Edmund Zelnio, a researcher in the Air Force Research Lab’s Sensor Directorate is the winner of the 53rd annual DOD Distinguished Civilian Service award. Zelnio was cited for his hard work over a 32-year career in earning the award, the highest honor bestowed by DOD upon a career civilian, the Air Force said in a release Sept. 9. He has contributed to the successful deployment of new sensor and sensor-exploitation technologies in numerous Air Force and DOD weapon systems and his work in the field of synthetic aperture radar technology enabled DOD to find and prosecute targets previously impervious to attack due to weather and foliage concealment strategies, according to the release. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will present Zelnio the award at a Pentagon ceremony tentatively scheduled for Oct. 15.
President Donald Trump on July 4 signed into law $150 billion in defense funds as part of the tax-and-spending package known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” after congressional Republicans approved the legislation in narrow, drawn-out votes earlier this week.
