Dr. William Conley accepts his Outstanding DOD Employee or Service Member with
Disability Award from The Honorable Juan M. Garcia III, Assistant Secretary of the
Navy, right, and John Campbell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, left.
Mechanical engineer William Conley, Ph.D., spends countless hours on research designed to mitigate and prevent the deaths caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs). And, this past year, Dr. Conley was once again recognized for his extensive research and contributions — this time with the Department of Defense Employee or Service Member with a Disability Award.
Dr. Conley's research at Naval Sea Systems Command's (NAVSEA) Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane) is focused on radio frequency measurements and its implications on radio-controlled IED electronic warfare systems. Dr. Conley was instrumental in developing a high frequency I-Probe (isolated probe) - a new sensing probe measuring system.
The I-Probe can be imbedded into the electronic circuits of threat devices like those encountered by troops in theater. This allows researchers to conduct laboratory and open air field experiments on electronic countermeasure (ECM) systems and to judge the effectiveness of the U.S. and coalition ECM systems against these threats. These tests provide a fundamental framework to understand how to better protect our troops.
"Dr. Conley is being recognized as a national leader in ground electronic warfare," said NSWC Crane Commanding Officer, Col. Alan M. Pratt. "His work in developing future electronic warfare technologies is critical to our national security and the safety of our warfighters." Dr. Conley is instrumental in evaluating technology developed by DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency) for inclusion in next-generation electronic warfare systems.
According to his colleagues and nomination package, Dr. Conley has shown an exceptional knowledge in ground electronic warfare technologies and is an expert in evaluating techniques for countering these devices. Inroads into the detection and identification of these deadly devices such as Dr. Conley’s research are expected to decrease the injurious effects of IEDs.
In 2001, Dr. Conley sustained a spinal sports injury leaving him in a wheelchair. Before joining the Department of the Navy, Dr. Conley demonstrated leadership by volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America, previously serving as the Troop Committee chairman and Eagle Advisor for Boy Scout Troop 335 in West Lafayette, Indiana. He was also a founding member of the disabled water ski team sponsored by the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indianapolis Sports Program and has competed at the national level.
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