WPI Student Marine Honored By Military

Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduate and Southborough native Marine Sgt. Jason Cox has been awarded the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for a system he developed for detecting improvised explosive devices.

During a seven-month tour in Fallujah, Iraq, Cox conducted research on using infrared spectroscopy to detect IEDs from as far away as 250 meters. Cox used his combat patrols, during which he was in the turret of a Humvee, to validate the technology he was developing.

Cox's device, which he developed and made combat-ready with the help of other Marines in his squad, uses temperature differences to detect the wiring in trigger devices used in roadside bombs.

The military plans on purchasing IED detection systems based on Cox's design.

Cox currently lives in Worcester and has resumed graduate work in chemistry at WPI.