JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (Nov. 3, 2021) David Cox, a native of Fluvanna, Texas and an electrical technician assigned to the Combat Casualty Care and Operational Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio was recognized by NAMRU San Antonio Commanding Officer Capt. Gerald DeLong as the Fiscal Year 2021 Science Staff Civilian of the Half Year during an All Hands meeting held at the Carolyn D. Putnam Auditorium inside the Brooke Army Medical Center.
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| U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs |
When Cox’s department acquired a new laser in anticipation of beginning a project, Cox took the initiative to fabricate a safety enclosure, which exceeded the requirements to protect staff personnel while operating the laser.
Cox also recognized the inadequate start up and shut down procedures for the laser provided by the manufacture and developed a detailed step-by-step guide meeting the Navy Standard Operating Procedure requirements.
Additionally, Cox assisted NAMRU San Antonio’s Resource Management and Acquisitions Department as a purchase card holder, processing over 200 purchase requests from across the command.
As an electrical technician, Cox’s job goes beyond designing, executing and reporting DE research.
“I invent, design, fabricate and program equipment and software to make research projects become reality,” said Cox, who was awarded the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award in October. “It started with DE and their requirements to have non-metallic equipment in the radio frequency field. My talents have grown and my designs have been used in studies all over the world.”
According to Cox, the Navy has provided him with years of research experience along with the opportunity to work with a few of the top DE scientists in the world.
“Being able to work with anyone and in any department to help design, invent, or build solutions to experimental success has been very rewarding,” said Cox. “I feel that I have been a strong advocate for the mission, the warfighter and science and will fight to keep NAMRU San Antonio on the forefront of DE research and development.”
According to Dr. Sylvain Cardin, NAMRU San Antonio’s senior science director, Cox is a valuable asset for NAMRU San Antonio and his institutional knowledge is indispensable.
“He has helped this organization achieved a level of excellence that would not be possible without him,” said Cardin. “Additionally, his can-do attitude makes him a highly sought after individual all across our command. In sum, the command is very lucky and proud to have Mr. Cox as one of our key workforce members.”
NAMRU San Antonio is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the Department of Defense and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Center in Silver Spring, Md.
Its mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of DOD personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations.