Christopher Columbus Coin Image

Homeland Security Award Columbus Scholar 2004

Field of Emergency Response
Sponsored by Paul S. Polo Sr.

Chris CherryChris Cherry

Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff
Sandia National Laboratories
Albuquerque, New Mexico


Mr. Chris Cherry is an Explosives Systems Design Engineer in the Systems Assessment and Research Center at Sandia National Laboratories. Currently, he is involved in the research and development of specialized explosive systems, explosive entry, shaped charge technology and advanced explosives ordnance disposal (EOD) disablement tools.

Mr. Cherry has invented, designed and patented may EOD and Explosive tools including: the PAN Disrupter (a versatile non-electric shock tube actuated disrupter), the Mineral Water Bottle Disrupter System, the Fast Response Wire Cutter, the Hydra-Jet™, the Sherwood Special™ Projectile, the Magic Cube™, the Large Vehicle Bomb Countermeasures Systems (civilian), and HEAD (military). Mr. Cherry has designed many advanced initiation and explosive breaching systems. He provides advanced training for military personnel as well as local, State and Federal bomb squads, and is the creator of Operation America.

A native of Virginia, and a graduate of Old Dominion University, Mr. Cherry has had a very diverse professional work experience and background. He served in the U.S. Army Special Forces (1970-1972). He was a chemistry and math teacher at Ferguson High School in Newport News, VA, and a chemist/marine chemist for Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News. He was employed by the Department of Defense as a Chemical Engineer/Supervisory Engineer at the NAVAL EOD Technology Center (Indian Head, MD) for the Disablement Branch of the Improvised Nuclear Devices Division.

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is honored to have had the assistance of the following distinguished individuals serving on the Homeland Security Awards Evaluation Committee:
  • Honorable Joseph F. Bruno – Commissioner of the New York City Office of Emergency Management, New York, New York.
  • Mildred Donlon, Ph.D. – Program Manager for the Biological Warfare Defense Program in the Defense Sciences Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia.
  • Honorable Asa Hutchinson – Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security at the Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.
  • Thomas J. Price – Executive Director of the American Association of Engineering Societies, Washington, D.C.