Fiber Optic Sensing Association Presents 2020 Champion of Innovation Award to PHMSA Administrator Skip Elliott

PRESS RELEASE
December 2, 2020
Fiber Optic Sensing Association
Contact: Mark Uncapher 240-685-1853

Fiber Optic Sensing Association Presents 2020 Champion of Innovation Award to PHMSA Administrator Skip Elliott

WASHINGTON DC - December 2, 2020 - The Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA) today awarded its annual Champion of Innovation Award to Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Administrator Howard “Skip” Elliott.

“FOSA recognizes PHMSA Administrator Skip Elliott’s leadership in creating a pipeline research, development, and testing capability at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado,” said FOSA Chairman Mike Hines. “A research, development, and test site takes a giant step toward improving pipeline safety in the United States."

“The Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Highway Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other agencies each have centers for the validation of new technologies and techniques with time-tested examples of improved safety. No such resource has existed for pipelines. Thanks to Skip Elliott, a comprehensive pipeline safety test site is now in the works,” Hines continued. 

Prior FOSA Champion of Innovation Award winners have included Representatives Anna Eshoo and Will Hurd and Senators Deb Fischer and Jon Tester.

THE FIBER OPTIC SENSING ASSOCIATION (FOSA)
FOSA is a non-profit organization created in Washington DC in 2017 with the mission of educating industry, government and the public on the benefits of fiber optic sensing. Through webinars, videos, white papers, public presentations and public policy advocacy, the organization provides information on the use of fiber optic sensing to secure critical facilities, enhance public safety and protect the environment. FOSA Members include AP Sensing, Aselsan, Corning, Ditch Witch, Dura-Line, Fotech Solutions, Graz University of Technology, Hawk Measurement, Hifi Engineering, NBG Fiber Optic Corp., NEC, Network Integrity Systems, NKT Photonics, OFS, Omnisens, OptaSense, OZ Optics, Prysmian Group, Sensonic, Smartpipe Technologies, Terra Sound, the University of California - Berkeley, and Weir-Jones Group. For more information please visit the FOSA website.