2012 Early Achievement Award

Presented to: Mr. Michael D. Bulatowicz

Citation: For his inventive designs and ground breaking contributions to MEMS and atomic based inertial sensors and frequency standards supporting future PNT applications.

In 2004, Michael D. Bulatowicz is the lead instrument engineer for multiple cutting-edge development programs, including Northrop Grumman’s Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Gyroscope, Compact Atomic Magnetometer, and Precision Micro Accelerometer programs.

In 2005, Mr. Bulatowicz became the associate instrument engineer on several advanced sensor and science research and development projects including the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Gyroscope, dual isotope NMR based axion search, and other NMR and EPR atomic research, along with the Miniature Hemispherical Resonator Gyroscope, SiAc MEMS accelerometer, and A4 electromagnetic accelerometer. Starting in 2008, he became lead instrument engineer on the DARPA funded Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Gyroscope with nearly sole responsibility for all mechanical, thermal, magnetic, and vacuum design and substantial input on the optical design. In 2009, his responsibilities expanded to include two additional lead instrument engineer roles. First, he became lead instrument engineer on the Compact Atomic Magnetometer with nearly sole responsibility for all the mechanical, thermal, and magnetic design and substantial input on the optical design. Second, he became the lead instrument engineer for the Precision Micro Accelerometer under the DARPA funded MINT project. He is solely responsible for the sensor design, which most recently has included extensive experimentally validated modeling and analysis, significantly expanding the understanding of noise, bias and scale factor error sources in MEMS accelerometers, and how to minimize these errors. In 2010, he also took on the role of lead instrument engineer on the Cold Cesium Beam Clock, with nearly sole responsibility for all the mechanical, thermal, and magnetic design and substantial input on the optical design. In all of these roles, Mr. Bulatowicz was efficient and innovative. His work has resulted in several patents and many more potentially patentable inventions.

Mr. Bulatowicz holds a M.S. in mechanical engineering and has eight years of experience in mechanical, thermal, electrostatic, and electromagnetic design and analysis. He holds six patents and has nine more currently pending, along with a number of other inventions in various stages of the patent application process. He has earned a total of 13 awards for significant technical achievement, including a Northrop Grumman President’s Leadership Award for Innovation and Technology, a San Fernando Valley Engineers’ Council Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Award, a Northrop Grumman Multiple Technology Innovation Award, and five Northrop Grumman Technical Innovation Awards.