ONR Researchers Awarded for Achievements

By Peter Vietti, Office of Naval Research Public Affairs
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) bestowed five researchers with high honors in a ceremony Aug. 14 during the 2008 ONR Naval S&T Partnership Conference held in .
Dr. Bobby Junker was presented with the Fred E. Saalfeld Award for a Lifetime Achievement in Science. Four others received the Vice Adm. G. Bowen Award for their work resulting in patented inventions, David Abdow, James Butts, Donald Cox and Stephen Oliver.
Junker was selected for the lifetime achievement award for his more than 30 years of leadership in research in the defense industry. He is the department head for the Command, Control, Communications & Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Department at ONR. Junker's primary responsibilities are to identify and develop innovative science and technology to enhance the warfighter's ability to understand and control the battle-space and to ensure that the technology is transitioned to the naval forces.
He initiated major programs in advanced multi-function radio frequency concepts to integrate communications, radar, and electronic warfare into common, multi-function, multi-beam apertures. Junker also developed technology that is automated and integrates large volumes of different sensor and intelligence data, and initiate autonomous and large sensor networks able to understand and self-task the battle-space they are sensing and to self-task, a prerequisite to effective counter-insurgency operations.

The Vice Admiral G. Bowen Award was conferred to the four recipients for their collaborative work leading to the invention of the torpedo mounted dispenser which incorporates a shock mount bumper. The invention relates to guidance and control systems for torpedoes, and is directed more particularly to a torpedo mounted dispenser for paying out a flex hose and control wire from the dispenser during travel of the torpedo from a launch tube toward a target. The system prevents shipboard personnel injury, in particular during wartime engagements, thus allowing for safer storage and transportation of torpedoes.