Academics

Krassy honored with Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award

Geoffrey D. Krassy was recently honored as the 2015 recipient of the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award. He was recognized at the GEOINT 2015 Symposium, held June 22–25 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Krassy graduated in December 2014 with a master’s degree in homeland security, geospatial intelligence option, through Penn State World Campus.

Named in honor of Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Medal of Honor recipient and distinguished Penn State alumnus, the award recognizes achievement by a graduate of Penn State’s geospatial intelligence program who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces or with the geospatial intelligence community and demonstrated exceptional contributions to the discipline.

"This is far more than simply an academic award to me. Lt. Murphy, in whose memory the award is endowed, is an exemplar of a select community. I’ve been privileged to work with special operations forces, including navy SEALs. I count as friends the men who participated in Operation REDWING, including one of the HH-60 helicopter pilots who extracted the remnants of Lt. Murphy’s team. To receive an award named in honor of such an outstanding individual is a humbling experience," Krassy said.

“It is noteworthy that Krassy served on the project team that integrates fixed-wing patrol aircraft remote sensing capabilities into a common geospatial picture, maximizing the seamless transfer of data between and the interoperability of the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense and other government partners,” said Todd S. Bacastow, professor of practice for geospatial intelligence and lead faculty for the geospatial intelligence programs offered through Penn State World Campus. “Krassy’s professional experiences in the Air Force and U.S. CBP have been exemplary in important geospatial intelligence initiatives and interagency coordination.”

Krassy earned his bachelor’s degree in history from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and after graduation served as a special operations pilot with the U.S. Air Force in the European and Africa theaters. Since 2007 he has served as an air interdiction agent for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award is sponsored by the Digital Globe Foundation; United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation; Todd and Barbara Bacastow; Alan W. Scaroni, dean emeritus of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences;  and Richard DiEugenio, former special assistant to the president for governmental affairs in Penn State’s Office of Governmental Affairs.

Last Updated July 28, 2015

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