Submitted by TEAM Public Affairs, Patuxent River

March 7, 2001

Three employees of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) were selected as Laurel Award winners by Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine for their significant contributions to the global field of aerospace during the year 2000.

Russell D. Carter, China Lake, Calif., was selected in the field of Electronics; Dr. Bruce E. LaViolette, Cherry Point, N.C., in the government/military category, and John T. Lawrence Jr., Patuxent River, Md., in the aeronautics and propulsion field.

Carter, an engineer at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division China Lake, was chosen for his contributions to missile development through six-degrees-of-freedom hardware-in-the-loop simulations and missile modeling, which were used in the Sparrow, Sea Sparrow and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) programs.

Throughout his 30-year career in missile system design and analysis, Carter's expertise has been demonstrated repeatedly, as when he designed the fuse-aided guidance algorithm currently operational in Fleet Sparrows used against very low altitude threats. The six-degree-of-freedom simulation he created for Sparrow has become the missile reference simulation for the United States Navy and the basis for ESSM simulation used engineering and manufacturing development.

Carter said he did not digest the full scope of being a Laurel Award winner until he read it in the Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine. He remembered his boss asking him some questions in November last year, but had told him he did not want to know why.

"I was thinking that if something happens great, if it does not, then I will not worry about being rejected or not winning. So winning this award is very much a surprise and honor," he said.

Carter's contributions to the U.S. and allied weapon systems development also have earned him a Department of Defense Achievement Award and Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award.

"It is an extreme honor to receive such an award from the industry," he said. "These are the leaders of the aviation technology world - people who are making very significant advances in aviation industry."

"It is a very significant award, but I see this as more of an award for NAVAIR and everybody who participated and assisted me in doing the work that we have done at the depot," said Laviolette, International Standards Organization (ISO) 9000 coordinator at Naval Aviation Depot Cherry Point, N.C. Laviolette said the Laurel Award is one of the highest awards given in the civilian world of aviation support, and he feels that it is tribute to the people that he works with.

Laviolette lead a modernization that resulted in ISO 9000 certification and continuing improvements in the repair, overhaul and rework of military aerospace products which tripled the work performed and completed it in 30 percent less time. Immediate results of his initiative included reclaiming more than 20,000 square feet of facility space, removing obsolete records, reviewing and updating more than 10,000 technical manuals, purging archives, and critiquing more than 3,000 operating processes. Materials exceeding $20 million were recovered and returned to stocking points

As deputy director of the Naval Engine Airfoil Center, Laviolette added new high-tech, state of the art aviation repair capabilities such as oxidizing and high velocity oxygen fuel processes and instituted partnering with private industries on emerging aviation repair technologies. Repair parts were returned to the fleet ahead of schedule and savings under the improved business regimen totaled more than $180 million dollars.

In other award competition last year, Laviolette was the only Department of Defense employee to receive the coveted Aviation Week Overhaul and Maintenance Magazine Award for Outstanding Achievement in Aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul in April last year. This is an international award given to only three people in the world annually.

At Patuxent River, Lawrence is chief technical specialist and consultant in the Aeromechanics Division of NAVAIR with responsibility for the full spectrum of Navy air vehicles throughout their life cycle.

Selected for his work in aircraft stability, control and flying qualities, Lawrence said it came as a big surprise because he knew absolutely nothing about being nominated.

"It is quite significant to be named in this international magazine. It is like the icing on the cake," he said. "There are a number of outstanding engineers at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River and NAVAIR, so I feel very honored to be the one selected."

Lawrence directed stability and control efforts on the F-4, F-14, and F/A-18 series aircraft from concept through flight test programs and extensively revised the Navy high angle-of-attack flight test demonstration guidelines, which have been applied to all Navy aircraft since 1983. He also established and directed an extensive series of Grumman/Navy flight test programs that resulted in significant reduction in F-14 out-of-control incidents. He is primarily responsible for incorporation of leading edge slats and the aileron-rubber interconnect in the final T-45 configuration.

Currently, Lawrence is involved in two major efforts: a study to understand F/A-18C/D 'falling leaf' out-of-control motion and develop a satisfactory recovery technique; and a study of carrier approach speed criteria to validate, modify or replace current criteria for use in Joint Strike Fighter development.

Achieving the highest level of recognition in NAVAIR's recently established Research and Engineering Fellows Program, Lawrence was one of five technologists inducted into the inaugural class of 'Esteemed Fellows'. The Washington D.C, Catholic University graduate is also a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the U.S. Naval Institute, and Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honor Society.

Each award winner will receive an Aviation Week and Space Technology Laurel Award plaque and Letter of Recognition.