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2002 Navigator Award Winners

Legislative Branch Awardees

The Honorable Pat Roberts
U.S. Senator, Kansas
A fourth generation Kansan, Senator Roberts is a strong advocate of increased investment in science and technology. In 1996 he established the Advisory Committee on Science, Technology and the Future so he could be thoroughly advised on the technology needs of his state. He often speaks on the needs of higher education and research in this field. His committees include the Armed Services Committee, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Select Ethics Committee.

Senator Pat Roberts of Dodge City won election to the U.S. Senate in 1996. He served eight terms in the House of Representatives from Kansas' First District. As Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Senator Roberts led the 104th Congress to reform outdated federal farm policies. In the House, he also led successful congressional reforms of the House Bank and Post Office. Senator Roberts is an advocate of strong health and education systems, free trade, increased investment in science and technology, focused foreign policy, and strong military-items that keep Kansas competitive in today's rapidly evolving global marketplace. His legislative record underscores concern for Kansas's communities, businesses, and families. He is committed to preserving and protecting Social Security and Medicare, and to ensuring Kansans have access to quality health care services at reasonable cost.

Born in Topeka on April 20, 1936, Senator Roberts is the son of the late Wes Roberts, Chairman of the Republican National Committee under President Dwight Eisenhower. His great-grandfather, J.W. Roberts, founded the Oskaloosa Independent, the state's second oldest newspaper. Following graduation from Kansas State University in 1958, Senator Roberts served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, then worked as a reporter and editor for several Arizona newspapers. He joined the staff of Kansas Senator Frank Carlson in 1967. In 1969, Senator Roberts became Administrative Assistant to Kansas First District Congressman Keith Sebelius. Senator Roberts was elected to Congress in 1980, succeeding Sebelius upon his retirement. Senator Roberts and his wife Franki have three children: David, Ashleigh, and Anne-Wesley. Senator Roberts is a member of the following committees: Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Armed Services; and Select Intelligence. He is the Ranking Member of the Select Ethics Committee.

The Honorable Tom Davis
U.S. Congressman, Virginia
Congressman Davis has served on active duty with U.S. Army, the Virginia National Guard, and the U.S. Army Reserve. His assignments include the Energy and Commerce Committee, and the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. Davis is also a member of the House IT Working Group, and Chair of the Subcommittee on Technology and Procurement Policy. He authored the Cyber Security Information Act, which encouraged the disclosure and exchange of information between the private and public sector regarding cyber security issues. He also was a sponsor of the Y2K Act in 1999. This legislation provided the outline for businesses to spend their money fixing Y2K problems, rather than reserving money for lawsuits regarding the problem. More recently, Davis authored legislation called Digital Tech Acts of 2002, which provides IT management training.

Congressman Davis was born in Minot, North Dakota on January 5, 1949, and moved with his family to Fairfax County at an early age. He graduated as president of his class from the United States Capitol Page School following four years as a U.S. Senate Page. He went on to Amherst College, graduating with honors in Political Science, and subsequently earned his law degree from the University of Virginia. Congressman Davis also attended Officer Candidate School, served on active duty in the U.S. Army, and spent eight years with the Virginia National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve. A lifelong Republican, in 1973, he was married to the former Peggy Rantz. Peggy, a graduate of Fairfax County's J.E.B. Stuart High School and the University of Virginia Medical School, is a gynecologist in Fairfax. The couple has three children: Carlton, Pamela, and Shelley.

Executive Branch Awardee

Dr. Rita Colwell
Director, National Science Foundation (NSF)
Dr. Colwell has spearheaded the agency's emphases in K-12 science and mathematics education, graduated science and engineering education/training and the increased participation of women and minorities in science and engineering. Under her leadership, the Foundation has received significant budget increases, and its funding recently reached a level of more than $4.8 billion.

Dr. Rita R. Colwell became the eleventh Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) on August 4, 1998. Since taking office, Dr. Colwell has spearheaded the agency's emphases in K-12 science and mathematics education, graduate science and engineering education/training, and the increased participation of women and minorities in science and engineering. Her policy approach has enabled the agency to strengthen its core activities, as well as establish support for major initiatives, including Nanotechnology, Biocomplexity, Information Technology, Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, and the 21st Century Workforce. In her capacity as NSF Director, she serves as co-chair of the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council.

Born in Beverly, Massachusetts, Dr. Colwell holds a B.S. in Bacteriology and an M.S. in Genetics, from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Washington. Before coming to NSF, Dr. Colwell was President of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute from 1991-1998, and she remains Professor of Microbiology and Biotechnology (on leave) at the University of Maryland. She was also a member of the National Science Board (NSF's governing body) from 1984 to 1990. She is a nationally respected scientist and educator, and has authored or co-authored 16 books and more than 600 scientific publications. She produced the award-winning film, Invisible Seas, and has served on editorial boards of numerous scientific journals.

Private Sector Awardee

Mr. Gilman Louie
President and Chief Executive Officer, In-Q-Tel
The challenge of creating and innovative, new business model aimed at enhancing national security convinced Mr. Louis to join In-Q-Tel as its first president and chief executive officer. He has focused on refining and evolving In-Q-Tel's innovative model, identifying and exploring exciting new developments in technology, and, perhaps most importantly, helping deliver technologies into the CIA and the Intelligence Community that have the potential to make a strategic impact on the business of intelligence.

As a pioneer in the interactive entertainment industry, Gilman's successes have included the Falcon, F-16 flight simulator, and Tetris, which he brought over from the Soviet Union. Most recently, Gilman served as Hasbro Interactive's chief creative officer and general manager of the Games.com group. A nationally-recognized leader and speaker in the fields of entertainment software, educational software, and translation and media services, Gilman has established himself as an expert on the critical relationship between technology innovation and national security. Gilman completed the Advanced Management Program/International Seniors Management Program at Harvard Business School, and he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from San Francisco State University.