Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Harold Brown AwardSecretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, fourth from left, poses with recipients of the 2022 Harold Brown Award during a ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Aug. 8, 2023. The award recognizes scientists and engineers who use research and development to solve problems critical to the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Recipients of Harold Brown Award 2021, 2022 honored at Pentagon ceremonyPublished Aug. 16, 2023
                    
                    
                    Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
            **ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --**Secretary of the Air Force **Frank Kendall** hosted an award ceremony at the Pentagon for recipients of the 2021 and 2022 Harold Brown Award, Aug. 8.Harold Brown AwardSecretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall poses with U.S. Space Force Maj. Ronald Kemker, recipient of the 2021 Harold Brown Award, during a ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Aug. 8, 2023. The award recognizes scientists and engineers who use research and development to solve problems critical to the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    










Kendall presented the 2021 award to U.S. Space Force Maj. Ronald Kemker in recognition of significant achievements in aviation electronics development for dozens of **Automatic Target Recognition** models, a novel data fusion scheme and five processing algorithms.“Major Kemker’s award recognizes exceptional contributions to the operational effectiveness of the Air Force,” Kendall said. “Major Kemker’s work is also strategically important because the technology he generated is sharable with our partners from other nations and the success of our partners is crucial to integrated deterrence.”The 2022 award was presented to a team, the **Air Force Research Laboratory** **Materials and Manufacturing Directorate**, which led problem identification and solution development for a critical product issue in the **B-21 Raider** program. The team characterized the materials compatibility root cause, identified a material solution and rapidly conducted testing. These efforts provided a cost avoidance of $120 million and reduced part build-time by six weeks per aircraft.Harold Brown AwardRecipients of the 2021 and 2022 Harold Brown Award speak with guests after a ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Aug. 8, 2023. The award recognizes scientists and engineers who use research and development to solve problems critical to the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Harold Brown AwardA trophy for the Harold Brown Award is displayed before a ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Aug. 8, 2023. The award recognizes scientists and engineers who use research and development to solve problems critical to the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Harold Brown AwardSecretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, center right, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. and Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. David Thompson speak with recipients of the 2021 and 2022 Harold Brown Award after a ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Aug. 8, 2023. The award recognizes scientists and engineers who use research and development to solve problems critical to the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
“What this group has done is source and create critical materials that have enabled us to build the B-21 Raider,” Kendall said. “It’s an incredible aircraft that will enable the continued success or our global strike mission for decades. The technology contributed by this team is keeping the B-21 on the path to fielding.”The Harold Brown Award recognizes significant achievement in research and development that led to or demonstrated promise of a substantial improvement in operational effectiveness for the Air Force. The award's namesake, **Harold Brown**, served as Secretary of the Air Force from 1965 to 1969 and as Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981.FS 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Harold Brown Award 



SecAF 



Frank Kendall 



ATR 



Automatic Target Recognition 



algorithms 



Operational Effectiveness 



AFRL 



B-21 



Raider 



innovation 



award 



honor 



global strike mission Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil