Jerry Krill, a university alumnus, stands in the engineering school’s Innovation Hall of Fame yesterday for his work in helping to develop a naval networking system known as the Cooperative Engagement Capability.
University alumnus Jerry Krill was inducted into the engineering school’s Innovation Hall of Fame yesterday afternoon for his work in developing a naval networking system known as the Cooperative Engagement Capability.
Scores of people crowded into the Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building for the ceremony, in which Krill — who received a doctorate in electrical engineering from the university in 1978 — became the 30th recipient of the honor.
“Working with the engineers on CEC has been an engineer’s dream and a defining moment in my career,” Krill said.
Since 1974, Krill has played a crucial role in developing the CEC, which was first implemented by the Navy in the 1990s. The program enables ships, planes and land sensors to collect and share radar information. Military officials have praised the CEC for its ability to connect data to form one picture of the area.
In 1991, Krill was charged with maintaining technical progress and guiding the CEC to meet congressional benchmarks. He helped prepare the system for its first military tests in 1994 and continued to work directly with the project through its fleet implementation throughout the decade.
The Innovation Hall of Fame selection committee annually accepts nominees who are alumni, faculty or engineering school collaborators who are alumni of a University System of Maryland school. Chaired by Hall of Fame inductee and university alumnus Nathan Bluzer, who also spoke at the ceremony, the committee selects one recipient every year.
Dean Darryll Pines said Krill, whom he estimated was chosen during the summer, is an excellent choice for recognition. Many innovators involved in government-related projects are overlooked because their names are not as available, he said.
“It’s not like a commercial innovator, where the name is immediately apparent,” Pines said. “We want it to be very broadly swept, and in this case it was.”
Krill received an informal call from the engineering school in September informing him of the induction, followed by an official call from Pines.
“It was a surprise, and because I was well aware of the Hall of Fame,” Krill said. “I was honored because I knew a lot of people who were directly or indirectly in the Hall already.”
After receiving a red-ribboned “Innovation” medal, Krill was presented with a plaque to hang in the Hall.
“As I accept this honor, I also do so with sincere recognition of all those who have helped me,” he said.
Krill credits Leonard Taylor — a doctoral candidate in the mid-1970s who advised Krill on his dissertation — with diversifying his knowledge and paving the way for his later success with CEC. Taylor, however, argued that Krill made his job especially easy.
“I considered him to be a freebie,” Taylor said. “He required so little of me. Definitely one of the top students I’ve ever advised.”
Krill’s self-reliance was one of his distinguishing features, Taylor added. The two were reunited for the first time in 35 years at the awards ceremony.
“He’s aged very well,” Taylor said.
