Navy CBR Defense Chief Engineer Named Federal Engineer of the Year Award Agency Winner

DAHLGREN, Va. – Michael Pompeii - Chief Engineer for NSWC Dahlgren Chemical, Biological and Radiological Defense Division - was selected as a National Society of Professional Engineers’ (NSPE) 2012 Federal Engineer of the Year Award (FEYA) Agency winner, NSWC Dahlgren announced Jan. 25.

Pompeii – one of two FEYA Agency winners representing the NAVSEA Naval Surface Warfare Center –will be honored at the FEYA Awards ceremony to be held at the National Press Club on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012.

The CBR Defense Division Chief Engineer’s vision, leadership, technical expertise and achievements have significantly improved the Navy’s ability to deal with a CBR attack, according to Pompeii’s award nomination.

“Mike is extremely deserving of this award and I am thrilled that he was selected over many fine candidates,” said NSWCDD CBR Defense Division Head Michael Purello. “With his education in mechanical and systems engineering, professional engineering license, and almost 30 years of experience in Navy CBR Defense, Mike has truly helped the Navy in numerous ways and contributed to the success of the Navy CBR Defense program.

The 2012 Federal Engineer of the Year Award – sponsored by the Professional Engineers in Government – honors engineers employed by a federal agency that employs at least 50 engineers worldwide. Candidates are nominated by their employing federal agency.

The Federal Engineer of the Year is selected by a panel of judges established by NSPE Professional Engineers in Government who consider engineering achievements, education, continuing education, professional/technical society activities, NSPE membership, awards and honors, and civic and humanitarian activities.

Pompeii’s accomplishments as a nationally and internationally renowned CBR Defense expert – particularly in the area of Collective Protection Systems (CPS) – include:

• Expanded the Navy’s capabilities to research, develop, and field revolutionary systems for the Navy, Department of Defense and the nation.
• Led the design, development and delivery of the Shipboard Collective Protection Systems, CPS Personnel and Casualty Decontamination Stations, Selected Area CPS, and the Improved Point Detection System. (CPS works by using special filters to remove contaminants from intake ventilation air and then providing a slight overpressure inside the CPS zone to prevent entry of contaminants through any leak paths.)
• Developed the Shipboard Chemical Hazard Assessment Guide and authored major changes in Navy shipboard CBR defense doctrine and procedures.
• Spearheaded efforts resulting in multi-million dollar cost reduction for the Navy.
• Reconstituted and validated the Navy’s aerial simulant release capability to support at sea testing of ship CBR Defense capabilities.
• Developed realistic challenge levels that are now the standard for designing shipboard CBR defense equipment.
• Developed a groundbreaking threat validation report that will be the basis for redefining: 1/ how and why shipboard CBR defense testing is conducted in the future and, 2/ standards for shipboard CBR defense equipment.
• Assessed the threat and developed response procedures for radiological dispersal devices for ships.
• Led the CBR Defense Division’s response to the 2011 radiation releases from the Fukushima nuclear plants.
• Established the Dahlgren Radiological Control Data Center to efficiently capture and analyze ship contamination levels, which could significantly impact the fleet’s response to future radiation contamination incidents.