China Lake scientist gets Presidential award

NAVAIR Commander Vice Adm. David Architzel, left, and NAWCWD Commander Rear Adm. Mat Winter, present Dr. Bob Smith, a senior NAWCWD scientist, with a Presidential Rank Award during Winter's assumption of command ceremony June 29 at China Lake. Smith is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in systems engineering, missile guidance and control, modeling and simulation, and operational analysis. He was selected for his record of sustained excellence and contributions to advanced air launched missile development. The Presidential Rank Award honors a small group of career senior executives and senior career employees each year. Photo by Mike Hunsinger.

Date: 29-Jun-10
News Release Number: ECL201006291

A senior scientist at NAWCWD was presented a Presidential Rank Award on June 29.

Dr. Bob Smith was among the select group of senior executives and senior career employees chosen for the Presidential award, which recognizes strong leaders, professionals and scientists who achieve results and consistently demonstrate strength, integrity, industry and a relentless commitment to excellence in public service. Smith was honored for his record of sustained excellence and contributions to advanced air launched missile development.

"It's an honor to receive this award," Smith said. "For awards that acknowledge individuals, I feel it's the people supporting that individual who deserve as much, or more, of the credit."

Smith was quick to recognize the support he's had during his career and thanked his family, leadership, teammates, and his noon-time running group.

"To the men and women in the armed forces, thank you for your service to our country," Smith said. "We are here to serve you."

Smith is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in systems engineering, missile guidance and control, modeling and simulation, and operational analysis. Originally from northeast Ohio, Smith first came to China Lake in 1969 as a summer hire and worked on simulations and math models for Sidewinder. He went back east to finish graduate school and made his way back to the desert in 1971, where he has been ever since.

Smith closed out his 38-year civil service career in October but couldn't stay away from the work he loved. He returned to a part time position at China Lake where his focus is teaching, mentoring, and consulting on various projects.

The Presidential award honors career senior executives and senior career employees. Ever since the Senior Executive Service (SES) was established in 1978, the President has honored a small group of career members of the SES who have provided exceptional service to the American people over an extended period of time. In 2003, the President extended the recognition to include senior career employees.

There are two categories of rank awards: Distinguished and Meritorious. Award winners are chosen through a rigorous selection process that includes evaluation by boards comprised of private citizens, and approved by the President. Recipients get a monetary award and a framed certificate signed by the President. Smith earned the Meritorious Award.

"We stand in awe of you and your technical and professional achievements," said NAWCWD Commander Rear Adm. Mat Winter, who noted Smith's ability to bring people and agencies together to achieve mutually satisfying goals. "Your work is a demonstration in true diligence. Most impressive is your uncanny ability to see through the eyes of the warfighter."

Smith's accomplishments and contributions to the warfighter are many. He was a key member of a joint Air Force/Navy air-to-air missile evaluation project in the 1970s. This project paved the way for the development of today's high off bore sight "look and shoot" missiles. He became an expert in missile bank-to-turn guidance, and performed the first hardware-in-the-loop simulation of a highly maneuverable, bank-to-turn, radio-frequency guided air intercept missile. He was also a key member of the team that developed the AIM-9R variant of the Sidewinder missile. This program paved the way for the development of today's premier dogfight missile, the AIM-9X Sidewinder. Smith then went on to be a key contributor in the early development of the AIM-9X.

Smith is the lead off lecturer in the highly successful "Weapons 101" course. He has also taught courses in missile guidance and control and design of experiments using Taguchi methods. In his early days at China Lake, Smith was a University of Southern California (USC) adjunct professor and taught linear algebra as part of the USC extension program. Smith is also involved in an educational outreach program sponsored by the Naval Museum of Armament and Technology. The objective of this program is to stimulate the interest of young children in science, engineering and mathematics.

He received the Naval Air Systems Command's Research and Engineering Department Award in 2008 when he and Ken Banks represented the command at the Michelson Centennial Symposium held at the United States Naval Academy in October 2007. Smith and Banks narrated a multimedia presentation entitled, "Albert A. Michelson Laboratory, History and Heritage."

Other awards that Smith has earned include the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award and numerous technical awards. He was recognized as a NAVAIR Esteemed Fellow for his fundamental contributions in guided missile technology. The Esteemed Fellow is a recognition program for the command's most experienced and talented scientists and engineers – recognition shared by less than 1 percent of the science and engineering work force.

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