A U.S. Air Force veteran who is a Penn State World Campus student has received this year’s Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the geospatial intelligence community.
The 2024 honoree is Christopher Ramos, who served for 10 years in the U.S. Air Force working in special operations weather forecasting. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Spatial Data Science online through Penn State World Campus.
"The program’s flexibility and comprehensive curriculum have been instrumental in my professional development," Ramos said.
Officials selected Ramos because of his dedication and expertise in providing critical environmental intelligence for military mission success. Ramos also served as an instructor at the Special Tactics Training Squadron, investing in the next generation of military leaders.
In 2023, Ramos founded Warrior’s Garden Solutions, which offers innovative environmental intelligence and geospatial analysis. Ramos said he applies the geospatial skills he learned daily when conducting geospatial analysis for a local county. Warrior's Garden Solutions is also developing AI/ML algorithms to create machine learning weather prediction models.
“The award’s prestige and my Master of Science program skills position my business to provide cutting-edge solutions in environmental data science and geospatial intelligence,” Ramos said.
About the Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy Award
Penn State established the Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy Award in honor of Murphy, a Penn State alumnus who was killed in Afghanistan and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his valiant service as a Navy SEAL.
The annual award recognizes a student in one of Penn State’s master’s degree programs in geospatial education who has served in the U.S. military or within the geospatial intelligence community and demonstrated exceptional contributions to the discipline. At Penn State, those programs are offered online through World Campus by the Department of Geography in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
The award is made possible by the generosity of the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, Maxar, and faculty, staff, and friends of Penn State.
“Receiving this award is a profound recognition, especially considering Lt. Michael Murphy's sacrifices and dedication during Operation Red Wings,” Ramos said. “His bravery and leadership inspire me. This award honors his legacy and acknowledges my dedication, particularly during my deployments to Afghanistan as a Special Operations Weather Technician."
Online geospatial intelligence education at Penn State
Penn State World Campus has been offering a Penn State education online for more than 25 years. Its comprehensive portfolio of more than 200 degrees and certificates includes graduate programs in geospatial intelligence, spatial data science, geographic information systems, and more.
Learn more about the graduate portfolio of geospatial programs offered online through Penn State World Campus.