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Potomac Institute for Policy Studies to Honor Bingaman, Gaffney, and Braddock for S&T Leadership

5 July, 2001

Arlington, Va. - U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), National Defense University President Vice Adm. Paul G. Gaffney II, and Dr. Joseph V. Braddock each will receive a Potomac Institute for Policy Studies' 2001 Navigator Award for their national leadership in science and technology policy. The awards will be presented at a dinner to be held at the Hyatt Regency in Washington, DC, on July 11th.

The Navigator Awards are presented to a member of the U.S. Congress, a representative of the Executive branch, and an industry/academia representative based on recent or lifetime distinguished service in support of science and technology policy. The awards are called "Navigator" to reflect that national leadership in science and technology policy is a never-ending process of finding the way ahead.

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1982, Sen. Jeff Bingaman has demonstrated broad legislative leadership in technological innovation. Among his many achievements, the senator helped launch a major expansion of dual use (military and commercial) technologies. He also proved pivotal in the resurgence of the semiconductor industry, with which the creation of the U.S.-Japan Semiconductor agreement was associated. These efforts resulted in billions of new dollars for American wage earners. As chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, he will continue to provide keen resourcefulness in guiding the Energy Department's National Laboratories into the new millennium.

Vice Adm. Paul G. Gaffney II is being honored for his inspired leadership of Naval science and technology, and for his continued leadership as president of the National Defense University. As Chief of Naval Research and Deputy Commandant (Science and Technology), Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps from 1996 to 2000, Gaffney completely restructured Naval research through the Future Naval Capabilities process, allowing for better discoveries and for more rapid transition to the warfighter. Gaffney also reorganized the research process so that Marine Corps requirements may be served more effectively. In addition, he successfully led the protection of vital basic national science investments. During his career, Gaffney earned many military decorations for his service, including the Distinguished Service Medal, and four awards of the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star.

Dr. Joseph V. Braddock will receive the Navigator Award for his extensive contributions to science and technology, and for his inspiration for technical advances that enable enlightened policy. Braddock was one of three Fordham University physicists who founded BDM Corporation, a principal nuclear weapons "failure testing" company in the United States. His successes helped establish the Potomac Foundation (no relation to Potomac Institute), which has contributed significantly to NATO research. Well-regarded among professional military scientists, Braddock's technical mastery was key to the development of an important NATO strategy known as Follow-On Forces Attack or "FOFA." He also supported the technical research and policy advances that enabled conventional deterrence in Europe, keeping the nuclear threshold high, while not matching the Soviets in numbers of weapons systems.

Braddock has donated considerable time with the Army and Office of the Secretary of Defense on technical forecasting and planning as a member of the Defense and Army Science Boards, and on several DARPA efforts, including one aimed at replacing anti-personnel land mines. Braddock's service has been recognized with the Secretary of Defense Eugene G. Fubini Award, the Defense Nuclear Agency's Exceptional Public Service Award, and Distinguished Service Awards from the Army Science Board and the Association of the U.S. Army.

This year's awardees follow three founding-year recipients - Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), retired Gen. Al Gray, USMC, and Dr. Paul Kaminski.

The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies is an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit policy research institute that provides nonpartisan analysis of science and technology policy to leaders in government, industry and academia. With a reputation for fierce objectivity, the Institute has conducted studies on a wide range of issues, including defense acquisition reform, dual use technology, space commercialization, cyberterrorism and biological terrorism.