NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – The Hawkeye/Greyhound Propeller technical lead here was presented with the sixth annual Joey Miller Engineering Excellence Award Dec. 13, at the Daugherty Center, Lexington Park, Md.

Ed Faillace, of the Hawkeye/Greyhound program (PMA-231) here, is the recipient of the award that recognizes the person or persons who best embody the qualities of technical excellence, leadership and dedication to the warfighter.

“Excellence is something I think we all strive to achieve,” said Faillace. “To be recognized by a group of individuals for whom you have a tremendous amount of personal respect for makes it very special.”

Faillace was part of the team that investigated a mishap that occurred when an E-2C assigned to the Tigertails of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125 made an emergency single-engine landing at the Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va., last year.

“The investigation was by no means an individual effort or achievement,” said Faillace. “I contributed by providing focus. Sorting through information until all that I was left with were the facts. But the reality is that investigations of this magnitude are all about teamwork.”

During the investigation, Faillace developed unique test requirements to evaluate the E-2C’s all-composite eight-bladed NP2000 propeller system and expanded specifications necessary to test the mechanical feathering system. Upon completion of the investigation, procedural changes were incorporated into the Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization manual to prevent similar mishaps.

“Once the investigation is complete, the situation is understood and the procedural or design changes are made, it is pure satisfaction and personal pride that you feel because you know that you have done something that will prevent other mishaps and save lives,” said Faillace.

The award was presented to Faillace by Capt. Shane Gahagan, Hawkeye/Greyhound program manager and James Culmo, vice president of Airborne Early Warnings/Battle Management Command and Control, Northrop Grumman.

“In spite of the daunting challenges presented by the mishap investigation and subsequent mitigations, you adeptly brought your team’s talent and your own extensive knowledge to bear in completing the critical project,” said Gahagan.

The Joey Miller Engineering Excellence Award was established in 2002 in honor of Lt. Cmdr. Joey Miller. Miller was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served as a Navy officer and P-3 aviator.

In 1992, Miller graduated from the Naval Test Pilot School here and retired after being diagnosed with cancer.

Miller began his second career as aeronautical engineer and project lead in the PMA-231 program office. He served as the air vehicle integrated product team lead until he passed away in 2003.

“From what I have learned about Joey Miller, he was a very respected man throughout our Navy community. That makes receiving this award truly an honor,” said Faillace.

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Cutline -- Capt. Shane Gahagan, Hawkeye /Greyhound (PMA-231) program manger, and Northrop Grumman’s Jim Culmo, present Ed Faillace with this year’s Joey Miller Engineering Excellence Award Dec. 13 at the Daugherty Center, Lexington Park, Md. U.S. Navy Photo.