PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, received the Department of the Navy Award for Technical Excellence at a Test and Evaluation (T&E) Facility or range serving at Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport Detachment Pacific (NUWC DET PAC) in Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
Robert "Tom" Bouchard, a 2002 graduate of Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas, is a computer scientist that provides s oftware engineering support for Live Virtual Constructive events.
"It’s wonderful to see the importance of advancing Live Virtual Constructive technologies for warfighter training recognized,” Bouchard said. “I know our small team appreciates the value of what we do and seeing that acknowledged at the Navy level, is incredibly gratifying.”
Bouchard devised a technological solution that bridges the gap between a live asset operating on range with a virtual undersea battle space enhanced with meteorological and oceanographic models and augmented by constructive entities.
“I enjoy the problem solving aspects of software development,” Bouchard said.
NUWC DET PAC supports the mission of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center by providing test and evaluation, in-service engineering, maintenance and repair, fleet support, and industrial base support for undersea warfare systems, undersea weapons systems, countermeasures, and sonar systems.
Bouchard graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in computer science and served in the Navy for four years as lieutenant junior grade.
As a member of the U.S. Navy, Bouchard, is a part of a service tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance. Bouchard's efforts will have a lasting effect around the globe and for generations to follow.
“Serving in the Navy taught me the immense value of teamwork and strong leadership,” Bouchard added. “I see those principles on display every day working for NUWC Division, Keyport.”
Bouchard lives with his girlfriend, Beth Berry, in Honolulu. His father and mother, Bill and Rosemarie Bouchard, reside in Oak Point, Texas, his oldest brother, Aaron Bouchard, in The Colony, Texas, and youngest brother, Luc Bouchard, in Lexington Park, Maryland.
Bouchard has two miniature dachshunds, Charly and Sejal, and enjoys fishing and playing the guitar.