ECBC's Dan Weber Named 2010 Engineer of the Year

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Daniel Weber, of the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center's (ECBC) Research and Technology Directorate, was named the "2010 Engineer of the Year" by the Mid-Atlantic Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

Among Weber's accomplishments was the design and development of a unique 5-cm wind tunnel to investigate the release of highly toxic, chemical warfare agents from surfaces under controlled environmental conditions.

"Dan should be commended for his fine work at ECBC. He is a noted aerospace engineer in our community," said ECBC Technical Director Joseph D. Wienand. "This award once again demonstrates that ECBC is home to some of the best and brightest scientists and engineers in the nation."

The wind tunnel credited to Weber represents the key element in an experimental "Agent Fate" Defense Technology Objective sponsored by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. A unique feature of the wind tunnel is its ability to simulate the near ground portion of the atmospheric boundary layer while operating within a standard chemical fume hood. Several examples of the wind tunnel are currently in use by the United States as well as several nations worldwide.  

"The wind tunnel he developed for ECBC gave us an effective tool that we've never had before and it enables us to understand the fate of chemical agents in the environment," said ECBC Director of Research and Technology Joseph Corriveau, Ph.D. "His work has resulted in more focused materiel requirements for things such as detectors and decon systems and had real implications in our training and doctrine."

Weber is a senior member of the AIAA, the primary professional society for aerospace engineers. The Mid-Atlantic Section of the AIAA includes Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.

"It was an honor to be recognized by the Mid-Atlantic Section of the AIAA for the design of the 5-cm wind tunnel, not only for myself but for all at ECBC who were involved with this project," said Weber. "I appreciate of all their help, support and contributions."

For more information on ECBC, visit http://www.ecbc.army.mil.

ECBC is the Army's principal research and development center for chemical and biological defense technology, engineering and field operations. ECBC has achieved major technological advances for the warfighter and for our national defense, with a long and distinguished history of providing the Armed Forces with quality systems and outstanding customer service. ECBC is a U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command laboratory located at the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. For more information about the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, please visit our Web site at http://www.ecbc.army.mil or call (410) 436-7718.

SOURCE Edgewood Chemical Biological Center