Air Force Research and Development Award Goes to AFRL Lieutenant Published March 4, 2010 By Beverley Thompson Sensors WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- First Lieutenant Sean R. Majo, of the Air Force Research Laboratory Sensors Directorate, won the Air Force Research and Development Award for 2009. He accepted the honor from the Vice Chief of Staff during a presentation ceremony conducted at the US Air Force Academy in September 2009. The award recognizes Lt Majo's oversight of $3 million in programs geared towards developing radar and intelligence sensor technologies for small unmanned systems and counter improvised explosive device operations. As part of this focus, he developed and demonstrated a technique for detecting IED parts during their assembly, and the results of this critical work are presently assisting deployed warfighters. In addition, Lt Majo established national measurement standards for parametric radar systems. He worked jointly with the Army to create signature measurement techniques that ultimately increased detectable bandwidth and signal levels, improving signature detection levels up to 200%. Traceable standards enable quality improvements and make the measurement process transparent to the user. The intelligence and operational communities are now using Lt Majo's method Department of Defense-wide. Lt Majo also conceived and initiated a program for investigating a new phenomenology in packaged electronic devices. He theorized and subsequently proved the feasibility that packaged electronic components, in the presence of electromagnetic radiation, will radiate distinct signatures. This research activity earned approval for a Small Business Innovation Research topic focused on advancing Lt Majo's preliminary efforts in this area.