The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation congratulates this year’s Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award recipient, Captain Michelle Kokoski, U.S. Army Engineer Officer with the Training & Doctrine Command Proponent Office—Geospatial at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

CPT Kokoski serves as a capability developer in support of the Army Geospatial Enterprise. Key components of her assignment include coordination and experimentation for 3D data collection highlighting dense urban areas.

Since starting the Penn State Master of Professional Studies program, CPT Kokoski has worked closely with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Army Geospatial Center, and other government agencies to assist in Army modernization efforts and integration of 3D geospatial products and services across the force.

CPT Kokoski published a professional article highlighting a case study focused on how high-resolution 3D geospatial data could impact Army operations, which subsequently led to more visibility and participation from geospatial industry partners. Her Penn State courses improved her ability to communicate geospatial needs across a variety of agencies and enabled the TPO-Geo office to increase vendor participation and allow the office to study multiple LiDAR aerial and terrestrial remote sensing packages that ultimately helped shape equipment requirements to build future Geospatial systems for use across the military.

The Murphy Award, presented annually at the GEOINT Symposium, is named for Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a distinguished Penn State alumnus. Murphy was killed June 28, 2005, by enemy forces during a reconnaissance mission in Afghanistan. For his selfless leadership and courageous actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The Murphy Award recognizes achievement by a Penn State graduate who is serving or has served in the U.S. Armed Forces or IC. Recipients are chosen based upon demonstration of exceptional contributions to the discipline after completing Penn State’s graduate certificate in geospatial intelligence. The certificate is offered by the Department of Geography in the Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences online through Penn State World Campus.

The generosity of USGIF, Maxar, and faculty, staff, and friends of Penn State contributed to endowing the Murphy Award.