Argonne Air Force Fellows

Promoting communication between the Air Force and Argonne, encouraging collaborations that benefit the departments of Energy and Defense.

Each year, two fellows are placed at Argonne for the prestigious one-year national program to conduct research on an area of their choice. Fellows are selected through a rigorous review based on merit, rank in their respective career fields, and education and experience relevant to Argonne’s mission.

The Air Force Fellows program maintains and strengthens a longstanding relationship between the laboratory and Air Force, and reinforces the key role played by Argonne’s national security programs.

2024 – 2025

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel R. Carroll

Prior to his Fellowship at Argonne, Lt. Col. Dan Carroll was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH where he completed a four-year assignment as program manager for an advanced electronic warfare suite for the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II.

A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Lt. Col. Carroll holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering. Upon completing his master’s degree in 2009, he returned to USAFA to teach Mechanical Engineering from 2010 to 2013, during which time he deployed to Afghanistan as an aircraft combat damage assessor. In 2013, he moved to the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles AFB, CA and led a modernization program for the Space Based Infrared System. From 2017 to 2019, he led the Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate in awarding the final $2.8 billion contract for design, development, and certification of the next Air Force One aircraft.

Major Grant C. Ellis

Prior to his Fellowship at Argonne, Maj. Grant C. Ellis was the T-38 Deputy Branch Chief at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, where he led 132 interdisciplinary civilian, military, and contract personnel to conduct lifecycle sustainment for 501 T-38A, B and C model aircraft, supporting fighter pilot and companion trainer operations. He managed a portfolio of safety, training enhancements, block upgrades and was responsible for acquisitions valued at $1.7 billion.

Originally from Oklahoma City, Maj. Ellis entered the Air Force through the Reserve Officers Training Corps in 2012, after graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in aviation management. Maj. Ellis was selected to be a Logistics Readiness Officer and worked across multiple duty assignments, supporting deployments, vehicles, fuel and materiel distribution for the first nine years of his career. In 2020, he earned a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia Southern University and in 2021, Major Ellis was selected to cross flow to program management.