Introduced as "a gentleman whose accomplishments as a test pilot, an engineer, and military and business leader have been truly impressive," Vice Adm. Joe Dyer became the 36th recipient of the prestigious J.H. Doolittle Award. Jimmy Doolittle III, the grandson of the famed WWII aviator James Doolittle (for whom the award is named), made the presentation at a recent Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) symposium and annual awards banquet in Los Angeles.

"I can think of no one who is more deserving of the J.H. Doolittle Award than Admiral Dyer," said William C. Bowes, former commander of Naval Aviation Systems Command and vice president of programs management, Integrated Systems, a Litton Systems, Inc., division.

"His visionary leadership and superlative communication techniques and style have enabled him to successfully lead a team of 30,000 Navy and Marine Corps men and women who work with industry to enable Naval Aviation to safely meet its National commitments during these times of constrained budgets and continued high tempo of operations," Bowes added.

Established in 1966 by the SETP, the J.H. Doolittle Award recognizes outstanding technical management or engineering achievement in aerospace technology - honoring the lifetime achievements of its test pilot members.

According to the SETP, the same traits that produce successful test pilots also lead to outstanding performance in the technical and managerial world. As a result, many test pilots continue their careers in the fields of aerospace management and engineering.

Dyer, who is a Society Fellow, appears to have proved the organization's point. His accomplishments include receiving his "wings" in 1971; being selected as a first-tour aviator for the MACH 2, RA-5C "Vigilante;" performing as test pilot for initial weapons integration in the F/A-18; serving as chief test pilot for the navy and then as commander of the Flight Test and Engineering Group.

Today, Dyer links his career achievements and position as commander of NAVAIR to those earlier accomplishments. "My experiences as a test pilot have taught me well that we need to always take a systematic and thorough approach when confronting the unknown," said Dyer. "This training has served me well in all my different capacities in the Navy and I have enjoyed this journey tremendously."

The award is named after the famous WWII leader of Doolittle's Tokyo Raiders, whose successful Tokyo air raid was hailed as a brilliant war tactic and credited to lifting sagging American morale during WWII.

Dyer joins other distinguished Navy aviators in winning this award, including NAVAIR's VADM William Bowes, 1992; RADM Richard H. Truly, 1988; VADM Donald D. Engen, 1984, and Adm. Thomas B. Hayward, 1981.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Vice Adm. Joe Dyer accepts the 2001 J.H. Doolittle Award from James H. Doolittle III, 2002 president of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and the grandson of General James H. Doolittle (for whom the award is named). Photo by Bob Schneider of Boeing