Two Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center Pacific employees were recently selected as distinguished Scientists/Technologists (ST). These are senior flag-level positions with a focus on science and technology, similar to the Senior Executive Service. Dr. Roy Axford and Dr. Adi Bulsara are now two of only 41 STs throughout the Navy and are SSC Pacific's first appointments in 20 years.
Approval for an ST position involves a rigorous, competitive nationwide selection process. Appointees must demonstrate depth in research and technical accomplishments in a particular field of study that is supported by publications, patents and national or international recognition.
"Adi and Roy are truly deserving of this national recognition," said Carmela Keeney, SSC Pacific's technical director. “This is a tremendous career milestone and is a reflection of the superb research and development they have done over many years. It is also a significant milestone for the center. We are so happy to have two STs at SSC Pacific."
Bulsara is currently the principal mentor of the eleven-member Advanced Dynamics Research group, which is globally recognized as one of the premier groups for research in nonlinear dynamics and, possibly, the leading group on practical applications. This effort, featured on the cover of Physics Today in 1996, led to his being awarded SSC Pacific's highest recognition, the Lauritsen-Bennett award. This work has led to a compact, cheap and sensitive room temperature magnetometer that the Marine Corps is considering as an intrusion sensor.
"We've had seriously dark periods of almost zero funding, but our management realized that we had a good thing going and showed remarkable prescience," said Bulsara. "I'm just happy to be able to give something back to the country, the Navy and SSC Pacific, which have all been very good to my family and me."
Axford is internationally recognized as a leader in Navy satellite communications. In 2004, Axford became the Navy lead for the Ka-band feederlinks portion of Mobile User Objective System and continues to serve in this role today. In addition, he supports an Office of Naval Research funded project on topside electromagnetic interference mitigation using forward error correction methods in digital communications. In June 2005, Axford also received the prestigious Lauritsen-Bennett award for outstanding leadership in improving the quality of Navy optical and radio communications.
"I have been extremely fortunate in my career at the center to work with an assortment of talented individuals," said Axford. "I have put in many long hours, but very few of my achievements have resulted entirely from solo efforts. I am honored to be recognized with the ST promotion."
For more information about SPAWAR, go to http://enterprise.spawar.navy.mil.