John Hackwell to Receive Goddard Award

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (7/24/00) -- Dr. John Hackwell, director of the Office of Spectral Applications, Technology Operations, will receive the George W. Goddard Award from the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) at the organization's annual meeting in San Diego Aug. 2.

The award is being presented for Hackwell's leadership in developing long-wavelength infrared (IR) hyperspectral imaging for remote sensing.

Hackwell led the design and construction of the Spatially Enhanced Broadband Array Spectrograph System (SEBASS), for which he received in 1998 The Aerospace Corporation's Trustees' Distinguished Achievement Award, the company's highest honor for technical achievement.

SEBASS is a midwave and long-range imaging spectrometer with optimized sensitivity, spectral fidelity, and spatial-spectral distortion for airborne remote sensing. It operates from an airborne platform and has been used for a variety of important hyperspectral sensing applications spanning military, intelligence, civil and commercial applications.

Hackwell in 1998 was named director of the corporation's newly established Office of Spectral Applications. The office was created as a direct result of his leadership in expanding the overall work at Aerospace in infrared hyperspectral imaging spectroscopy, with particular emphasis on civil and commercial applications.

Hackwell holds a doctorate in physics from University College, London. He was a full professor at the University of Wyoming and served as director of the Wyoming Infrared Observatory. He is the author and co-author of more than 100 publications in infrared imaging and spectroscopy.

The Goddard award is presented in recognition of exceptional achievement in optical or photonic instrumentation for aerospace applications. The award recognizes the invention or -development of a new technique, instrument or system that substantially advances technology instrumentation for aerospace applications.