Person Davies; Sir; David Evan Naunton (1935 - 2025); engineer Davies David Evan Naunton Sir engineer 1935 - 2025 British Male Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom 28 October 1935 19351028 19 August 2025 20250819

Engineer Materials Science Antennas Optoelectronics Radar Engineering Education: University College London Career: Assistant Director of Research, British Railways Derby (1967); Professor of Electrical Engineering, University College London, later serving as Vice-Provost (1971); Vice Chancellor, Loughborough University (1988); Chief Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Defence (1993); commissioned to advise the government on automatic train protection (1999); Chair, Railway Safety Ltd (2000); Chair of the Hazards Forum (2002). Honours: CBE 1986; Kt 1994 Memberships: FREng (President 1996-2001) Institution of Electrical Engineers (now part of the IET) (President 1994-95) Awards/Medals: Rank Prize for excellence in optoelectronics Faraday Medal of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Advanced the practical implementation and effectiveness of antenna arrays and radar. This includes solving problems of efficiently exciting spatial harmonics in circular arrays to synthesise directional patterns. The invention of sensors to measure quantities such as strain and temperature followed directly from his joint work on optical fibres. David’s radar system expertise meant he was often consulted by the UK Ministry of Defence, and he became its Chief Scientific Adviser in 1993. In his early career, David conducted research for the pre-privatisation railways, and in 1999, he was appointed to head the inquiry on advanced automatic train protection following the disastrous Ladbroke Grove crash. Royal Society roles: Council: 1991-1993 Fellow 15/03/1984 48 The Royal Society Fellows Directory, Sir David Davies CBE FREng FRS, [URL: https://royalsociety.org/people/david-davies-11304/; last accessed: 22/08/2025] Royal cademy of Engineering, Sir David Davies CBE FREng FRS, [URL: https://raeng.org.uk/about-us/history/sir-david-davies-cbe-freng-frs; last accessed: 22/08/2025] International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 28 Oct 1935 - The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 22/08/2025 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA7225 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 26/11/2025 RS_NET\AinsleyV Yes db17f401-2fc4-4978-b90a-04903e9addb1