NAMRU-Dayton bids farewell to senior researcher after 30 years of service

ByZacharyWilson

Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton

Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton came together to bid farewell to a senior scientist with over 30 years of government service Feb. 23 in the Dibley Conference Room.

The Command recognized the achievement and service of Dr J. Lynn Caldwell duringaretirementceremonywherenumerous awards and certificates were presented in front of friends and colleagues Dr Caldwell served as the senior research psychologist with the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory (NAMRL), primarily workingwithinthefieldofsleepandfatigue studies.ShehasworkedatNAMRU-Dayton since2012.

“A few years ago when the admiral called me to say that I had been selected as the next Commanding Officer of Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton, one of the first thoughts that entered my head was, ‘Oh my goodness, I’m going to be working with world-renowned sleep researcher, Dr Lynn Caldwell.’ This was followed very quickly by the realization of, ‘Oh my goodness,world-renownedsleepresearcher,Dr Caldwell is going to be working for me!’ ” said U.S. Navy Capt. Walter W. Dalitsch III, NAMRU-Dayton Commanding Officer “When I was fortunate enough to be assigned to one of my favorite jobs in my career,onstaffatourNavyandMarineCorps School of Aviation Safety, teaching the fleet Aviation Safety Officers and prospective [commanding officers] and [executive officers] myseriesoffatiguelectureswasbased primarilyon[her]work…thematerialwasso riveting and impactful for my students that thenumberonerequestedtopicwhenIwas invited as a guest speaker for safety standdownswasthemitigationoffatigue.”

AccordingtoCapt Dalitsch,Dr Caldwell is a “legend in the aeromedical research community” and her research reflects the designation. Dr Caldwell was a lead author or contributor to nearly 50 peer-reviewed journals 10booksorbookchapters 34technical reports 32 published abstracts and over 100 conference presentations, poster presentationsandworkshopevents

“Lynn Caldwell arrived soon after NAMRL relocated from Pensacola in 2011, having lost the majority of its staff in the yearsleadinguptothemove,”saidDrRich- ard Arnold, NAMRL Director “Her arrival infused the lab with instant credibility, and her work here over 11-plus years provided constantreinforcementthereof.”

Beyond the sheer numbers of published research and studies, her work in sleep studies and pharmaceutical treatments is regarded by NAMRL leadership as particularly significant in understanding the role ofcountermeasurestowardfightingfatigue

“Perhaps her most impactful work involved a couple of studies investigating the efficacy of modafinil, Dr Arnold said “NavalAviationhadpreviouslyuseddextroamphetamineasitssolefatiguecountermeasureduringsustainedoperations Oneofthe problems with ‘dex’ is that as an amphetamine, there were undesirable side effects for some users such as jitteriness and anxiety-like experiences Modafinil had similar alertness enhancing properties but generally without such side effects Due to Dr Caldwell’s research, and the work of some others, the Navy added modafinil to its approvedmedicationslistaround2014.”

Capt.DalitschnotedtheeffectsCaldwell’s researchhadontheentireNavybeyondaviation.

“The U.S. surface fleet, and submarines, have adopted many new crew rest policies over-turningliterallycenturiesofembedded Navy culture, he said. “And Dr Caldwell’s workisalsospreadingtointernationalmilitaries It is a long, slow process for such a paradigm shift, but know that [her] impact has not just been for the past three decades Iknowthatitwillcarryonformanymore decadesintothefuture.”

Dr CaldwellreceivedherPh D.inExperimental Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1988. She received a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from USM in 1983 and a Bachelor of Science in Social Welfare from the University of Alabama in 1980 Before her work with NAMRU-Dayton, Dr Caldwell served in a similar role with the Air Force Research LaboratoryinSanAntonio Texas,and,later, helped the lab’s Base Re-alignment and Closure directed move to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where she served from 2007-2012 Additionally,Dr Caldwellserved asadistinguishedvisitingscholartotheU.S. AirForceAcademyinColoradoSpringsand asaresearchpsychologistatTheU.S.Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory at Ft.

Rucker,Ala.,from1989-1995and1998-2002

“This has been a great end of my career,”

Dr Caldwell said. “This has been a great placetowork,I’vewatchedthisplacegrow, I’vewatched[Dr.Arnold]makeitgrowand it’s been very impressive to see what has happened to see it grow from 3-4 principal investigators to what it is today Thank you allverymuch.”