SA scientist wins national award for Global Hawk

Jackie Craig

Before joining DSTO Dr Jacqueline Craig worked at the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment in England. In 1990 she emigrated to Australia and took up a post as a Senior Research Scientist within the (then) Optoelectronics Division at DSTO, Salisbury.

In 1991 Dr Craig was promoted to Principal Research Scientist and became Head of Optical Physics Group. She then went on to head the Optoelectronic Systems and Technology Group within Electronic Warfare Division. In February 1998 Dr Craig was promoted to Research Leader, Surveillance Assessment within the Surveillance Systems Division (now the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division) – a position that has evolved to become Research Leader, Imagery Systems.

Dr Craig has over 50 publications in the scientific literature and is holder of several patents. She has represented the UK and Australia at several international forums, including The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP). During a remarkable 13-year career with DSTO, Dr Craig has consistently demonstrated a high quality of leadership and innovation, which has won her the respect of her scientific and military peers.

Over the past four years Dr Craig has made a substantial and unique contribution to the development of the Australian Defence Organisation’s imagery capability. Dr Craig has had a major influence on DSTO’s imagery research and development program as well as the wider Defence community, both nationally and internationally. A particular strength of Dr Craig’s contribution has been her focus on imagery as a total capability as distinct from individual sensor technologies or specific platforms/systems. The other key strength of Dr Craig’s contribution has been her incessant emphasis on scientific rigour and technical excellence. She has motivated a large team as well as making significant contributions in her own right.

Her achievements have included:

• International collaboration
• JP129 risk mitigation studies
• Global Hawk Australian deployment
• Space based surveillance studies
• Development of Imagery and Geospatial Information R&D Plan
• Development of architecture for imagery dissemination
• Development of sensing technologies