Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation

Homeland Security Award Columbus Scholar 2008

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation and Agusta Westland North America are honored to have awarded the achievements of the 2008 $25,000 Homeland Security Award Columbus Scholar:

James Jones, Ph.D.

Senior Research Scientist
Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho Falls, Idaho

Dr. James Jones is a senior research scientist at the Idaho National Laboratory, and a recognized expert in photonuclear measurement techniques. He specializes in the development of electron and charge particle accelerator technologies and advanced detection sensors for nuclear treaty verification, illicit material detection, and nondestructive evaluation.

In more than a decade of research, Dr. Jones has established successful collaborations with private industry, universities and government agencies addressing national and international security needs. He holds two U.S. patents for the development of nonproliferation technology, and maintains dual faculty appointments at Idaho State University and the Idaho Accelerator Center.

Currently, he is leading efforts to develop a long-range, nonintrusive nuclear materials detection technology called the Photonuclear Inspection and Threat Assessment System (PITAS). PITAS represents a breakthrough homeland security technology capable of detecting hidden nuclear materials at several hundred feet. This technology utilizes a high-energy linear electron accelerator to produce a controlled photon inspection beam. If nuclear materials are present, the inspection beam produces fission reactions within the nuclear material, resulting in the emission of prompt and delayed neutron and gamma-rays. These rays are analyzed by a series of detectors, which alert operators to the presence of illicit nuclear materials. The technology performs this process within minutes, while leaving no residual environmental impact.

Dr. Jones holds a bachelor�s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas, a master�s degree in nuclear science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a doctorate in nuclear science and engineering from Idaho State University.

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is honored to have had the assistance of the following distinguished individuals serving on the 2007 Homeland Security Award Evaluation Committee:

Stephen Cass, Senior Editor, DISCOVER Magazine, New York, New York. Mr. Cass studied experimental physics at Trinity College Dublin before relocating to New York City. He has worked for the Nature Publishing Group, IEEE Spectrum, and is currently a Senior Editor at DISCOVER Magazine. He has written about security, privacy, intelligence gathering and engineering design as well as aerospace and other science and technology topics. Mr. Cass is a member of the IEEE Aerospace and Electronics Systems Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Tony Duthie, Vice President, AgustaWestland Inc.(AWI), Reston, Virginia. Mr. Duthie is responsible for technical support to the AWI sales and marketing team. He has played important roles in the VXX and CSAR-X sales campaigns, being involved in the development of capture strategy and subsequent execution including overseeing the design and production of the VXX and CSAR-X cabin mockups in 2004 and 2005. He led the AWI response to the Request for Information for the U.S. Navy Airborne Re-Supply/Logistics for Sea Basing (AR/LSB) Analysis of Alternatives in 2006.
Frances S. Ligler, D.Phil., D.Sc., U.S. Navy Senior Scientist for Biosensors and Biomaterials and a member of the Bioengineering Section of the National Academy of Engineering (elected 2005). Dr. Ligler has worked in the Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering at the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C since 1985. Dr. Ligler was the recipient of the 2003 Homeland Security Award in the Biological, Radiological, Nuclear field.
Daniel V. Lim, Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor, Advanced Biosensors Laboratory, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. Dr. Lim is a microbiologist whose research focuses on development of biosensor assays for rapid detection of bio-threat agents and microbial pathogens. He works closely with companies, Federal and State agencies, the military and other universities on development and implementation of these rapid detection procedures. Dr. Lim was the recipient of the 2004 Homeland Security Award in the Biological, Radiological, Nuclear field.