Aerospace Communications Award Open for Nominations 10 November 2024 – 15 January 2025

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The Aerospace Communications Award is presented for an outstanding contribution in the field of aerospace communications. Candidates are individuals or small teams (up to 4 members) whose achievements have had a positive impact on technology and society.

This award is presented annually at the AIAA International Communications Satellite Systems Conference (ICSSC). 

Deadlines:
Accepting Online Nominations: 10 November
Nomination Deadline: 15 January
Endorsement Letters Deadline: 1 February

Award Recipients

2024

  • Prof Barry G Evans
    University of Surrey
    Awarded
    Award: 2024 AIAA Aerospace Communications Award
    AIAA Citation: For inspirational technical leadership in the development of communications satellite concepts, systems, regulations and protocols, and the promotion of satellite communications within the academic community

2023

  • Dr Paul T Thompson
    University of Surrey
    Awarded
    Award: 2023 AIAA Aerospace Communications Award
    AIAA Citation: For exceptional service in satellite and space systems design, engineering, and international collaboration.

2022

  • Dr Riccardo de Gaudenzi
    European Space Agency (ESA)
    Awarded
    Award: 2022 AIAA Aerospace Communications Award
    AIAA Citation: “For technical contributions and management leadership in the development of innovative technologies and systems for telecommunications, navigation, and Earth observation applications.”

2021

  • Pradman P Kaul
    Awarded
    Award: 2021 AIAA Aerospace Communications Award
    AIAA Citation: For technical and management leadership of the creation and development of the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite communications industry.

2020

  • Badri Younes
    NASA Headquarters
    Awarded
    Award: 2020 Aerospace Communications Award
    AIAA Citation: For Lifetime Accomplishments and Outstanding Leadership in the Advancement of Space Communications and for Promoting Interoperability between Commercial and Space Agency Networks.

2019

  • Prof Michel E Bousquet
    ISAE
    Awarded
    Award: For his outstanding contribution and promotion of education and proliferation of knowledge on aerospace communication and navigation
    AIAA Citation: For his outstanding contribution and promotion of education and proliferation of knowledge on aerospace communication and navigation

2018

  • Dr John S Baras
    University of Maryland
    Awarded
    Award: 2018 Aerospace Communications Award
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding technical contributions and commercialization leadership of Internet over satellite, hybrid satellites, and terrestrial networks, with transformational industrial, economic and societal impact.

2017

  • Stuart T Linsky
    Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Awarded
    Award: For technical leadership, innovation and development of protected satellite communications systems.
    AIAA Citation: For technical leadership, innovation and development of protected satellite communications systems.

2016

  • Mr Chris F Hoeber
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For communications satellite industry and engineering leadership, and for advancing technologies ranging from electronic propulsion to reliable high power communications satellites.

2015

  • Edward W Ashford
    Awarded
    Award: -
    AIAA Citation: For mentoring and education contributions in satellite communication.

2014

  • Mr Peter J Garland
    MacDonald Dettwiler & Assoc Corp
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For technical and management contributions to the advancement of space and ground technology.

2013

  • Anthony J Tether
    Sequoia Group
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding technical leadership and innovative contributions to the advancement of aerospace and defense communications technologies.

2012

  • Philip A Rubin PE
    RKF Engineering Solutions LLC
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For the advancement of international satellite communications, broadcasting, and services.

2011

  • Jack Holmes
    The Aerospace Company
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For contributions to the analysis, simulation and design of communication and spread spectrum systems.

2010

  • Harvey L Berger
    Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For contributions to satellite communications link technology.

2009

  • Mr. Calvin B Cotner
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For meritorious technical and strategic leadership, advancing earth station technology and effectively guiding international cooperation in satellite communications from its emergent years to the present.

2008

  • Mr. Mark D Dankberg
    ViaSat Inc
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For shepherding ViaSat Inc. into a leading satellite communications company through outstanding leadership and technical expertise.

2007

  • Mr Robert D Briskman
    Telecommunication ENGR Consultants
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering efforts in developing the Satellite Digital Radio Service (DARS).

2006

  • Dr Denis J Curtin
    XTAR LLC
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding leadership to the communications satellite industry from research on a new solar cell to chief responsibility for the design, test and operations of complete satellite systems.

2005

  • Dr Chandra Kudsia
    Mantrix Inc
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding and sustained contributions to the development of RF multiplexers and transponder technologies, and especially in establishing contiguous multiplexing as the preferred architecture of communications satellite systems.

2004

  • Dr Yasuo Hirata
    ATRI
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For contribution to and leadership in the development of digital mobile satellite communications systems and research of associated key technologies

2003

  • Dr Krishna Pande
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering development and application of semiconductor monolithic microwave integrated circuits subsystems, advancement in solar cell technology and for overall leadership in design of space communication satellites

2002

  • Dr Neil R Helm
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For leadership in the development of mobile and emergency satellite communications and their application to disaster management
  • Dr Takashi Iida
    Tokyo Metropolitan Univ
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For contribution to experiments and leadership in the development of satellite communications systems for regional communications, personal communication, networking, and to meet the future needs of the Pan-Pacific region

2000

  • Dr Richard T Gedney
    Advance Communications Technology Co
    Awarded-CoRecipients
    AIAA Citation: For the vision to forecast the need for high-capacity digital communication satellite systems and for the persistence and leadership to implement the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) program
  • Mr. Joseph N Sivo
    Awarded-CoRecipients
    AIAA Citation: For the vision to forecast the need for high-capacity digital communication satellite systems and for the persistence and leadership to implement the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) program

1998

  • Mr. Bary Bertiger
    Motorola Inc
    Awarded-CoRecipients
    AIAA Citation: For inventing LEO, Mobile Communications, IRIDIUM Satellite Systems, and for developing systems architecture, directing systems engineering, creating global TDMA/FDMA telephony concept, and initiating a multi-billion dollar business
  • Dr Ray Leopold
    Motorola Inc
    Awarded-CoRecipients
    AIAA Citation: For inventing LEO, Mobile Communications, IRIDIUM Satellite Systems, and for developing systems architecture, directing systems engineering, creating global TDMA/FDMA telephony concept, and initiating a multi-billion dollar business
  • Mr. Ken Peterson
    Motorola Inc
    Awarded-CoRecipients
    AIAA Citation: For inventing LEO, Mobile Communications, IRIDIUM Satellite Systems, and for developing systems architecture, directing systems engineering, creating global TDMA/FDMA telephony concept, and initiating a multi-billion dollar business
  • Mikhail F Reshetnev
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: Presented posthumously, in recognition of lifetime work, ensuing forty years, directing and participating in the development, manufacture and launch of most of Russia’s communications satellites

1996

  • Mr. Robert E Berry
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For outstanding leadership in the communications satellite industry and for introduction of innovative technologies in satellite communications such as shaped beam coverage, Nickel Hydrogen batteries, lightweight composite materials and high power solar panels

1994

  • Dr Rene C Collette
    European Space Agency (ESA)
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For leadership and vision in the field of space telecommunications proving major contributions to the development of the European communications satellite industry

1992

  • Tadahiro Sekimoto
    NEC Corporation
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering contributions to the development and application of digital satellite communications, including time division multiple access and demand assignment technologies; for inspired leadership of engineers and scientists in application of digital communications and computers in satellite communications

1990

  • John E Keigler
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For technical leadership in the development of RCA geostationary communications satellites, he has pioneered the science of satellite communication

1988

  • Dr Burton I Edelson
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For sustained leadership in satellite communications with the Navy; then with COMSAT Corporation; most recently with NASA; and for significant contributions to the AIAA activities

1986

  • C Louis Cuccia
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For more than four decades of achievements in and contributions to aerospace communications with the last two decades emphasizing domestic and international communications satellite and earth station technologies

1984

  • Sidney Metzger
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For early contributions to store and forward communications satellite concepts (SCORE) and to project relay as well as to the later development and implementation of commercial communications satellite systems in the geosynchronous orbit

1982

  • W Ray Morgan
    Morgan Aircraft Company
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For the consistent high level of his continuing contributions to the technology and application of communications satellites, both international and domestic

1980

  • Irwin M Jacobs
    Awarded-CoRecipients
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering the development and successful application of convolutional coding and advanced signal processing techniques and systems which have enabled major gains in both commercial and government satellite communications
  • Andrew J Viterbi
    Awarded-CoRecipients
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering the development and successful application of convolutional coding and advanced signal processing techniques and systems which have enabled major gains in both commercial and government satellite communications

1978

  • Leonard Jaffe
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For significant and sustained contributions to the development of technology for communications satellites resulting in the operational employment of satellites for global communications services.

1976

  • Robert F Garbarini
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For combined pioneering leadership in engineering management of NASA programs and commercial development of the first United States domestic communications satellite

1974

  • Arthur C Clark
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For the vision to conceive of communications satellites; for the wisdom to explore their technical, political, social and moral consequences; and, for the talent to educate us all about their possibilities and problems

1972

  • Dr Wilbur L Pritchard
    W L Pritchard & Co Inc
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For notable contributions to the technical management and leadership of the team that conceived and implemented the military communications satellite program which led to the initial defense communications satellite program and the NATO communications satellites; the conception and development of the unique X-band communications systems used in theses satellites; and the organization and direction of the COMSAT Laboratories

1971

  • Siegfried Reiger
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering the technical development of commercial communications satellite systems leading to the first world-wide public communications satellite network

1970

  • Mr Edmund J Habib
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For pioneering developments of the advanced tracking and telemetry data processing systems of NASA''s Space Tracking and Data Acquisition Network, and for leadership in the development of technology for the future Tracking and Data Relay Satellite space network

1969

  • Dr Eberhardt Rechtin
    Awarded
    AIAA Citation: For development of phase lock systems for space communications , guidance and control and for contributions to the design, development and operation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration''s Deep Space Network

1968

  • Dr Harold A Rosen
    Boeing
    Awarded-CoRecipients
    AIAA Citation: For the vision, technical judgement, and inspired leadership to make synchronous satellite communications a new challenge for the progress of mankind
  • Donald D Williams
    Awarded-CoRecipients
    AIAA Citation: For the early recognition, technical judgement, inventiveness, and singular dedication in pioneering the development and design of synchronous communications satellites