Frederick Brozoski’s career began when he graduated from Auburn University with both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering. Upon graduation, Brozoski began supporting head-supported mass research at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory in 1996. Since joining USAARL, Brozoski has worked on countless projects related to head injury prevention and has made contributions to the development and improvement of protective helmets for aviators, infantry Soldiers, and medics. As described by Col. Jennifer Stowe, Brozoski’s career has evolved from first working as an associate investigator under several world-renowned researchers at the USAARL to eventually becoming a seasoned principal investigator and senior scientist for the Laboratory.
Brozoski’s outstanding career-long achievements were recently recognized at the Military Health System Research Symposium with the Distinguished Service Award, which is presented to U.S. Active-Duty military, government civilians, academia, industry, [and] international partners who have contributed over a number of years to the success of the Military Health System. The award recognizes individuals whose contributions span a series of years or an entire career, whose contributions consist of research accomplishments or promoting the visibility of MHS research, whose contributions are above and beyond normal expectations to advance the growth and professional goals of the MHS, and who demonstrate outstanding leadership in pursuit of excellence for their country and service through research.
At the beginning of his career, Brozoski was part of the team tasked with assessing the injury risk resulting from inadvertent deployment of the Cockpit Air Bag System on UH-60A/L and OH-58D aircraft. The work of the team led to the redesign of the UH-60A/L CABS, which substantially decreased the risk of injury to the upper extremities of aviators by 70%. The redesigned CABS was later installed on the Army’s fleet of UH-60A/L aircraft
Brozoski was instrumental in the the development of the Facial and Ocular CountermeasUre Safety headform, which was the first impact-test manikin designed for facial and eye protection testing. Brozoski managed a cooperative research and development agreement with Virginia Tech to develop the headform and associated injury risk assessment values, which correlate FOCUS headform measurements to human injury risks. For this achievement, Brozoski and his team were awarded the 2008 U.S. Army Modeling and Simulation Team Award. The FOCUS headform is now regarded as the international gold standard for the assessment of face protection technology and is in use around the world.
Another of Brozoski’s achievements was participating in research leading to the addition of a one-handed, quick release to the HGU-56/P Aircrew Integrated Helmet System – the helmet system worn by Army aircrews – as well as the addition of a chinstrap to all aircrew helmets designed to decrease the risk of jaw impact. Also, in collaboration with the Army Combat Readiness Center, Brozoski is on-call 24/7 to respond to and investigate Army aircraft accidents across the globe.
Brozoski has also been instrumental in the Aviation Life Support Equipment Retrieval Program, which examines the performance of aviation life support equipment during aircraft mishaps to determine whether the ALSE effectively prevented or mitigated injuries, or potentially contributed to occupant injuries.
Brozoski’s current research focus is on behind helmet blunt trauma. BHBT refers to head injuries resulting from an impact between the interior of a combat helmet and the wearer’s head that can occur when a combat helmet defeats a ballistic threat. Brozoski says that his research is “aimed at developing injury risk functions for the assessment of head injury potential associated with BHBT. The injury risk functions will inform performance requirements of next-generation Army combat helmets.”
Brozoski is a leader in the field of blunt, blast and accelerative injury. His work has enhanced the survivability of Warfighters exposed to combat helmet back face deformation and under-body and free-field blast events, as well as Warfighters involved in aviation and ground vehicle accidents and combat events. Brozoski has dedicated his career to the safety of ground and aviation Soldiers.
About the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory.
The U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory is a world-class organization of subject matter experts in the fields of operator health and performance in complex systems; the en route care environment; blunt, blast, and accelerative injury and protection; crew survival in rotary-wing aircraft and combat vehicles; and sensory performance, injury, and protection. USAARL engages in innovative research, development, test and evaluation activities to identify research gaps and inform requirements documents that contribute to future vertical lift, medical, aviation, and defense health capabilities. USAARL is a trusted agent for stakeholders, providing evidence-based solutions and operational practices that protect joint force warriors and enhance warfighter performance. USAARL invests in the next generation of scientists and engineers, research technicians, program managers, and administrative professionals by valuing and developing its people, implementing talent management principles, and engaging in educational outreach opportunities.
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