22 Nov 2002
BAE Systems announces the winners of the 2002 Chairman's Award for Innovation. Presented annually, these awards are given to those individuals and teams which have during the year, through innovation, materially aided the company to improve its processes, practices, technologies, and products to achieve the maximum benefit for our customers, employees, and shareholders.
Sir Richard Evans, Chairman of the Board, BAE Systems, presented the awards in Washington, D.C. last night. He said, "Humankind has always had a hunger for new ideas. It's that hunger - combined with ingenuity - that drives us to ever greater achievements. It's also that hunger that gives our company its competitive edge. In our company at large are some of the best and brightest minds working in any field."
Each year entries are submitted from throughout the company world-wide by BAE Systems business units, teams, joint ventures, and other activities. Panels of judges review the entries and from them choose those of most merit. From these, winners are chosen for Silver and Gold awards. Now in its seventh year, 2,785 nominations were submitted, breaking all previous nomination records. From those 2,785, the top 80 were selected, resulting in 44 Silver Awards. The 44 Silver winners were judged by a panel headed by Ian King, Ground Managing Director for BAE Systems' Customer Solutions & Support, to determine the six Gold winners. The Silver and Gold awards this year are truly representative of the best this company has to offer.
The six winners of the 2002 Gold Awards for Innovation are:
F-22 Digital Receiver Rapid Prototype-Information & Electronic Warfare Systems, Nashua, New Hampshire, USA
Winners: Richard Tallarico, Gregory Laste, Douglas Spencer, Ryan Walsh, Jerald Abdinoor, Richard McCoy, Paul Romsky
Nominator: Herbert Archer
Delivering "best of class" performance, this team's dual-channel, configurable rapid prototype digital receiver is at least 10 months ahead of the competition. The team leveraged off-the-shelf technology to save its largest customer more than $500 million over the production life cycle of F-22 procurements. Industry and government officials have recognised this new receiver as a key enabler for next generation Electronic Warfare Systems.
Miniature Multi-Mode GPS Antenna-Advanced Systems, Greenlawn, New York, USA
Winners: Raymond Lackey, Alfred Lopez
Nominator: Edward Newman
Existing technology for anti-jamming antennas was too large for military platforms, so this team developed a better system at one-quarter the size of current products. The program manager built a prototype in his home kitchen that has already spawned spin-offs and multiple patent applications. The breakthrough technology on this product exceeded customer expectations and opens the door to key segments of the billion-dollar GPS anti-jam market.
ANSER Multiple UAV Real-time Decentralized Data Fusion-Avionics, multiple locations
Winners: Julia Sutcliffe, Owen Stuart, Paul Riseborough, Bill Belton, Brad Yelland, Jerome Vethecan, Paul Merlo, Stuart Wishart, Rob Dawkins
Nominator: David Prowse
In partnership with the University of Sydney, the ANSER team turned a modestly priced research program into a sophisticated flight system demonstration - the first of its kind in the world, and a key enabler for Network Centric Warfare. The team spent three years developing this unique demonstration tool, which has wide application potential. Their dedication earned BAE Systems a leading role in Decentralised Data Fusion (DDF).
BAE Systems and Van Ness Elementary-Applied Technologies, Rockville, Maryland, USA (Community)
Winners: Jeanne Black, Debbie Moon, Terri Ray, Niya Vollin, Terry Coluzzi, Lisa Pichette, Edward Nance, Steve Sgouros
Nominator: Judith Gaardsmoe
Newly relocated to this Washington, D.C. community, a people-minded project team solicited and donated holiday gifts, equipment, tuition and lots of spare time to benefit a local elementary school. Their actions are improving the performance and morale of 280 children - as well as their fellow team members. Meanwhile, parents, educators, local businesses and government officials are learning fast that the newest kid on the block is a model corporate citizen.
Laser Guided Crawler Robot-Air Systems, Warton, Lancashire UK
Winners: Carl Abbott, Paul Jarvis, Billy Beggs, Tim White, John Anderson
Nominator: Steve Johnston
This team fought conventional thinking to get their vision of a fully autonomous, multi-functional, small robot accepted. Their persistence led to a world first, the Laser Guided Crawler Robot, giving BAE Systems the lead in this sought-after technology. Programmable in minutes, the Crawler performs across the board - not just in manufacturing, but also in support, maintenance and more. Using robots reduces costs in manpower, equipment, tools and storage, and spin-off technology from the Crawler has already reaped cost benefits.
Sharing of High Maturity Practices-Avionics, North America & AMS (Implementation) multiple locations
Winners: Bill Maddox, Peter Howard, Kelly Gunning, Joel Ange, Randy Varga, Phil Thompson, Mandy Savage, Dave Loydall, Dez Cass
Nominator: Paul McCormack
This team challenged tradition by inspiring knowledge-transfer of development techniques that enable best practices of "high-maturity" software processes to flow across BAE Systems and our joint venture partners on both sides of the Atlantic. Their creative approach fosters a world-class software development environment that increases confidence in implementing the best practices, reduces time scales for reaping the benefits they bring, and saves money by eliminating duplication.
Additional information on these winning innovations and the 38 Silver Award winners are available.
