Academics

Quink recognized with 2016 Michael P. Murphy Award in Geospatial Intelligence

Tyson J. Quink, a Penn State World Campus student, was selected to receive the 2016 Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award in Geospatial Intelligence. He was honored on June 28 during the 2016 Esri User Conference held in San Diego, California. Left to right are Steve Handwerk, geospatial intelligence faculty member with the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences’ John A. Dutton e-Education Institute, Quink, Jack Dangermond, president and founder of Esri, Heath Rasco, director of technical programs for DigitalGlobe, and Keith Masback, CEO of the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation.  Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Tyson J. Quink, a Penn State student, was selected to receive the 2016 Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award in Geospatial Intelligence. He was honored on June 28 during the 2016 Esri User Conference held in San Diego, California.

Quink was presented with the award from Jack Dangermond, president and founder of Esri; Keith Masback, CEO of the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation; Heath Rasco, director, of technical programs for DigitalGlobe; and Steve Handwerk, geospatial intelligence faculty member with the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences’ John A. Dutton e-Education Institute.

Named in honor of Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Medal of Honor recipient and distinguished Penn State alumnus, the award recognizes achievement by a graduate of Penn State’s geospatial intelligence program who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces or with the geospatial intelligence community and demonstrated exceptional contributions to the discipline.

“It is an honor to be selected for the Lt. Michael Murphy award for Geospatial Intelligence. Both in and out of the service I have seen the importance of GIS and how the capabilities of having correct data and products can help leaders make informed decisions. As a result of robust GIS capabilities, mission execution can be more precise and, more importantly, GIS can help keep soldiers safe,” said Quink, who earned a postbaccalaureate certificate in geographic information systems as well as a graduate certificate in geospatial intelligence analytics through Penn State World Campus.

Quink began his studies at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in geographic information science in 2009. He then served as a fire direction officer and platoon leader for the U.S. Army’s 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. After combat, Quink returned to serve as assistant coach for the U.S. Army’s athletics department.

In 2013, Quink began working as a program manager for Hewlett-Packard while pursuing his master’s degree online. He then completed an internship with U.S. Department of Defense as a GEOINT analyst before joining Esri as a solution engineer. Quink is on track to graduate this year with a master's degree in geographic information systems through Penn State World Campus.

“We are very proud of this year’s recipient of the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award in Geospatial Intelligence, Mr. Tyson Quink.  The eighth person to receive the award, Tyson joins a growing list of individuals who have demonstrated academic excellence and provided significant contributions to the profession,” said Handwerk.

The Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award in Geospatial Intelligence is sponsored by the Digital Globe Foundation; United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation; Todd and Barbara Bacastow; Alan W. Scaroni, dean emeritus of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences; and Richard DiEugenio, former special assistant to the president for governmental affairs in Penn State’s Office of Governmental Affairs.

The Penn State Veterans Plaza, a gift of the Class of 2011 located on the patio of Old Main on the University Park campus, was created to honor all Penn State veterans. The plaza's curved wall is named to honor Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a member of the class of 1998 and the first University alumnus to be awarded the Medal of Honor. A Navy Seal, Lt. Murphy received this singular distinction posthumously for his courageous actions in 2005 during the war in Afghanistan.

Last Updated July 26, 2016

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