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Head of Propulsion Directorate earns DOD honor

  • Published
  • By Capt. Greg Justice
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The director of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Propulsion Directorate has earned the highest honor given by the Secretary of Defense to career civilian personnel.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England presented the Defense Distinguished Civilian award to Dr. William U. Borger during a Pentagon ceremony Nov. 7.

The award highlights Department of Defense civilians whose service reflects exceptional devotion to duty and extremely significant contributions of broad scope to the efficiency, economy, or other improvements in the operation of the DOD.

Dr. Borger, who has a doctorate in philosophy, fostered crucial communications across the services in coordinating the nation's aeronautics science and technology program to assure maximum technology development for the nation's warfighters.

He led the Air Force science and technology participation during the Joint Base Realignment and Closure process in 2005 by coordinating Air Force needs with other services. Dr. Borger currently is leading the development of alternative jet fuels and high efficiency engines to address the DOD's $10 billion annual fuel costs.

Dr. Borger also is leading a team to develop key turbine engine, scramjet engine, and rocket propulsion technologies, along with power technology for directed energy weapons. Officials say these propulsion and power advancements are vital to ensuring the Air Force's continued air supremacy.

"I have been very lucky to have worked alongside of some of the brightest and most dedicated people in my 36 years of working for the Air Force," said Dr. Borger in response to the award. "The folks here at Wright-Patterson are clearly defining the future of the next Air Force and the Air Forces after that."