Dr. Mel Kruer, of the Optical Sciences Division (OSD) of the
Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), is the recipient of the Office of
Naval Research (ONR) Arthur E. Bisson Award for Naval Technology
Achievement. Dr. Kruer was recognized for "his outstanding
technical achievements and scientific leadership in the development
and transition of focal plane arrays into Navy missile seekers,
missile threat warning systems, and reconnaissance cameras to the
Navy TARPS-CD and SHARP systems." He received his award at a
ceremony held at ONR on October 8.
The Bisson award is named in honor of the late Dr. Arthur E.
Bisson who provided a model of principled, effective leadership in
transitioning science and technology (S&T) to naval capabilities.
The award is granted annually to a current or former Department of
the Navy (DoN) scientist, engineer or S&T program manager whose
program best exemplifies the qualities of Dr. Bisson's achievement,
by having a significant, direct transitional impact from S&T to naval
operations or systems in the last five years. Such impact shall be
so outstanding as to be widely recognized in the DoN and the relevant
technical community nationally.
According to the award nomination, "Dr. Kruer's staring
infrared focal planes are now used in Navy missile seekers, missile
threat warning systems, and electro-optical cameras for
reconnaissance. He has guided the development of very large visible
and infrared focal plane array capabilities for staring
reconnaissance cameras that have transitioned into the Navy F-14
TARPS-CD and F-18 SHARP reconnaissance pod programs. Because of his
outstanding contributions to this important development, Dr. Kruer is
highly deserving of this prestigious award."
Dr. Kruer earned his B.A. Magna Cum Laude (physics) from
Bellarmine College in 1964 and his M.S. and Ph.D from Catholic
University, Washington, DC, in 1970 and 1971 respectively.
Dr. Kruer joined NRL in 1971 as a research physicist in the
OSD working on the problem of optical countermeasures and performed
pioneering research on the effects of laser-induced damage in optical
infrared detectors and sensor systems. Dr. Kruer became head of the
Sensor Technology Section in 1980, executing and directing the Navy
Focal Plane Array Development program and the Fly's Eye program that
developed a new two color infrared approach to airborne missile
warning. His infrared array development efforts were directed toward
staring mid-wave arrays and multi-color arrays while other services
efforts were directed toward scanning long-wave infrared arrays. Dr.
Kruer also expanded the section's capabilities to become the lead DoD
laboratory for evaluating developmental infrared focal plane arrays
and for developing multi-color infrared staring arrays and associated
signal processing techniques. During the last six years, he has
developed new reconnaissance camera and ground station capabilities
that have placed NRL in the forefront of tactical electro-optical
reconnaissance camera research and development.
Dr. Kruer's numerous awards include the NRL Award of Merit
for Group Achievement (Fly's Eye Program) 1990; Department of the
Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, 1998; NRL Award of Merit for
Group Achievement (TARPS-CD Pentagon Demonstration) 1998; Technology
Transfer Award, 1998; and five Alan Berman Publication Awards,
including the 2001 publication on the SHARP Prototype Program. He
holds 10 patent awards and has co-authored over 180 publications and
NRL formal reports.
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