Jessica MacNeil

Iraq veteran is honored for designing life-saving equipment
September 15, 2008

One of the most dangerous threats to mobile units in Iraq have been improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Able to attest to that is Marine Sgt. Jason Cox, who while serving seven months in Iraq in 2006, often patrolled near Fullujah in a Humvee.

Recognizing the threat, Cox put his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Worcester Polytechnic Institute to use as he set out to design a device to detect these “roadside bombs” from further away. He did research and modified existing thermal-imaging equipment to identify devices from nearly 300 yards away based on the pattern recognition of IED feed-in wires by the differences in thermal expansion.

The device can image triggering systems for IEDs that were difficult to see with the naked eye or the imaging techniques that were available to Cox.

These bombs are detonated when vehicles or pedestrians pass them, so the ability to spot them from a great distance is an important advancement that could save many lives.

In September 2006, Cox presented his commanding officers with his results, which were included in a proposal to buy new technology to address IED detection. The Marine Corps will purchase a system similar to Cox’s design that should help reduce the effectiveness of roadside bombs.

In July of this year, Cox was awarded the US Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his effort in developing the device. The award recognized his "initiative, perseverance, and total dedication to duty, which honored the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service."

Cox is a five-year reservist in the Marine Corps, Alpha Company 1st Battalion 25th Marine Regiment, who had been two months into his first year of graduate study at WPI when his unit was deployed. He is now working toward his PhD in chemistry at WPI and plans to continue serving in the reserves.

Posted by Jessica MacNeil on September 15, 2008 | Comments (3)