(MENAFN- EIN Presswire) Awardees, family members, and staff gathered at the Pentagon Auditorium in
Washington, DC. Mr. Frederick J. Stefany, ASN (RD&A) Acting, personally recognized top scientists and engineers from across the Department of the Navy (DON) and highlighted their incredible accomplishments.
The award is named after former ASN (RDA) Dr. Delores M. Etter, who delivered a recorded message congratulating the recipients. She encouraged all DON scientists and engineers to continue pursuing innovations that support America's fleet and warfighters and to inspire future generations of engineers and scientists for Department of Navy positions.
Both civilian and military scientists and engineers in the DON were eligible for these annual awards. All nominations were reviewed and scored by an executive panel. Awardees were in the categories of Emergent Engineers (no more than ten years of cumulative experience), Emergent Scientists, Individual Engineers, Individual Scientists, Group of Scientists and Engineers from a single command, and Group of Scientists and Engineers collaborating across the Naval Research and Development Establishment (NR&DE), to include Department of Defense.
Recipients of the ASN (RD&A) Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers of the Year Award for 2023 are:
EMERGENT ENGINEERS
·Dr. Jacob D. Dennis, NAWC Weapons Division
·Improved critical elements of the airframe, air inlet, combustor, and other vital flight components for the Navy's Supersonic Propulsion-Enabled Advanced Ramjet (SPEAR) project
·Mr. David I. Foster, NSWC Carderock Division
·Developed the baseline Acoustic Trials Measurement System 4 noise-floor requirements, supporting acoustic signature evaluation of the Navy's newest ballistic missile submarine, USS COLUMBIA
·Mr. Christopher Linko, NAVAIR
·Led several tasks to increase windshield and canopy readiness across the
fleet by approximately 43%, which has had a positive impact on overall
F/A-18 A-F and EA-18G readiness
EMERGENT SCIENTISTS
·Dr. Jeffrey B. Bolkhovsky, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
·Developed wearable-based technologies to track cognitive readiness
during fatigue and cold stress
·Dr. Sophie M. Colston, Naval Research Laboratory
·Developed and demonstrated point-of-need DNA sequencing to support
near real-time situational assessments relevant to pathogen identification,
envenomation risks, and Navy-relevant environmental conditions
·Dr. Carlos M. Torres Jr., NIWC Pacific
·Demonstrated for the first time a rapid-prototyping setup in electronic and
optoelectronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) and quantum materials
INDIVIDUAL ENGINEERS
·Mr. Robert B. Adamson, Naval Research Laboratory
·Provided technical innovation and leadership in the development and maturation of the Communications-as-a-Service (CaaS) software-based network routing capability for tactical and other Naval systems requiring high-assurance delivery of mission-critical data
·Dr. Kenan L. Cole, Naval Research Laboratory
·Developed, fabricated, and field-tested four unique electronic attack systems across five major field tests
·Ms. Victoria L. Kelly, PEO Integrated Warfare Systems
·Led the integration, testing, and installation of AEGIS Baseline 10.0, which
interfaces with the Navy's most advanced radar, to provide an integrated
combat system for DDG 51 Flight III destroyers
·Mr. Michael A. Klapp, MARCORSYSCOM
·Led the design, integration, and demonstration test efforts of the Medium Range Intercept Capability to modernize the United States Marine Corps Warfighting Concepts of counter-cruise missile capability
·Mr. Gerritt E. Lang, NAVFAC EXWC
·Recognized the lack of a standard and consistent methodology for assessing the strength of critical waterfront facility components as they age, specifically mooring bollards
·Mr. Kristian T. Palaoro, NIWC Atlantic
· Aided the establishment of processes for the adoption and implementation of the Data Analytics Platform
·Mr. Christopher Scrapper, Jr., NIWC Pacific
·Established a novel framework for disaggregated systems-of-systems and emerging long-range weapon systems across the kill web
·CDR Robert J. Smith, PEO Integrated Warfare Systems
·Integrated the Navy's most advanced ship radar system with a new combat system baseline and upgraded ship hull, mechanical, and electrical systems
INDIVIDUAL SCIENTISTS
·Dr. Keegan P. Delaney, NSWC Carderock Division
·Advanced predictive signature technology and the development of novel tools within the Navy
·Ms. Kathleen B. Hickey, NIWC Pacific
·Generated a ten-fold increase in the throughput of target processing, enabling target identification in a manner that did not exist prior to her engagement
·Mr. Aaron G Meldrum, NAWC Aircraft Division
·Accelerated the iteration time for algorithm improvement in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
·Dr. Richard D. Tatum, NSWC Panama City Division
·Developed mathematical theory and selection approach to design advanced autonomous systems
GROUP AWARDS
Atlantic Thunder 22 Hulk Data & Battle Damage Assess, NSWC CD/ NIWC PAC
·Dr. Ken F. Nahshon
·Mr. Michael A. Kipp
·Dr. Mark Bilinski
·Ensured the success of the inaugural U.S. Sixth Fleet Sink Exercise
FlexDAR, NRL
·Mr. Gregory C. Tavik
·Mr. Mark A. Busse
·Mr. James B. Evins
·Ms. Winjoy Cheung
·Mr. Clifford W. Owen
·Developed and demonstrated advanced distributed radar technology with the Flexible Distributed Array Radar (FlexDAR) testbed NAWCAD CARGO TEAM V-22 BLUE CRAYON EFFORT, NAWC Aircraft Division
·Ms. Michele L. Hoefer
·Mr. Cory J. Kopa
·Mr. Bryan M. LaRochelle
·Mr. David W. Hamm
·Mr. Steven J. Karsky
·Developed critical engineering requirements and production of prototypes that enabled the demonstration of anti-submarine warfare capabilities delivered from the V-22 platform Project Link RDT&E Team, NAWC Training Systems Division
·Dr. Michael W. Natali
·Mr. Rocco Portoghese
·Dr. Benito Graniela
·Developed, built, and tested the Navy's first T-45C Mixed Reality (MR) prototype simulator Squirrelworks, NIWC Atlantic
·Mr. Joseph F. Koets
·Mr. Joseph W. Mills
·Mr. John E. Cutter
·Mr. Michael G. Smith
·Mr. Marcus J. McDonald
·Created an autonomous Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare (EMW) force multiplier capability in the Navy Phantom Shadow program STAFAC-AMFIP Critical Design Team, NSWC Carderock Division
·Mr. Keith J. Hertel
·Mr. Craig A. Nielsen
·Mr. Todd A. Eklund
·Mrs. Teresa Dukek
·Mrs. Lilimar A. Ruhlmann
·Developed an acoustic signature measurement system with capabilities of greater magnitude than current technology Cross-Doman Autonomy and Sensing Team (CAST), NAWC AD / NSWC CD
·Mr. Derek M. Alley
·Mr. Donald J. Cooper
·Mr. Stephen W. Balinski
·Dr. Matthew B. Greytak
·Mr. Benjamin C. Gordon
·Collaborated to deploy a state-of-the-art laser imaging sensor using unmanned, autonomous platforms Electronic Warfare Adaptive Training, NAWCTSD / NUWC NP
·Mr. Marc-Andre M. Prince
·Mrs. Alice E. Henry
·Dr. Wendi L. Van Buskirk
·Dr. Jason E. Hochreiter
·Dr. Bradford L. Schroeder
·Developed and successfully integrated the Electronic Warfare Adaptive Trainer (EWAT) into the BLQ-10 tactical system to provide an on-board training system for submarine EW Operators Navy Modern Service Delivery (MSD) Team, NIWC LANT, PEO Digital
·Mr. Justin M. Fanelli
·Mr. Darren R. Turner
·Mr. Bradley C. Punch
·Mr. Michael J. Day
·Mr. Kristopher R. Halvorson
·Delivered Modern Service Delivery construct and solutions in both the pilot and deployment phases across the Department of the Navy The Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition serves as the Navy Service Acquisition Executive (SAE). ASN(RD&A) has the authority, responsibility, and accountability for all acquisition functions and programs and for enforcement of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment procedures. The Assistant Secretary represents the Department of the Navy to USD (A&S) and Congress on all matters relating to acquisition policy and programs.
The Assistant Secretary establishes policies and procedures and manages the Navy's Research, Development, and Acquisition activities in accordance with DoD 5000 Series Directives. The Assistant Secretary serves as Program (Milestone) Decision Authority on ACAT IC programs and recommends decisions on ACAT ID programs.