Robert J. Dowding, research manager for materials and manufacturing science at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Adelphi, Md., has received the first-ever Vanguard Award from the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF). The award recognizes powder metallurgy (PM) industry champions from the end-user community whose long-time promotion of the technology has contributed to the expansion of powder metal applications. Over the course of Dowding's tenure at ARL, much of his PM-based research and development work has been related to, or in support of, material and process development for tungsten and tungsten alloys. He has performed research examining strain aging in tungsten heavy alloys (WHA), the processing of novel tungsten-based compositions, and the re-spheroidisation of tungsten grains in heavily cold-worked WHAs. Dowding has been a strong leader in and supporter of the Army's Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program since the mid-1980s. As the contracting officer's technical representative (COTR) for more than 35 Phase I and Phase II contracts, his efforts have been leveraged to support multiple mission programs in the materials science and manufacturing of protection- and lethality-related applications. He has also promoted missile programs focusing on powder metallurgy, tungsten research, nanomaterials, armour ceramics, and powder injection molding. Dowding will be presented with the award at the PM2014 World Congress that takes place from May 18–22 in Orlando, Florida.