DAHLGREN, Va. (NNS) -- Alan Tolley was selected as a National Society of Professional Engineers' (NSPE) 2015 Federal Engineer of the Year Award (FEYA) Agency winner, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) announced Dec. 10.
Tolley, one of three FEYA Agency winners representing Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), will be honored at the FEYA Awards ceremony to be held at the National Press Club Feb. 26.
The 2015 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.
"I am truly honored to have been selected," said Tolley, an NSWCDD employee detailed to the NAVSEA Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) as the chief radar systems engineer for Above Water Sensors. "I've had many opportunities to work with the best dedicated engineers and scientists in the field of radars, and the experience has made me a better radar engineer."
PEO IWS Above Water Sensors Technical Director Bradley Binder nominated Tolley for the FEYA award, citing the engineer's outstanding vision, leadership, and personal contributions in the systems engineering of the Navy's next generation of surface combatant radars and their combat system elements including the Dual Band Radar and Air Missile Defense Radar.
"Alan Tolley is the consummate engineer's engineer -- technically brilliant, completely devoted to his Navy and country, with an amazing work ethic," said Capt. Douglas Small, major program manager, Above Water Sensors (PEO IWS 2.0). "I trust and rely on him completely. Alan is the chief engineer of all surface Navy radars and he's generally awesome."
The Federal Engineer of the Year is selected by a panel of judges established by National Society of Professional Engineers (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.
In the nomination, Binder recognized Tolley's "key role in delivering vital warfare capabilities to the fleet by shaping the radar community and sensor industrial base," adding that the NSWCDD engineer's "efforts continue to enhance the U.S. Navy's reputation for technical excellence in radar system engineering."
Tolley's accomplishments include his leadership in the development of the Navy's first dual band radar that supports two different ship classes. His expertise led to his selection to the OPNAV radar-hull study, which set the path forward for surface radars on the Navy's next generation destroyer, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer (DDG-51) Flight III.
Moreover, he developed, shaped, and defended complex multimission and integration requirements and associated contracts for the Navy's next-generation Air Missile Defense Radar sensor on the new DDG 51 Flight III.
"I am truly blessed to be part of the surface Navy radar community's efforts to provide radars that are key to the success of the U.S. Navy," said Tolley.