David G. Ward Obituary
David G. Ward, after a courageous battle with cancer, died on April 10 in Charlottesville, VA. He faced death fearlessly, just as he had lived, with unwavering hope in Christ. Known for his love of family and community, he was surrounded by a multitude of friends to the very end. He was 46. Born June 20, 1963 in Bethlehem, PA to Dick and Margo Ward, he graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1981. In 1986 he married his High School sweetheart, Joanne Underwood. The couple moved to the Charlottesville area in 1991. David Ward held engineering degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and was the Senior Technical Director and President of Barron Associates in Charlottesville. Highly respected in his field, he authored numerous publications and served as the Chair of important national and international committees and conferences. Mr. Ward’s research was concentrated in stochastic optimization of complex systems, robust on-line parameter identification, and receding-horizon optimal control. In 1996, Mr. Ward spearheaded the development of an adaptive flight control system that was the first ever to be successfully flight tested. An avid outdoors person, David’s life was full of adventure. From piloting small aircraft to mountain biking, playing squash, zip-lining, riding motorcycles, and whitewater rafting, he was always moving. A committed Christian, he was a highly influential leader and skillful Bible teacher who served on the board of Elders in the churches he attended over the years. Dozens of men considered him their “best friend”. Intensely humorous, loyal and honest, David was known for his direct but relational style of communicating, loving people enough to tell them the truth and buy them a beer. David Ward was a faithful husband and a loving father. He is survived by his wife; four children, Danielle, Karisa, Caleb, and Nicole; his parents; his brother, Tom Ward, and sister-in-law Michele, all of Earlysville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable contributions be made to Rivanna Community Church Prague Fund (a rehabilitation mission for drug and alcohol abusers in the Czech Republic), c/o Rivanna Community Church, PO Box 587, Ruckersville, VA 22968.Barron Associates works with WUStL on "Retraining the Brain"
Barron Associates along with Dr. Joel Goebel, at Washington University St. Louis, work on a project to address balance problems in those with vestibular malfunction. See the article in "Washington University St. Louis School of Medicine, Outlook Magazine"
Barron Associates awarded SBIR Phase III
Barron Associates has been awarded an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) SBIR Phase III program to address rapid mission planning for next generation high speed systems. The program will research new methods for mission planning for Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV's), hypersonic cruise vehicles and other orbital or suborbital munition/payload delivery missions.