completion, our Optical Engineering Services team of optical engineering experts can help you with your design — at any stage in the process.
