ROME, N.Y. -- Brian M. Hendrickson, associate chief scientist for photonics at Rome Laboratory, died at 53 after a brief illness.Hendrickson had been with Rome Laboratory for 29 years, both in the photonics program and the Federal Scientific and Professional Executive Corps.He also worked with the Sensors Technology Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and was a member of several US Department of Defense technical advisory panels.Hendrickson had served three two-year terms as a member of Photonics Spectra's editorial advisory board and was a member of Princeton University's industrial advisory board for the Advanced Technology Center for Photonics and Optoelectronic Materials.He held BS and MS degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.