Navy Honors Draper Engineer with FBM Lifetime Achievement Award

CAMBRIDGE, MA – U.S. missiles need a high degree of accuracy and reliability to ensure that they will perform as needed if they are to offer a credible strategic deterrent. This challenge includes operating autonomously through harsh environments including shock, vibration and radiation.
 
The U.S. Navy posthumously honored Sanford Cohen, who helped the service address these challenges as he oversaw the design and development of its MARK 6 guidance system as a senior leader at Draper, with its Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) Lifetime Achievement Award during a June 2 ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard.

According to a Navy statement, the FBM Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes industry partners who have demonstrated “technical brilliance, innovation, and expertise in their field,” and Cohen’s work played a fundamental role in providing the United States with a credible and affordable sea-based strategic deterrent.

“Sandy truly was instrumental by contributing to our Nation’s strategic deterrent mission,” said Vice Adm. Terry Benedict, the Navy’s director of strategic systems programs.

Cohen, whose Draper career spanned 29 years, is credited with developing key aspects of the guidance system that enables the Trident missile to operate without access to external navigation signals and through harsh radiation environments. Following his retirement from Draper, he consulted with the company on the Trident program until his death at 77 years old on Feb. 27.

“During his career at Draper, he built a highly capable organization that designs guidance systems, builds instruments and oversees the team assembling the system,” said Steven DiTullio, Draper’s vice president for strategic programs. “He was fundamental in advancing the use of new technologies, specifically in the area of radiation-hardened electronics, resulting in increased capabilities and significantly lower costs in the guidance system. He covered everything including part tooling, manufacturing, and in-process testing, culminating in final acceptance of the technology aboard the submarines.”

Following Cohen’s efforts to help build a highly capable organization for the design of the MARK 6, Draper has continued to support the Navy’s work in this area, and today serves as the prime contractor for the Trident Life Extension boost guidance effort, where it has begun production of an upgraded guidance system that will be used through 2040.