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4    <title>About Jason W. Hinson - PhysicsGuy.com</title>
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21                <div class="top-line">The official webpage of</div>
22                <div class="main-line">Jason W. Hinson</div>
23                <div class="bottom-line">(whoever he is)</div>
24            </div>
25            <div class="branding">
26                <a href="/">PhysicsGuy.com</a>
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28            <nav>
29                <a href="/">Home</a>
30                <a href="/star-trek/">Physics and Star Trek</a>
31                <a href="/news/">News</a>
32                <a href="/archive/">Archive</a>
33                <a href="/donate/">Donate</a>
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37        <main>
38            <!-- Banner section (replaces the banner.gif) -->
39            <!-- <section class="banner-section">
40                <div class="name-banner">
41                    <div class="top-line">The official webpage of</div>
42                    <div class="main-line">Jason W. Hinson</div>
43                    <div class="bottom-line">(whoever he is)</div>
44                </div>
45            </section> -->
46
47            <!-- Welcome -->
48            <section class="welcome-banner">
49                <h2>Welcome to my web page!</h2>
50            </section>
51
52            <!-- Intro card with image and links -->
53            <section class="intro-card section-content-grid">
54                <div class="intro-image">
55                    <img src="assets/images/me.jpg" alt="A picture of Jason W. Hinson" width="230" height="306">
56                </div>
57                <div class="intro-links">
58                    <h3>Pick a link to jump to more information:</h3>
59                    <ul>
60                        <li><a href="#aboutme">A bit about me</a></li>
61                        <li><a href="#aboutleidos">Leidos (formally SAIC) – where I work</a></li>
62                        <li><a href="#aboutcnac">The CNA Corporation (where I used to work)</a></li>
63                        <li><a href="#aboutphd">Particle physics and my Ph.D. research</a></li>
64                        <li><a href="#trek">Physics and Star Trek (one of my pastimes)</a></li>
65                        <li><a href="#poll">Take a quick poll about the purpose of government in the U.S.</a></li>
66                    </ul>
67                </div>
68            </section>
69
70            <!-- A Bit About Me -->
71            <section class="content-section" id="aboutme">
72                <div class="section-header">
73                    <h2>A Bit About Me</h2>
74                </div>
75                
76                <div class="section-content-grid">
77                    <div class="section-title">
78                        <h3>Academic/Professional:</h3>
79                    </div>
80                    <div class="section-text">
81                        <p>In the summer of 2001 I finished my Ph.D. in <a href="https://particleadventure.org/">particle
82                        physics</a> from <a href="http://www.purdue.edu/">Purdue University</a>; though I performed my research
83                        stationed at Cornell University's particle accelerator facility (see <a href="#cleo">below</a>). After a
84                        temporary postdoc position, I accepted a job as a Research Analyst at <a href="http://www.cna.org/">The
85                        CNA Corporation</a> in November of 2001, moving to the Washington, D.C. area.</p>
86
87                        <p>In June of 2004, CNA sent me on a much-desired field assignment (typically two to three years in
88                        duration) at Eglin Air Force Base. The family and I moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, putting us much
89                        closer to "home" (Mobile, AL).</p>
90
91                        <p>At Eglin, I worked for a United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) organization known as the Joint
92                        Combat Identification Evaluation Team (JCIET). In 2005, that organization merged with another to form
93                        the Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team (JFIIT--pronounced "Jay-Fit"). With the
94                        disestablishment of USJFCOM in 2011, JFIIT transitioned to become a new, leaner organization called the
95                        Joint Deployable Analysis Team (JDAT), a division under the Joint Staff J6's Deputy Director, Command,
96                        Control, Communications, Computers, and Cyber Integration (DD C5I). In 2020, JDAT absorbed branches from
97                        sister J6 DD C5I divisions and became the Joint Assessment Division (JAD).</p>
98
99                        <p>While I thoroughly enjoyed working for CNAC, my family and I wanted to stay in the Fort Walton Beach
100                        area on a more permanent basis. Scientific Applications International Corporation (SAIC) made me a
101                        generous offer that allowed me to keep working at JFIIT doing the same kind of work, sitting at the same
102                        desk, but in a long-term position. In October of 2005, I accepted their offer and became a Senior
103                        Systems Integration Analyst for SAIC. In 2013, SAIC split into two companies with its national security,
104                        health, and engineering expertise forming a new company named Leidos, for whom I currently work as the
105                        contract Lead Analyst for JAD.</p>
106
107                        <p>To find out more about the place I work and what I do, see the <a href="#aboutleidos">Leidos
108                        section</a> and the <a href="#aboutjad">JAD information</a> provided below. In case anyone is interested
109                        in CNAC, I left in a <a href="#aboutcnac">section about it</a>. More information concerning my thesis
110                        research can also be found <a href="#aboutphd">below</a>, and if you like, you can read <a
111                        href="assets/documents/cv.html">my (old!) curriculum vita</a>.</p>
112                    </div>
113                </div>
114
115                <div class="section-content-grid">
116                    <div class="section-title">
117                        <h3>On a Personal Note:</h3>
118                    </div>
119                    <div class="section-text">
120                        <p>It is only fitting for me to note that in everything I do, I must first consider myself a Christian.
121                        That is my underlying identity. In conjunction, I am (among other things) a husband, a father, an
122                        American, and a physicist. For a very short bio, you can read <a href="assets/documents/vita.html">my
123                        personal vita</a>.</p>
124                    </div>
125                </div>
126
127                <div class="section-content-grid">
128                    <div class="section-title">
129                        <h3>Wife and Kids:</h3>
130                    </div>
131                    <div class="section-text">
132                        <p>I'm married to a wonderful, beautiful woman, Tabitha L. Hinson, and on September 29, 2000 we finally
133                        had our first child, a precious little girl we named <a href="hannah/">Hannah Louise Hinson</a>. (Note:
134                        Hannah's web page is still limited to pictures surrounding her birth... Maybe one day I'll find the time
135                        to include a family album and update her pictures.)</p>
136
137                        <p>On November 4, 2002 we were blessed with the birth of our second child, William Lee Hinson, who is
138                        named after grandfathers on both sides of our family. My apologies for not even having a web page set up
139                        for him yet, but you know how it goes.</p>
140                    </div>
141                </div>
142
143                <div class="section-content-grid">
144                    <div class="section-title">
145                        <h3>Contact info:</h3>
146                    </div>
147                    <div class="section-text">
148                        <div class="contact-info-grid">
149                            <div>Address:</div>
150                            <div>Joint Assessment Division (JAD)<br>104 Biscayne Rd., Bldg. 638<br>Eglin AFB, FL 32542-5310</div>
151                            <div>Voice:</div>
152                            <div>850-882-9546</div>
153                            <div>Fax:</div>
154                            <div>850-882-8467</div>
155                            <div>
155Email:</div>
156                            <div>
157                                <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> (work)<br>
158                                <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> (personal)
159                            </div>
160                        </div>
161                    </div>
162                </div>
163            </section>
164
165            <!-- Where I Work -->
166            <section class="content-section" id="aboutleidos">
167                <div class="section-header">
168                    <h2>Where I Work</h2>
169                </div>
170
171                <div class="section-content-grid">
172                    <div class="section-title">
173                        <h3>What is Leidos:</h3>
174                    </div>
175                    <div class="section-text">
176                        <p>In 2013, Scientific Applications International Corporation (SAIC) split into two companies with its
177                        national security, health, and engineering expertise forming a new company named Leidos.</p>
178
179                        <p>As stated on our website:</p>
180                        <blockquote>
181                            <p>For more than 40 years we have been tackling some of the biggest problems that face our nation
182                            and our world.</p>
183                            <p>A FORTUNE 500® company, we bring a mix of innovative technology and sector expertise to customers
184                            in national security, engineering, and health.</p>
185                            <p>Our approach is holistic, looking at all the interconnected complexities of a problem. Our brand
186                            of science is collaborative, with knowledge shared across disciplines. And our focus is always on
187                            making the real world better.</p>
188                        </blockquote>
189
190                        <p>For me, Leidos (as SAIC) was the right company at the right place and at the right time. They offered
191                        me just the position I needed when I needed it, for which I am very grateful. My fellow Leidos
192                        colleagues working at JAD (<a href="#aboutjad">see below</a>) are a dedicated, hard-working bunch and a
193                        pleasure to work with. Specifically, we work for Leidos's Technology Services company, which provides
194                        JAD with the majority of its contract work.</p>
195
196                        <p>For more information about Leidos, check out <a href="http://www.leidos.com">our website</a>.</p>
197                    </div>
198                </div>
199
200                <div class="section-content-grid">
201                    <div class="section-title">
202                        <h3><a id="aboutjad">What is JAD:</a></h3>
203                    </div>
204                    <div class="section-text">
205                        <p>For more specific information about the Joint Assessment Division (JAD), check out this <a
206                        href="https://www.eglin.af.mil/Units/Joint-Assessment-Division/">JAD information page</a>.</p>
207                    </div>
208                </div>
209
210                <div class="section-content-grid">
211                    <div class="section-title">
212                        <h3>What About Physics:</h3>
213                    </div>
214                    <div class="section-text">
215                        <p>You may be asking why I'm working outside of the field of particle physics (in which I received my <a
216                        href="#aboutphd">Ph.D</a>). First, let me note that I'm <strong>very</strong> happy I chose to study in
217                        the field of High Energy Physics. I wouldn't have had it any other way, and I'll always be a physicist
218                        at heart! There are still some interesting uncovered pieces to research in particle physics; however,
219                        for reasons I won't get into here, the day-to-day study of the field has lost a little something for me.
220                        I can't help but think that the field is ripe for some major unrealized discovery or some totally new
221                        way of looking at things, but I can't hang my hat on wishful thinking. In the end, I wanted to move on
222                        to something more part of the "real" world.</p>
223
224                        <p>SO, while I was offered a position that would have let me work at both <a
225                        href="http://www.fnal.gov">Fermi National Lab</a> and <a href="https://home.cern">CERN</a>, I instead
226                        decided to accept a position outside of the field where I felt I could have some actual impact on the
227                        real world (not to mention providing a better standard of living for my growing family).</p>
228
229                        <p>Just to let you know, many people in particle physics do end up leaving the field to work in a wide
230                        variety of jobs, from medical imaging to financial analysis. The research you do in physics provides you
231                        with a lot of skills and basic know-how, and many companies have come to realize that physics Ph.D.'s
232                        have a <strong>lot</strong> to offer.</p>
233                    </div>
234                </div>
235            </section>
236
237            <!-- Where I Used To Work -->
238            <section class="content-section" id="aboutcnac">
239                <div class="section-header">
240                    <h2>Where I Used To Work</h2>
241                </div>
242
243                <div class="section-content-grid">
244                    <div class="section-title">
245                        <h3>Why a CNAC Section:</h3>
246                    </div>
247                    <div class="section-text">
248                        <p>As I noted above, I enjoyed my time with CNAC, and since I noticed a few people coming to my site
249                        after specifically searching for CNAC information, I thought I'd leave in a section about it for anyone
250                        who is interested. So, here ya go...</p>
251                    </div>
252                </div>
253
254                <div class="section-content-grid">
255                    <div class="section-title">
256                        <h3>What is CNAC:</h3>
257                    </div>
258                    <div class="section-text">
259                        <p>The CNA Corporation (CNAC) is basically a government sponsored think-tank named for the larger of its
260                        two divisions, the Center for Naval Analysis (its other division being the Institute for Public
261                        Research). The Center for Naval Analysis is, specifically, a Federally Funded Research and Development
262                        Center (FFRDC) that's been providing the US Navy and Marine Corp with vital, independent, full-service
263                        research and analysis since its creation in 1942. Through the Institute for Public Re
263search, CNAC
264                        provides services for civil and international clients outside of the corporation's military
265                        contracts.</p>
266
267                        <p>For more specific information about what they do, check out <a href="https://www.cna.org/">CNAC's
268                        website</a>.</p>
269                    </div>
270                </div>
271
272                <div class="section-content-grid">
273                    <div class="section-title">
274                        <h3>Why work at CNAC:</h3>
275                    </div>
276                    <div class="section-text">
277                        <p>CNAC offers a wide range of research opportunities and a stimulating work environment. In 2001 it was
278                        chosen as one of the top 50 places to work in the Washington, D.C. region. Almost all the analysts CNAC
279                        hires have advanced degrees, and two-thirds hold Ph.D.'s. Basically, they value people who can think and
280                        reason through complicated research and analysis problems, and they provide a place where your work can
281                        actually make a difference.</p>
282
283                        <p>CNAC also believes strongly in the importance of field work. Most analysts at CNAC eventually take a
284                        field billet where they are usually stationed at a Navy or Marine base for two to three years (or some
285                        deploy with a carrier strike group for 6 months). CNAC's people are on Navy ships and with US Marines
286                        during many operations they undertake.</p>
287
288                        <p>I worked for CNAC for nearly four years. During that time I did interesting analytical work for the
289                        FAA, the (then) INS, the Navy, and Joint Forces Command. In one exercise I spent several thrilling days
290                        on the U.S.S. Nimitz nuclear aircraft carrier, and in another I took a flight in a Huey helicopter to
291                        survey parts of the south-west border. The work itself was interesting and analytically challenging.</p>
292
293                        <p>In short, I really loved my time at CNAC and recommend it for anyone qualified and interested in that
294                        line of work.</p>
295                    </div>
296                </div>
297            </section>
298
299            <!-- About My Ph.D. Research -->
300            <section class="content-section" id="aboutphd">
301                <div class="section-header">
302                    <h2>About My Ph.D. Research</h2>
303                </div>
304
305                <div class="section-content-grid">
306                    <div class="section-title">
307                        <h3>General:</h3>
308                    </div>
309                    <div class="section-text">
310                        <p>My area of study for my Ph.D. was high energy physics (a.k.a. <a
311                        href="https://particleadventure.org">particle physics</a>). As written in my thesis: high energy physics
312                        is the field of science dedicated to studying the most fundamental building blocks of matter and their
313                        interactions. It is framed on the postulate that all matter in the physical universe consists of
314                        elementary particles, and that these particles can be categorized according to their physical
315                        properties. By deducing a relatively small number of particle types and understanding the basic ways
316                        they interact with one another, particle physics endeavors to produce an elementary framework that
317                        describes the intricacy and scope of the physical universe we experience.</p>
318                    </div>
319                </div>
320
321                <div class="section-content-grid">
322                    <div class="section-title">
323                        <h3>An Adventure:</h3>
324                    </div>
325                    <div class="section-text">
326                        <p>To learn more about particle physics at a basic level, check out <a
327                        href="https://particleadventure.org">The Particle Adventure</a> (hosted by <a
328                        href="https://www.energy.gov">The U.S. Department of Energy</a> and <a href="https://www.nsf.gov">The
329                        National Science Foundation</a>).</p>
330                    </div>
331                </div>
332
333                <div class="section-content-grid">
334                    <div class="section-title">
335                        <h3><a id="cleo">CESR/CLEO:</a></h3>
336                    </div>
337                    <div class="section-text">
338                        <p>My research was possible due to the work done at the <a
339                        href="https://www.classe.cornell.edu/Research/CESR/WebHome.html">Cornell Electron Storage Ring</a>
340                        (CESR--pronounced "Caesar"), a circular electron/positron collider located on the campus of <a
341                        href="http://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a>. The particle detector used to collect the data I
342                        worked with is known as <a href="https://www.classe.cornell.edu/Research/CLEO/">CLEO</a> (it's not an
343                        acronym, its short for Cleopatra--a suitable companion for CESR). Check out their web sites for more
344                        info.</p>
345                    </div>
346                </div>
347
348                <div class="section-content-grid">
349                    <div class="section-title">
350                        <h3>My Thesis:</h3>
351                    </div>
352                    <div class="section-text">
353                        <p>My thesis research studied the decay of the tau lepton into three charged pions (one type of
354                        quark-antiquark state--such states are collectively called mesons) and a tau neutrino.</p>
355
356                        <p>One of the most interesting aspects of the work was that it allowed me to place a measured limit on
357                        the average mass of the up and down quarks (those are the quarks that make up protons and neutrons).
358                        These are the least-well measured of the quark masses, and the measurement produced some interesting and
359                        somewhat controversial results.</p>
360
361                        <p>If you would like to read over my thesis, I've made it available in two different formats. Just click
362                        on a link below (but be warned, it's somewhat long with about 275 pages in total):</p>
363
364                        <ul>
365                            <li><a href="assets/documents/mythesis.pdf">PDF (11.8 MB)</a>: Read with the free <a
366                            href="https://get.adobe.com/reader/">Adobe Acrobat Reader</a> (for Mac, Windows, UNIX, etc)</li>
367                            <li><a href="assets/documents/mythesis.ps">Postscript (8.9 MB)</a>: Ready to be printed on most
368                            PostScript-ready printers (laser printers)</li>
369                        </ul>
370                    </div>
371                </div>
372
373                <div class="section-content-grid">
374                    <div class="section-title">
375                        <h3>Publications:</h3>
376                    </div>
377                    <div class="section-text">
378                        <p>My full publications list is available <a href="assets/documents/mypubs.pdf">here</a> in PDF format.</p>
379                    </div>
380                </div>
381            </section>
382
383            <!-- Physics and Star Trek -->
384            <section class="content-section" id="trek">
385                <div class="section-header">
386                    <h2>Physics and Star Trek</h2>
387                </div>
388
389                <div class="section-content-grid">
390                    <div class="section-title">
391                        <h3>Treknobabble or what?</h3>
392                    </div>
393                    <div class="section-text">
394                        <p>No, this isn't a link to everything you wanted to know about the technobabble on Star Trek. What I
395                        have done is taken bits of what we know about physics today and applied it to some concepts used in
396                        science fiction (mainly Star Trek). This is simply a pastime that I delved into a few years back, and I
397                        provide a link here for anyone interested.</p>
398                    </div>
399                </div>
400
401                <div class="section-content-grid">
402                    <div class="section-title">
403                        <h3>The link and info:</h3>
404                    </div>
405                    <div class="section-text">
406                        <p>I'll let you jump to <a href="/star-trek/index.html" style="text-align: center; display: block;
407                        font-size: 1.3rem; font-weight: 600; margin: 1rem 0;">My Physics and Star Trek Page</a> to read more
408                        about its purpose, but I do want to mention one thing here. One of the two documents you will find links
409                        to there is almost a complete "What is Relativity--for the lay-person" book (though its ultimate purpose
410                        is to discuss faster than light travel with relativity in mind). I have gotten many compliments
411                        concerning how easy it is to read and follow (including a number of suggestions that I write a book on
412                        the subject--since I have practically done so already), so I am quite proud of it. :-)</p>
413                    </div>
414                </div>
415            </section>
416
417            <!-- Physics and Star Trek -->
418            <section class="content-section" id="poll">
419                <div class="section-header">
420                    <h2>Take a quick poll</h2>
421                </div>
422
423                <div class="section-content-grid">
424                    <div class="section-title">
425                        <h3>What do you think?</h3>
426                    </div>
427                    <div class="section-text">
428                        <p>
429                            I’ve updated this page with a new web-based polling service. Because this replaces my previous
430                            provider, <strong>voting has been reset as of 2026</strong>. 
431                        </p>
432                        <p>
433                            I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the <b><em>proper</em></b> role of government in the U.S. Please take
434                            a moment to cast your vote and share your insights in the comments section on the results page.
435                        </p>
436
437                        <div class="strawpoll-embed poll" id="strawpoll_LVyK24mj6Z0">
438                            <iframe
439                                title="StrawPoll Embed" id="strawpoll_iframe_LVyK24mj6Z0" src="https://strawpoll.com/embed/LVyK24mj6Z0"
440                                style="position: static; visibility: visible; display: block; width: 100%; flex-grow: 1;" frameborder="0"
441                                allowfullscreen allowtransparency>Loading...</iframe>
442                            
442<script async src="https://cdn.strawpoll.com/dist/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
442
443                        </div>
444
445                        <!-- <p> I decided to try out a free service that lets you design a poll for the web.  My original webpage
446                        used a different, older service, so the poll below restarted the voting in 2026. I decided to ask
447                        what people think the <b>proper</b> roll of government should be in the U.S.--just
448                        to see what sort of responses I might get from people visiting my web page. Feel free to take the poll
449                        and/or make comments on the results page.</p> 
450                        <div class="poll" style="display: none;">
451                            
451<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="javaScript" SRC="http://hinson.freepolls.com/cgi-bin/polls/001/poll.js">
452                            </SCRIPT>
452
453                        </div> -->
454
455                    </div>
456                    
457                </div>
458
459            </section>
460
461        </main>
462
463        <footer>
464            <p>© 2025 PhysicsGuy.com</p>
465            <p class="signature">A website by Jason W. Hinson</p>
466        </footer>
467    </div>
468</body>
469</html>

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