Dr. Timothy Coffey, Director
of Research at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), is the recipient
of the Captain Robert Dexter Conrad Award for Scientific Achievement.
He was presented the award by Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig
on August 24, 2000.
The award is named in honor of
Captain Robert Dexter Conrad, who was a primary architect of
the Navy's basic research program and the head of the Planning
Division of the Office of Naval Research at the time of its
establishment.
It is designed to recognize and award outstanding technical and
scientific achievement in research and development for the Department
of the Navy (DON).
As Director of Research at NRL, Dr. Coffey oversees research
and development expenditures of approximately $800 million per
year. Since joining NRL in 1971, Dr. Coffey has served in the
positions of head of the Plasma Dynamics Branch of the Plasma
Physics Division; superintendent of the Plasma Physics Division,
and Associate Director of Research for General Science and Technology.
Before coming to NRL, Dr. Coffey worked for EG&G, Inc. Dr.
Coffey's personal research has involved the theory of nonlinear
oscillations, the theory of electron beam plasma interaction,
and the study of plasma processes in the earth's ionosphere.
In receiving this award, Dr.
Coffey is recognized for "his exceptional ability to promote
an innovative environment at, and foster the scientific breakthroughs
of, the Department of Defense's premier laboratory the
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. As a 'world-class' technical
manager, Dr. Coffey's contributions to defense and naval technology
policy and his ability to continually enable world-leading science
and technology developments have gained sustained recognition
from the Defense Department, the Federal Government, academia,
industry, and the international defense and scientific
communities."
Dr. Coffey received a bachelor of science degree in electrical
engineering form the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in
1962. He then received a master of science in physics in 1963
and a Ph.D. in physics in 1967, both from the University of Michigan.
He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the Franklin
Institute, and the Washington Academy of Science. He is a member
of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and
Sigma Xi. In 1981, Dr. Coffey was awarded the Presidential Rank
of Meritorious Executive. In 1987 and in 1995, he was awarded
the Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive. He was the
recipient of the Delmer S. Fahrney Medal in 1991, and received
the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award
in 1991. And in 1996, Dr. Coffey was awarded the Executive Excellence
Award for Distinguished Executive Service by the Senior Executives
Association Professional Development League.
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory is the Navy's full-spectrum corporate laboratory, conducting a broadly based multidisciplinary program of scientific research and advanced technological development. The Laboratory, with a total complement of nearly 2,500 personnel, is located in southwest Washington, D.C., with other major sites at the Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Monterey, Calif. NRL has served the Navy and the nation for over 85 years and continues to meet the complex technological challenges of today's world. For more information, visit the NRL homepage or join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Comment policy: We hope to receive submissions from all viewpoints, but we ask that all participants agree to the Department of Defense Social Media User Agreement. All comments are reviewed before being posted.