The Harold Brown Award is the highest award given by the United States Air Force

United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...

 to a scientist

Scientist

A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...

 or engineer

Engineer

An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...

 who applies scientific research to solve a problem critical to the needs of the Air Force.

History and purpose of the Harold Brown Award

The Harold Brown Award is intended to recognize significant achievements in research and development. It is named for Harold Brown

Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense)

Harold Brown , American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. He had previously served in the Lyndon Johnson administration as Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Secretary of the Air Force.While Secretary of Defense, he...

, a physicist

Physicist

A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...

 who served as United States Secretary of the Air Force

United States Secretary of the Air Force

The Secretary of the Air Force is the Head of the Department of the Air Force, a component organization within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Secretary of the Air Force is appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate...

  from 1965-1969, and later as United States Secretary of Defense

United States Secretary of Defense

The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...

 (1977-1981).

The Harold Brown award is presented annually to a person whose achievements in research and development have led to, or demonstrated promise of, a substantial improvement in the operational effectiveness of the Air Force. It is awarded through the United States Air Force chief scientist's office.

List of recipients of the Harold Brown Award

Recipients of the Harold Brown Award include:

Year	Name	Notes
1969	Ronald W. Terry
1976	Herbert J. Hickey, Jr
1979	Terence James Elkins Terence James Elkins Terence James Elkins is an Australian-born American physicist. In 1960, he participated in an expedition from Mawson Station which conducted the first geological surveys of the Napier Mountains in Antarctica. The highest of this group of mountains, Mount Elkins, was subsequently named after him...
1982	Raymond P. Urtz
Year Unknown	John R. Boyd
1986	John F. Paulson
1987	Davy Belk	member of the Senior Executive Service Senior Executive Service The Senior Executive Service is a paygrade in the civil service of the United States federal government, somewhat analogous to the ranks of general or admiral in the U.S. armed forces...  and Director, Information Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory Air Force Research Laboratory The Air Force Research Laboratory is a scientific research organization operated by the United States Air Force Materiel Command dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable aerospace warfighting technologies; planning and executing the Air Force science and... , Rome, New York Rome, New York Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located in north-central or "upstate" New York. The population was 44,797 at the 2010 census. It is in New York's 24th congressional district. In 1758, British forces began construction of Fort Stanwix at this strategic location, but... .
1990	Carl E. Baum
1991	Northrup Fowler III	1994 William F. Storm
1995	John M. Reising
1998	Jeffrey L. Craig
1999	Robert Q. Fugate
2000	Frank Marcos
2001	Dean F. Kocian
2002	Nelson Forster
2003	Peter M. Wegner
2004	H. John Mucks
2005	John A. Caldwell
2007	Jim F. Riker
2008	Mark Haney
2009	Derek Kingston
2010	Candace Lynch