AOC Kittyhawk Chapter Professional Awards

Review the award criteria on this page and click the Nomination Form button at the bottom to make your online nomination. We no longer accept paper nomination forms.

Nominations must be submitted no later than 28 Oct 2024

Nominators will be notified of status on or about 10 Nov 2024

Awards will be presented at the KAOC Christmas Party on 6 Dec 2024

(Scroll down for link to the nomination form)

KAOC Research and Technology Development Award (individual):

Criteria that must be met to received the award shall be:

This award is given to the outstanding candidate who has made significant contributions to the research, development, and/or application of Electronic Warfare technologies, techniques, and/or solutions.

The modern term of Electronic Warfare includes traditional EW disciplines of Electronic Support (ES), Electronics Attack (EA) and Electronic Protection (EP) as well as technologies/techniques related to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Electromagnetic Spectrum Management Operations (EMSO), Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA), Information Operations (IO), and other information related capabilities.

KAOC Program Management Award:

Criteria that must be met to received the award shall be:

This annual award is given to an outstanding candidate who has made significant contributions to the management, development, and/or fielding of Electronic Warfare technologies, techniques, and/or solutions.

The modern term of Electronic Warfare includes traditional EW disciplines of Electronic Support (ES), Electronics Attack (EA) and Electronic Protection (EP) as well as technologies/techniques related to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Electromagnetic Spectrum Management Operations (EMSO), Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA), Information Operations (IO), and other information related capabilities.

Winner: Ms. Essen Laubie

Nominated by: Mr. Todd Kastle

To Dr. Ellen Laubie for her tireless pursuit of advanced electronic warfare techniques and foundational EW research on the Fundamental Electronic Attack Research (FEAR) program.

KAOC Outstanding Supervisor Award:

Criteria that must be met to received the award shall be:

This award is given to an outstanding supervisor in the Kittyhawk Chapter who has demonstrated significant skill in leading a team of Electronic Warfare professionals. The Outstanding Supervisor award is presented to recognize an individual who is passionate about the development and career advancement of their employees and EW professionals.

The modern term of Electronic Warfare includes traditional EW disciplines of Electronic Support (ES), Electronics Attack (EA) and Electronic Protection (EP) as well as technologies/techniques related to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Electromagnetic Spectrum Management Operations (EMSO), Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA), Information Operations (IO), and other information related capabilities.

Winner: Mr. Rex Mykrantz

Nominated by: Mr. Joe Koesters

Mr. Rex Mykrantz distinguished himself as supervisor of the Navigation and Communication Branch, Spectrum Warfare Division, Sensors Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory. Mr. Mykrantz expertly led multiple teams delivering three different prototypes to operational forces in response to urgent needs. He also leveraged partnerships with Air Force program offices to enhance personnel skills and create a transition pipeline to move technology from the lab to the warfighter. Lastly, Mr. Mykrantz skillfully managed his branch through significant personnel turnover conducting numerous hiring actions and prioritizing work to successfully address mission needs.

KAOC Young Professional Award:

Criteria that must be met to received the award shall be:

This award is given to an outstanding young professional in the Kittyhawk Chapter who has made a significant technology-related contributions to Electronic Warfare. The Young Professionals award is presented to recognize an individual who is passionate about the development and advancement of EW related technologies and solutions.

The modern term of Electronic Warfare includes traditional EW disciplines of Electronic Support (ES), Electronics Attack (EA) and Electronic Protection (EP) as well as technologies/techniques related to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Electromagnetic Spectrum Management Operations (EMSO), Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA), Information Operations (IO), and other information related capabilities.

The nominee must be within 10 years of receiving their first professional degree (Bachelors degree or equivalent).

Winner: Mr. Varun Srikanth

Nominated by: Mr. Todd Kastle

For the development of Timing Reference, Abstraction, and Integration Layer for Simulation (TRAILS) which enable high fidelity models to be injected into campaign level simulations with correct timing. This enables the DOD decision maker to have the real-world accuracy in higher level simulations.

KAOC Team/IPT Award:

Criteria that must be met to received the award shall be:

This award is given to the outstanding team who has made significant contributions to the research, development, management, application and/or fielding of Electronic Warfare technologies, techniques, and/or solutions.

The modern term of Electronic Warfare includes traditional EW disciplines of Electronic Support (ES), Electronics Attack (EA) and Electronic Protection (EP) as well as technologies/techniques related to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Electromagnetic Spectrum Management Operations (EMSO), Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA), Information Operations (IO), and other information related capabilities.

Winner: TTCP EWS Group: Cognitive EW‚ Counter-IADS Team

Team Members: Dr. Vasu Chakravarthy, Mr. Chris Ebersole, Mr. Thomas Woodward,
Mr. Clifton Bullmaster, and Mr. Wes Earick

Nominated by: Mr. Seng Hong

AFRL Cognitive EW Counter-Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS) Team has been working with 5-Eyes TTCP partner nations to demonstrate an integrated EW system providing useful situational awareness information to operators when confronted with unknown modes or radars, effectively jam such radars, and perform real-time EA battle damage assessment.

Winner: Mark Wunderlich

For his dedicated service contributing to the success of Kittyhawk Week. Mark served on the Conference Steering committee for several years organizing and chairing EO/IR Sessions and Tutorials. Mark also provided invaluable logistical support to enable the C classified Kittyhawk Week Sessions.

Click To Open The Nomination Form