Jacob LaSarge Receives Air Force Research Award

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Jacob LaSarge, center, accepts the 2012 Cadet Research Award from Assistant Secretary of the Air Force David Walker. Air Force Chief Scientist Mark Maybury, right, chose LaSarge to receive the honor.

HOUGHTON, MI (10/19/2012)(readMedia)-- Jacob LaSarge has received the prestigious US Air Force Cadet Research Award, presented annually to one Air Force cadet in the nation. LaSarge is a mechanical engineering senior and Air Force cadet at Michigan Technological University.

The Air Force chief scientist selects the winner from among nominees submitted by the nation's 145 ROTC detachments.

LaSarge was chosen for the leadership and technical ability he exhibited as project manager of the Oculus-ASR Nanosatellite effort. The project is under the umbrella of Michigan Tech's Aerospace Enterprise.

The all-student group has developed a prototype satellite as part of the Air Force Research Lab's University Nanosatellite 6 competition. It was among 11 teams the AFRL hand-picked from universities across the US to design and build a small satellite ("nanosat"). In January 2011, the Michigan Tech group took first place in the competition, winning the right to further develop its nanosat with the ultimate aim of having it launched into orbit.

"The outstanding leadership and technical expertise provided by Cadet LaSarge has advanced this project further than anyone had imagined," said Lt. Col. Michael Brothers, head of Aerospace Studies and commander of the Air Force ROTC program at Michigan Tech. "Jake is an outstanding student-leader and is truly deserving of this recognition."

Michigan Technological University (www.mtu.edu) is a leading public research university developing new technologies and preparing students to create the future for a prosperous and sustainable world. Michigan Tech offers more than 130 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering; forest resources; computing; technology; business; economics; natural, physical and environmental sciences; arts; humanities; and social sciences.