FAA Official Receives Life Achievement Award for Runway Safety Contributions
The International Friction Pavement Association, an international agency created to develop and standardize friction pavement evaluations and techniques, has announced that Rick Marinelli of the Federal Aviation Administration is the recipient of the 2010 IFPA Lifetime Achievement in Research and Science Award.
The award honors an individual who has made significant and fundamental contributions to pavement friction research, either through a single scientific discovery or a body of work. These contributions, whether in research, leadership, or mentorship, are recognized for their lasting impact on the scientific field, and winners are selected based on their lifetime commitment to the development and improvement of friction technology. IFPA said it chose Marinelli for his lifetime of work devoted to keeping airports safe across America.
Marinelli joined the FAA Office of Airport Safety and Standards as a senior civil engineer in 1992 and now serves as manager of the Airport Engineering Division, responsible for programs relating to runway and taxiway geometry, airport airspace analysis, airport winter operations, design standards for airport facilities and equipment, airport pavements, airport lighting and electrical systems, and airport safety data.
Prior to serving in FAA headquarters, Marinelli worked as a staff engineer at Washington Dulles International Airport and as the Technical Program manager for Runway Surface Technology Research and Development at FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center, where he conducted studies of pavement friction testing.
IFPA will present Marinelli with the lifetime achievement award at the association's 2010 Runway Friction Certification Workshop, which will be held April 12-14 in Tampa, Fla. For more details, visit www.intlfpa.org.