FRA Recognizes Volpe Center's Contributions

The Volpe Center has provided research and development support to the Federal Railroad Administration for more than 35 years — and many of our staff members are regarded as staff extensions to the FRA. Several Volpe Center staff members were recently recognized for their outstanding achievements and their contributions to the FRA's mission, reflecting the relationship of respect and trust between the FRA and the Volpe Center.

Superior Achievement Award (Bronze Medal)

Mr. Gary Baker of the Environmental Measurement and Modeling Division received a Superior Achievement Award (Bronze Medal) from the FRA's Office of Policy and Program Development. The Superior Achievement Award is the highest honorary award granted by the FRA Administrator and recognizes superior employee contributions of unusual value that help the FRA achieve its goals and objectives. Gary received the award for significantly advancing the FRA's Geographic Information Systems (GIS) capabilities and for providing exceptional mapping support to the FRA Administrator. Gary received the award for work he did while he was at FRA; he is now employed by the Volpe Center where he continues to provide innovative GIS support.

Team Awards

Two FRA teams, which included Volpe Center employees, received Team Awards from the FRA's Office of Safety. This award is given to teams for exceptional performance that results in the significant improvement, reinvention, or reengineering of practices or operations that contribute to the achievement of FRA goals and objectives.

• Continuous Welded Rail (CWR) Joint Integrity Team, composed of nine FRA employees and Volpe Center employees Mr. Jeff Gordon and Dr. David Jeong of the Structures and Dynamics Division, received a team award for outstanding teamwork, technical excellence, and application of collaborative skills in achieving recommendations for the development of a final rule on the integrity of joints in continuous welded rail.

• Fatigue Management Team, composed of four FRA employees and Volpe Center employee Dr. Stephen Popkin, Chief of the Human Factors Division, received a team award for exemplary development of creative, scientificallybased strategies to prevent and manage fatigue in the railroad industry.