In a ceremony Aug. 27, members of the Materials Directorate’s survivability and sensors materials division took part in ceremony to dedicate its conference room in Bldg. 651, Area B, in honor of Rand Biggers who died in a car accident in July.

His wife Cheryl; son Matt accompanied by his girlfriend Jessica Dixon; his daughter Liza with her husband Charlie and a close friend Kevin Wagner attended the ceremony. Karen Olson, Biggers’ supervisor and friend, introduced family and guests and emceed the event.

“We worked together for more than 15 years, and I have many memories. We got along well. I respected him as a coworker and as a person. This is a great occasion for his work family to honor him,” said Tim Peterson, one of Biggers’ friends and co-workers.

“This has been a difficult year. Rand made a tremendous difference as a scientist, and we have not forgotten about him or his family,” said Laura Rea, branch chief.

A research scientist, Biggers worked from 1990 to 2006 to develop pulsed laser deposition process control capabilities and apply these capabilities to improve the growth of various materials.

A Tae Kwon Do enthusiast, Biggers also reportedly was the best power hitter on the organization’s softball team. His son, Ethan, was critically wounded in Iraq in March last year and later died from his wounds.

The conference room will have a small plate mounted on the door designating it as the Rand Biggers Conference Room. Inside on a wall will hang a large metal plaque with a picture of Biggers and words in his honor.

All content Copyright© 2007 Brown Publishing Co. Skywrighter Online