Dr. John A. Montgomery, Superintendent
of the Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL's) Tactical Electronic
Warfare Division (TEWD), is the 1998 recipient of the Dr. Arthur
E. Bisson Prize for Naval Technology Achievement. Dr. Montgomery
is the second recipient of the award, which honors the late Dr.
Arthur E. Bisson who was the Director of Science and Technology
(S&T) at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) from 1993 to
1996. RADM Paul. G. Gaffney, Chief of Naval Research, will present
the award at a ceremony at NRL on August 7.
The ONR Bisson Prize recognizes
a person who has successfully translated research findings into
substantive fleet programs that meet critical Navy requirements.
Dr. Bisson provided a model of principled, effective leadership
in transitioning science and technology to naval capabilities.
In his last assignment as Director of S&T at ONR, he was
a prime mover in the integration of all naval S&T to a single
command, ONR, where new technology develops from earliest scientific
concepts through prototyping and manufacture. His integrated
program provides the Navy with a new paradigm for faster and
better coordinated S&T transition to the Fleet.
As Superintendent of NRL's TEWD,
Dr. Montgomery leads the Navy's premier laboratory for EW technology,
which conducts of a comprehensive program of research and development.
His team of scientific, technical, and administrative personnel
provide new and advanced concepts in EW that improve the ability
of the Navy to perform its vital mission.
Dr. Montgomery has orchestrated
the transition, from concept to prototype to fielded capability,
of a great number of EW technologies, developed the Navy's solution
to the Wartime Reserve Mode problem, and initiated successful
ship and aircraft decoy programs. Two systems of particular current
note are the Specific Emitter Identification (SEI) and the infrared
countermeasures (IR Multi-Cloud) systems whichDr. Montgomery
played a pivotal role in transitioning to the fleet. These systems
provide revolutionary new capabilities to the Fleet. IR Multi-Cloud
provides the ability to counter both current and emerging IR
imaging based seekers which present a major threat to U.S. ships
in the littoral environment.
TEWD is now the Department of
Defense (DoD) leader for SEI and is responsible for SEI systems
for merchant ship tracking, support of OSD counter-proliferation
activities, and sensors for counter-narcotics programs. In the
past year, SEI systemshave been fielded at land sites
and on ships and aircraft worldwide.
Dr. Montgomery came to NRL as
a research physicist in 1968. He was a member of the Advanced
Techniques Branch of the Electronic Warfare Division where he
conducted a wide range of EW research programs. In 1980, he was
selected to head the Off-Board Countermeasures Branch. In 1985,
he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service and was selected
as Superintendent of TEWD.
Over the past 30 years, Dr. Montgomery
has pioneered expendable countermeasures for ships and aircraft.
Hundreds of U.S. Navy ships, many ships from allied nations,
and virtually all our aircraft, are equipped with systems for
which he has had responsibility. He has specialized in the development
of new EW technologies and in their rapid reduction to practice
in the form of deployed, operational systems. More than 30 such
systems have reached operational status as a direct result. Significant
impact has been achieved in the application of advanced technologies
to solve unusual or severe operational deficiencies resulting
from world crises, most recently in the Persian Gulf. Dr. Montgomery
has been a major contributor to the Navy's EW Technology Base
Program in partnership with ONR, and has resolved crucial EW
issues for the Navy and DoD that have decided their future EW
directions.
Dr. Montgomery received his B.A.
in 1967, and M.A. in 1969, both in physics from North Texas State
University, Denton, Texas. He received his PhD. in physics from
the Catholic University of America in 1982.
Dr. Montgomery was awarded the
Presidential Rank Distinguished Executive Award in 1991, the
Presidential Rank Meritorious Executive award in 1988, and the
Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1986. In addition,
he has received the Association of Old Crows (electronic defense
association) Joint Services Award in 1993, the Capital Club Technical
Award in 1992, and the Silver Medal Certificate Award in 1982.
He was an NRL Edison Scholar, and is a member of Sigma Xi. He
also has served as the U.S. National Leader of The Technical
Cooperation Program's Multinational Group on Electronic Warfare
since 1986, and currently also serves as the Executive Chairman.
Before 1986, he served as the U.S. Navy member of this Group.
During his career, Dr. Montgomery has published more than 60
reports, papers, and articles and has contributed hundreds of
formal presentations, lectures, and briefings. He was recently
honored for his contributions to one of NRL's 75 Innovations-
the "Super Rapid-Blooming Offboard Chaff System."
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