Dr. Siva Banda Earns Distinguished Senior Professional Honors

  • Published
  • By Cynthia Cartee
  • 711th Human Performance Wing
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Dr. Siva S. Banda, director of the U.S. Air Force Center of Excellence in Control Science at the Air Force Research Laboratory, earned the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Senior Professional. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley presented Dr. Banda with the prestigious award during an April 30, 2010, ceremony held at the auditorium of the Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. During his nearly 30-year career as an AFRL scientist, Dr. Banda has led many groundbreaking research efforts. He assembled the Center of Excellence in Control Science, a world-class team of acadamic, commercial, and government experts focused on Air Force-critical control science challenges. Comprising more than 70 scientists, engineers, and researchers, this team has devised technologies for tailless flight, space access, unmanned air vehicles, and countless other military applications critical to twenty-first century capabilities.

Recognizing the benefits of using unmanned aircraft in the urban battlefield, Dr. Banda crafted and executed a research and development strategy for enhanced autonomous and cooperative control of UAVs. Additionally, he led an international joint development team that developed control strategies for micro air vehicles in urban operations. Dr. Banda's research has had far-reaching impact, both nationally and internationally. The results of his work have application to a number of current Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps small UAV operations. Additionally, his research was applied during the 2007 and 2009 occasions of the US-Australia Talisman Saber Exercise, the largest joint warfighting exercise in the Pacific and a key demonstration showcasing UAV technologies.

Distinguished Senior Professional is the highest annual award for senior-level/senior technical career professionals. It is bestowed upon federal executives who have demonstrated a consistent level of extraordinary achievement.