Date: 17 Dec 2003
Time: 12:11
In recognition of his contribution to information resources management, Library and Archives Canada and the Council of Federal Libraries have selected Captain Rob Mulholland, a Canadian Forces helicopter pilot, as winner of the 2003 Agatha Bystram Award for Leadership in Information Management. In the past twelve months as project manager, Captain Rob Mulholland has defined, integrated and managed a critical system that radically modernises the delivery of Canada's search and rescue services.
The new Search and Rescue Mission Management system is an effective national system that enables the recording and retrieval of vital information and task-appropriate resources in life-saving rescue missions. The blend of information management and technology enhances the real-time communications between a number of Canadian government departments and agencies involved in delivering search and rescue services.
"Captain Mulholland has accomplished an extraordinary task in defining, integrating and managing a critical system that has fundamentally modernised the way rescue centres control Canada's search and rescue services," said Lt. Col. G.Y. Smith, A3 search and rescue manager, who nominated Captain Mulholland.
The improvement in information management is important in evaluating future search and rescue techniques and procedures and enables a more efficient method of notifying rescue crews, reducing launch times and rendering assistance where and when required. The system runs 24 hours-a- day, 7 days-a-week and is the principal operational tool with which all federal search and rescue operations are managed in Canada.