NAVTECHGPS - Key Persons

Alan J. Pue, Ph.D., (Retired) was the chief scientist of the Air and Missile Defense Sector at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL). Since 1974, he has worked at JHU/APL on a wide variety of guidance, control, and navigation projects, including automated ground vehicle control research, space telescope pointing control, and missile guidance, navigation, and control. He has frequently consulted and served on engineering review boards or has led concept developments for major acquisition programs. He served as a member of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board from 2016-2020. For over 40 years, Dr. Pue was a graduate lecturer on Linear Systems Theory and Control System Design Methods for The Johns Hopkins University.

Job Titles:

• President and CEO and Director of Seminars
• Seminar Director

Carolyn McDonald co-founded NavtechGPS (Navigation Technology Seminars, Inc.) in 1984 with Keith McDonald (retired 2010.) Carolyn and Keith recognized a gap in the technical education market for engineers in the then newly developing global positioning system market and the need for specialized GNSS training going forward. Carolyn's management skills and Keith's comprehensive knowledge of GPS technology proved to be a perfect match for the GPS technical seminar concept.

Christopher Hegarty, D. Sc., is a director with The MITRE Corporation, where he has worked mainly on aviation applications of GNSS since 1992. He is currently the chair of the Program Management Committee of RTCA, Inc., and co-chairs RTCA Special Committee 159 (GNSS). He served as editor of NAVIGATION: The Journal of the Institute of Navigation from 1997-2006, and as president of The Institute of Navigation (ION) in 2008. He was a recipient of the ION Early Achievement Award in 1998, the U.S. Department of State Superior Honor Award in 2005, the ION Kepler Award in 2005, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Hobart Newell Award in 2006, the RTCA Achievement Award in 2014, and the GPS World Leadership Award in 2017. He is a fellow of both the ION and IEEE, and a co-editor/co-author of the textbook Understanding GPS/GNSS: Principles and Applications, 3rd edition.

Job Titles:

• Chief Technical Officer
• Vice President

Franck Boynton is the vice president and chief technical officer at NavtechGPS and heads its product division, which sells hundreds of GNSS/GPS-related product, including hardware and software and GNSS reference materials. He has 25+ years experience in the testing, operation and sale of GNSS receivers, antennas, boards, data link products and associated equipment. He is certified by several manufacturers for sales, operation and training on high accuracy receiver systems and OEM products. He specializes in custom system development, design and implementation of high performance GNSS components. Franck won a best paper"award at the ION GNSS 2003 meeting for GPS applications. Franck Boynton has been with NavtechGPS since 1988. During his tenure, he helped the company grow from a relatively small player in the GPS/GNSS marketplace to a highly respected GPS reseller and solutions provider. In 1991, NavtechGPS added GPS product sales to its business. Franck Boynton developed this division and acquired vendor agreements from over 30 manufacturers. "We can advise our clients on the GPS equipment that would best suit their projects and offer all these choices in one place," says Franck. "We deliver innovative solutions for military, commercial and research COTS integration projects." Franck's focus is on high accuracy GNSS real-time centimeter-level applications. He has been personally involved in integrating GPS solutions into many of the top unmanned UAV's and UGV's for the U.S. military. He also works with real-time high accuracy solutions, tracking systems, relative positioning systems, auto refueling systems, signal retransmission, signal networking, LiDAR applications, target tracking photogrammetry, fault monitoring, machine control, testing and truth systems, antenna pointing, attitude determination, telemetry, simulations, mining applications, agricultural applications, security systems, video game creation and many other GPS/GNSS related applications. He has also consulted for movies and TV shows where GPS has been featured. Franck is certified by several manufacturers on high accuracy GPS receiver systems and OEM products. He is a member of the Institute of Navigation (ION) and the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI.) He won a best paper award for GPS applications at the ION GNSS 2003 meeting and has co-chaired a number of ION technical sessions on new products.

Michael Vaujin is an aerospace, navigation and defense consultant currently working for an aerospace engineering firm in Tucson, Arizona. He has over 30 years of experience in the fields of navigation and data fusion, and has designed aided strapdown solutions for land, sea, and airborne platforms using munition, tactical and navigation grade IMUs. He received his B.S.E.E. from the University of Florida in 1987 and his M.S.E.E. degree from the University of South Florida in 1991. During his 16 years at Honeywell Aerospace, he was awarded five patents in aided navigation. At the 2010 Institute of Navigation GNSS conference, he was asked to present at a special panel celebrating the 50th anniversary of the invention of the Kalman filter.