Alex Baylot began his career at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center more than 30 years ago, and last month, his decades of hard work and service to the Army were recognized with one of the highest honors bestowed to employees — the Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal.

Baylot, a research civil engineer, is known for his expertise in mobility. He spent 22 years in the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, where his skills were used in combat simulations to assess the effectiveness of tanks and other ground vehicles on the battlefield.

“It’s amazing how fulfilled Alex has always felt in his job,” said Baylot’s wife, Paula. “He felt he was really making a difference, and he felt challenged.”

The de Fleury Medal is awarded by the U.S. Army Engineer Association to those who have made significant contributions to Army Engineering, and is inscribed with the words “a memorial and a reward for courage and boldness.”

Baylot was instrumental in the development of deployable force protection, which tested tools and technology before it landed in the hands of soldiers.

“That work is continuing on today,” said Dr. Simon Goerger, who has worked with Baylot for years. “It literally saves lives, and it’s saved millions of dollars.”

In 2015, Baylot shifted to the Information Technology Laboratory, where he became a major player in one of ERDC’s five major research areas — Engineered Resilient Systems. He was also instrumental in establishing the Institute for Systems Engineering Research, a joint effort between ERDC and Mississippi State University to improve Department of Defense acquisition programs.

“When they were summing up his career and all the things he did, I was so impressed; I knew that so often, he was one of the smartest people in the room,” Paula said on behalf of her husband, who has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer. “I was so proud for him, and he has loved his job so much.”