Commitment, character, and creativity drive results.
Our team shares a passion for discovery.
Meet the ASE Engineers
Dr. Wade Cook is an optical systems engineer and the engineering manager for ASE Optics. He received his Ph.D. in Optics from the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester, his Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and his B.S. in Engineering Physics from the U.S. Military Academy. His dissertation research, conducted with Dr. Nicholas George, was in holography of moving objects and laser measurement of small amplitude, low frequency vibrations. Before coming to ASE Optics, Wade was an optical systems engineer and project manager for ITT Geospatial Systems. There, he worked in various stages of the design, manufacture, assembly, and test of electro-optic remote sensing devices, including space and airborne systems. He also worked in image chain analysis and lidar system simulation. His management experience includes leadership of U.S. Army units in the U.S., Italy, Bosnia, and Afghanistan.
Dr. Jennifer Rouke is an optical engineer at ASE optics. She received her Ph.D. in optics from the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester and her B.A. in physics from the University of Pennsylvania. Her doctoral research, conducted with Duncan T. Moore, was on birefringence in gradient-index (GRIN) materials. Her graduate studies involved both experimental and theoretical work including fabrication of gradient-index glass, interferometric measurement of index profiles and wavefronts, derivation of birefringent GRIN ray tracing equations, and modeling of fringe patterns. Before coming to ASE Optics, Jennifer was a senior optical analyst at ITT Geospatial Systems. There she performed extensive modeling and analysis of complex remote sensing systems. She also played a major role in the alignment of GeoEye-1 and WorldView-2, which are satellites that provide the highest resolution commercial Earth imaging currently available.
Christopher Ditchman is an optical engineer at ASE Optics. He has an M.S. in Optics from the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester, and a B.A. in Physics from The College of Wooster. His experience covers image processing, interferometry, optical modeling, computer programming, electronic interfacing, software development, and system assembly and testing. Mr. Ditchman has performed work for The University of Rochester’s Laboratory of Laser Energetics, the US Army, SCRAM Technologies, Bausch & Lomb, Lumetrics, and other companies. For his graduate research, he constructed a phase shifting interferometer, and his undergraduate work involved building an automated measurement system for analyzing liquid crystal samples. During his undergraduate years, he completed an internship at the NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory and worked on remote sensing and satellite imagery.
John Osborn is an optical engineer with ASE Optics. He holds an M.S. in Optics and B.S. in Physics and Astronomy, both from the University of Rochester. Before joining ASE Optics, John was an optical systems engineer with ITT Geospatial Systems. At ITT he developed models and analyses of space-based telescope systems for performance parameters such as expected MTF, stray light and near-field background. John is co-inventor on several patents relating to beam delivery systems for excimer laser systems used in Lasik surgery. Optics he helped design and engineer have been used to treat millions of patients in the US and worldwide. John has a wide range of experience in design and simulation of all types of optical systems including imaging, laser, illumination and non-imaging systems in wavelengths from the deep UV to the thermal infrared.
Nathan Burdick is an optical engineer at ASE Optics. He received his M.S. from the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester, and a B.S. in Physics from SUNY Oswego. Mr. Burdick held engineering positions at Micron Technology and JML Optical Industries. He has experience with optical design, optical testing, and assembly.
Peter Emmel is an optical engineer at ASE Optics. His expertise spans technical and administrative areas amounting to over 38 years of experience, particularly in the fields of laser interferometry and metrology, optical system integration and alignment, lens design and testing, and mechanical system design. Mr. Emmel has served in technical and managerial capacities at Tropel, Coherent, Inc., Mendon Optronics (which he founded), Rochester Photonics Corp., and SEMROCK Inc. His educational background includes a degree in economics as well as optical engineering, management, and manufacturing training.
Jun Zou is a mechanical engineer at ASE Optics. He received a B.S. and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rochester. His M.S. thesis focused on armature design and error modeling for multi-axis metrology machines. These machines are used by ASE Optics and OptiPro Systems of Ontario, NY in research funded by the Department of the Navy. Jun has experience in computer-aided design and finite element analysis.
