August 22,2001
University Park, Pa.--William Mark, a senior scientist with the Applied Research Laboratory’s (ARL) Institute for Manufacturing and Sustainment Technologies at Penn State, recently received the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award--the U.S. Navy’s second highest civilian service award--in recognition of his work in developing modifications that resulted in the improved operational performance of a naval vessel. Recipients eligible for this award must have an established pattern of excellence before they can be nominated.

            “Dr. Mark is a true American hero, and he is without peer,” says Robert Cook, the institute’s director. “For an investment of approximately $800,000, Dr. Mark’s modifications met a critical performance goal that will save approximately $26 million dollars for the U.S. Navy over a five-year period.”

            Mark was presented the award by Rear Admiral J. R. Davis, USN, of the Naval Sea Systems Command, during a ceremony held in June at the laboratory.

            Mark’s successful research began as the result of a project sponsored by the Office of Naval Research through its resident U.S. Navy Manufacturing and Technology (ManTech) Program at ARL. The laboratory’s Institute for Manufacturing and Sustainment Technology is one of two Penn State-operated U.S. Navy Manufacturing Technology Centers of Excellence. The institute’s mission is to refine manufacturing processes and improve naval platforms.

            An ARL faculty researcher since 1992, Mark currently heads up the metrology and performance prediction thrust within ARL’s Drivetrain Technology Center. In this capacity, he is responsible for developing fundamental theory and software for predicting the transmission error of meshing parallel-axis and bevel gear pairs, among other research.

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Contact: Gregory Johnson, research administrator, Institute for Manufacturing and Sustainment Technologies, ARL Penn State, at (814) 865-8207 or at gjj1@psu.edu.