NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER WEAPONS DIVISION, POINT MUGU, Calif. - Dr. Ron Smiley, Avionics, Sensors and E*Warfare Department national director, was inducted into the Association of Old Crows’ Technology Hall of Fame during a ceremony Nov. 29 in Washington, D.C.

The AOC is an organization for individuals who have common interests in electronic warfare, electromagnetic spectrum management operations, cyber electromagnetic activities, information operations, and other information related capabilities. Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division jointly hosts an annual symposium with AOC in Point Mugu, California.

Inductees to the Technology Hall of Fame are recognized for being prime innovators in technology development and whose achievements have resulted in enhanced survivability of forces and equipment. They must have made unique and important technical contributions in the field of electronic warfare which are operationally relevant.

Smiley’ s career in test and engineering has spanned over 40 years, most of that dedicated to improving naval aviation’s EW warfighting capabilities. He was nominated for the award by members of his own staff, including his deputy, Toufue Chang, and the Dr. Martha McQueen, the department’s strategy and business operations director. In the nomination, they hailed Smiley as “a true national electronic warfare leader who pulls the community together” and encourages his team to never take ‘no’ for an answer.

They also highlighted Smiley’s devotion to providing unique experimentation venues like Vigilant Hammer for the DoD EW and cyber communities to experiment and evaluate their systems.

For Smiley, the recognition came as a surprise.

“It is very gratifying to a person like me, who tends to be low key and just wants to make a difference,” he said. “I'm jazzed about receiving this.”