Two AFRL researchers honored with 'Oscars' for public service

9/23/2014 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Two Air Force Research Laboratory engineers here were honored Sept. 22 with coveted Service to America medals.

Sean Young and Benjamin Tran were presented the National Security and International Affairs Medal in Washington, D.C., by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service.  Young and Tran are electronics engineers with AFRL's Sensor Directorate.

The two were honored as lifesavers for leading the development, testing and deployment of a cutting-edge aerial sensor used to locate and destroy improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan. IEDs have historically been the number one threat to American forces in region.  

In their words, working as a collaborative team with AFRL's Center for Rapid Innovation, Young and Tran took existing capabilities and combined them in a new way to create a game-changing technology so  fielded Army, Marine and Special Forces units can find IEDs, as well as the individuals manufacturing and placing them.

Young and Tran were honored along with eight other Service to America Medal recipients, who were nominated by colleagues familiar with their work and selected by a committee that includes leaders in government, academia, the private sector, media and philanthropy. Nearly 400 nominations were submitted for consideration this year.  The awards have been likened to the "Oscars" of government service.

"This is a huge honor for the U.S. Air Force and reflects the creativity, skill and dedication of AFRL people to solving urgent warfighter needs" said Maj. Gen. Tom Masiello, AFRL commander.  "These young men incorporated sensing technology aboard remotely-piloted aerial vehicles in a truly innovative way to help American warfighters identify and destroy IEDs before they could cause harm."

For profiles and videos of each of the medalists, visit servicetoamericamedals.org

The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals program is named in memory of business leader and philanthropist Samuel J. Heyman, who in 2001 founded the Partnership for Public Service to revitalize federal government and to inspire a new generation to serve.