A Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic engineer received a Meritorious Rising Star Award for Achievement in Engineering from the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) International May 13. 

AFCEA is a non-profit organization for professionals working in technical positions to address national and international security challenges.

Charles Cathey, computer engineer, earned the award for his work at NIWC Atlantic and his impact to the Navy and the warfighter.

“I am very honored by the recognition from my peers for my contributions and efforts supporting the NIWC mission,” said Cathey. “I am flattered that my supervisors submitted me for consideration, and that the AFCEA selection committee bestowed me with the award.”

The award recognizes engineers who are considered a rising star by peers, colleagues and supervisors, have significant accomplishments in information technology through innovation or applications which contribute to an organizational mission, and apply innovative solutions to complex engineering challenges.

“Mr. Cathey applied unsurpassed technical expertise in computer engineering and systems architecture to refine the Data Focused – Naval Tactical Cloud architecture and software, dramatically expanding capacity of existing infrastructure and computing platforms,” said Scott Sapounas, Cathey’s supervisor.

He contributed to numerous other projects, offering his expertise and leadership in computer engineering, systems architecture, data analytics and cloud infrastructure.

“Mr. Cathey initiated and continued to support mentoring and technical knowledge, skills and abilities building for data science and analytics personnel, which benefits all NIWC Atlantic customers, private industry, and most importantly, the warfighter,” said Sapounas.

Cathey, a graduate of Clemson University and the University of South Carolina, has more than 10 years of extensive management and technical experience in government and private industry positions, including over a year at NIWC Atlantic.

“I look forward to the next decade, as we build the work ethic, skills and infrastructure at NIWC Atlantic that makes us the first stop for naval information warfare solutions,” said Cathey.

Cathey was recognized as the award winner during the AFCEA International Awards Dinner at the Baltimore Convention Center prior to the TechNet Cyber event.

As a part of Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, NIWC Atlantic provides systems engineering and acquisition to deliver information warfare capabilities to the naval, joint and national warfighter through the acquisition, development, integration, production, test, deployment, and sustainment of interoperable command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, cyber and information technology capabilities.

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