Our alumni Michael Jones, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Scientific Achievement Award by the International System Safety Society (ISSS). This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to system safety through research and development.

Mike has been recognized for his work on the design and development of novel passive propagation resistant (PPR) lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, the integration of PPR Li-ion batteries with Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs), and integration of PPR Li-ion powered UUVs with U.S. submarine platforms. This award underscores the global impact of Mike’s work. Last year, the award went to a team of engineers at the Large Hadron Collider in Europe. This year, Mike is being honored as an individual, reflecting his substantial contributions to advancing system safety.

Mike is currently pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Rhode Island (URI) while working as an Engineering Task Lead at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport (NUWC). His research is supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and is part of the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology (NIUVT), a collaborative effort involving URI, University of Connecticut, the Navy, and other partners.

We are incredibly proud of Mike and the contributions he continues to make in this field. His work is a powerful reminder of how knowledge and innovation can drive real-world impact.