Engineer honored for innovations Published Feb. 3, 2006 By Francis L. Crumb Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs ROME, N.Y. (AFPN) -- The editors of U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine have named 1st Lt. Robert Patton Jr. of the Air Force Research Laboratory as one of their "Modern-Day Technology Leaders for 2006" for outstanding leadership in engineering, science and technology. A native of Richmond, Va., Lieutenant Patton is a program manager in the AFRL Information Directorate's information connectivity branch. The awards recognize blacks whose innovations affect entire industries. Recipients will be recognized at a leadership luncheon Feb. 17, during the 20th Annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference in Baltimore. Recipients will also be profiled in the official conference publication, U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology, a leading, global source of technology news and information. During the conference, seminars and workshops present the latest information on a variety of topics affecting black technology professionals, such as career advancement, diversity programs and specialized industry updates. "Lieutenant Patton's accomplishments as a creative and aggressive researcher for improved warfighter data link and satellite communications systems will be recognized at the conference," said Peter Leong, information connectivity branch chief. "His achievements included design and implementation of new radio communications capability that allowed special operations warriors to send and receive target designations in a more timely and accurate manner. "The lieutenant's insight also improved ongoing commercial research for a next-generation satellite control center ground-based antenna that can provide multibeam communications channels for telemetry, tracking and control functions of both Department of Defense and NASA satellites," Mr. Leong said. Lieutenant Patton holds a master's degree in business administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in electrical engineering/industrial technology from the University of West Florida, and a second in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle. He also earned an associate's of applied science degree in avionics systems technology from the Community College of the Air Force. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1990 and was assigned here in July 2003, following his commission. (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)