Meet the Sophic Team
Reginald B. O'Hara, PhD
Director of Applied Health & Performance
Dr. Reginald B. O’Hara is a highly esteemed research scientist, physiologist, and expert in military human performance. His career encompasses both military and civilian research institutions. Dr. O’Hara’s significant contributions to the Department of Defense (DoD), specifically in human performance optimization and injury prevention for military personnel, have garnered him numerous accolades and widespread recognition.
Dr. O’Hara specializes in applied physiology and military performance research, focusing on developing advanced technologies to improve warfighter readiness. He has secured and managed multimillion-dollar research portfolios throughout his career, leading innovative studies on performance recovery in Special Operations, wearable technologies, and military-specific rehabilitation protocols.
Dr. O’Hara previously held the position of Clinical Associate Professor and Chief Science Officer at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA), where he led impactful research initiatives focused on military medicine and human performance. Before this role, he held several leadership positions within the Department of Defense, including Chief of the Biochemistry Services Division at William Beaumont Army Medical Center and Director of the Military Performance Laboratory at the Center for the Intrepid, Brooke Army Medical Center. His experience at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base further established his reputation as an innovator in military physiology. He directed research efforts to enhance battlefield performance, mitigate heat stress, and prevent injuries among personnel in the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
Dr. O’Hara has played a pivotal role in advancing military research, securing patents, and developing innovative solutions to enhance the performance of warfighters. He received a US patent (Patent No. US 10,820,617B1) for a comprehensive meal replacement supplement for Special Operations personnel. His notable contributions include the invention of a groundbreaking cooling shirt to mitigate heat stress, which received national recognition and was featured in Military Times. Additionally, he established the first Special Operations Performance and Recovery (SPaR) clinical research program at the Center for the Intrepid. This initiative represents a significant collaboration with the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). Dr. O’Hara’s work has directly impacted rehabilitation strategies for elite military units and professional athletes, including former NFL quarterback Alex Smith, whose recovery story was highlighted in ESPN’s Project 11 documentary. As a prolific author, he has contributed numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and technical reports on military health and human performance. His research has also been presented at esteemed military and scientific conferences, including the Special Operations Medical Association, Military Health System Research Symposium, and Aerospace Medical Association.
Awards & Honors
Dr. O’Hara’s dedication to military research and innovation has been recognized with multiple prestigious awards from the Department of Defense and other agencies, including:
- Scientist of the Year (Innovation Category), 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory (2015)
- Scientist of the Year (Innovation Category), U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (2015)
- Commendation Award (Cooling Shirt Invention), State of Ohio House of Representatives (2018)
- Special Act or Service Award, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (2017)
- Human Performance Collaboration Team Award, 88th Air Base Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB (2015)
- Civilian of the Year, United States Forces Korea (2009)
- Professional of the Year, United States Forces Korea (2009)
- Notable Achievement Award, Pacific Air Force Korea (2009)
- Civil Service Merit Award, Osan Air Base Korea (2009)