U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) electrical engineer, Mr. Robert Gignilliat, in the Tactical Electronic Warfare Division, along with an international task group comprised of 10 member-nations, have been awarded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Science and Technology Organization, 2014 Scientific Achievement Award.
Head of the Electro-Optic/InfraRed (EO/IR) Measurements and Simulation Section and U.S. delegate to the NATO task group, Gignilliat and fellow team members of the Sensors and Electronics Technology Panel (SET-144), receive the award in recognition and appreciation for outstanding work and significant scientific contribution in the Mitigation of Ship Electro-Optical Susceptibility against Conventional and Asymmetric Threats.
This work focused on several new areas identified as critical in protecting NATO vessels through development of improved understanding and mitigation of ship vulnerabilities to infrared (IR) missiles and asymmetric weapons like highly maneuverable small watercraft.
The SET-144 Task Group successfully tested the effectiveness of an IR ship-signature-reduction system and conclusively showed its capability to reduce the ship's IR signature, and improved the effectiveness of off-board decoys against threat missiles in their terminal phase - both critical capabilities for the self-protection of NATO vessels.
Arriving at NRL in 1999, Gignilliat holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Catholic University of America and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the George Washington University. During his tenure at NRL, his research interests have focused on: EO/IR Low Observables, EO/IR radiometry, IR signature modeling, infrared LO coatings/materials, model validation methodologies, and camouflage paint scheme development for Naval platforms.
He has designed several paint schemes that are applied to operation craft, such as the USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), the Coastal Riverine Group 1 Riverine Command Boat, and multiple Naval Special Warfare (NSW) craft and has authored over 15 scientific talks and papers, twice receiving NRL's Allen Berman Annual Research Publication Award.
The SET-144 Task Group awarded members include: Mr. Leo de Yong, Australia (Observer Nation); Mr. Alexander Borghgraef, Belgium; Dr. Luc Forand, Canada; Dr. Karin Stein, Germany; Dr. Nikolaos Solomos, Greece; Lt. Raffalle Vita, Italy; Mr. Henny Veerman, Netherlands; Dr. Lars Trygve Heen, Norway; Lt. Umit Cotuk, Turkey; Mr. Pierre Adedze, United Kingdom; and Mr. Robert Gignilliat, United States.