Award/Recognition Menu
The Pioneer Award has been given annually since 1949 to an individual or team for “contributions significant to bringing into being systems that are still in existence today.” These systems fall within the specific areas of interest to the society, that is, electronic or aerospace systems. The contributions for which the award is bestowed are to have been made at least 20 years prior to the year of the award, to ensure proper historical perspective. It is not a condition that any awardees should have been sole or original inventor or developer, “significant contribution” of a specific nature is the key criterion.
$3,000 honorarium (shared equally between multiple winners) and a plaque for each winner.
Travel expenses of up to $1,000 per individual (up to a maximum of $1,500 for multiple awards) may be authorized by the AESS President.
Funded by the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society
At a convenient IEEE AESS conference
The candidate does not have to be an IEEE AESS member, but given everything else being equal, a member will be given preferential consideration.
For questions, please contact the VP Awards.
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2023
For seminal pioneering contributions to multichannel Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
2022
For development of the Interacting Multiple Model (IMM) approach to multi-model estimation and maneuvering target tracking.
2021
For contributions to signal processing and information fusion enabling advanced aerospace and electronic systems
2020
For pioneering contributions to the analysis, design, development, and experimentation of digital-based adaptive radar systems.
2019
For contributions to advanced simulation-based training and intelligent decision aiding for aerospace systems
2018
For Contributions to the Technology and Implementation of the GPS Civilian Navigation System
2017
Modeling, Simulation Analysis, Design of a Real-Time Expert System Constant False and Alarm Rate (CFAR)
Modeling, Simulation Analysis, Design of a Real-Time Expert System Constant False and Alarm Rate (CFAR)
2016
Algorithm Development, Experimental Demonstration, and Transition of Expert System Constant False Alarm Rate (CFAR) to Airborne Radar Systems
Algorithm Development, Experimental Demonstration, and Transition of Expert System Constant False Alarm Rate (CFAR) to Airborne Radar Systems
2015
Founding Contributions to Modern Radio Physics and Statistical Antenna Theory (SAT)
2014
For contributions in the development and deployment of the Very High Speed Integrated Circuits Hardware Description Language (VHDL)
2013
For Enabling NASA’s Deep Space Communications and Radar Imaging System via Ultra-Stable Frequency/Timing Fiber Optic Transfer
For Enabling NASA’s Deep Space Communications and Radar Imaging System via Ultra-Stable Frequency/Timing Fiber Optic Transfer
2012
For Seminal and Pioneering Contributions to the Development and Commercialization of Aerospace Electronic Systems.
2011
For Pioneering Work in the Field of Aircraft/Missile Launch Systems
2010
For Pioneering Contributions to the Development of Strapdown Inertial Instruments
2009
For the independent discovery of matched filtering, adaptive filtering, and high-resolution pulse compression for an entire generation of Russian and Ukranian radars
2008
For development of Commercial and Broadcast Satellites Over the Past 40 Years.
2007
For the original development of monopulse techniques for radar systems
2006
For developing the fundamental concepts, system designs, and basic technology underpinning the design, development, testing, and fielding of the U.S. Army Firefinder family of radars
2005
For the invention of the Moving Target Detector (MTD) digital signal processor for aircraft surveillance radar
2004
For development of MIL-STD-1553: Multiplexed Data Bus Avionic Intra-System Communication Standard.
2003
2002
2000
1998
1995
1994
For Global Positioning System (GPS)
1993
For Stealth technology
1992
For Laser systems
1991
For Airborne moving-target radars
For Airborne moving-target radars
For Airborne moving-target radars
1990
For The Whirlwind computer
For The Whirlwind computer
1989
For Microwave landing systems
For Microwave landing systems
For Microwave landing systems
1988
For Radar pulse compression
For Radar pulse compression
1987
For Weather satellite automatic picture transmission
For Weather satellite automatic picture transmission
1986
For Transit satellite navigation
For Transit satellite navigation
For Transit satellite navigation
For Transit satellite navigation
1985
For Synthetic aperture radar
1984
For High-repetition-rate airborne pulse-doppler radar
For High-repetition-rate airborne pulse-doppler radar
For High-repetition-rate airborne pulse-doppler radar
1983
For Voice and data radio communications and electronics
For Voice and data radio communications and electronics
For Voice and data radio communications and electronics
1982
For Voice and data radio communications and electronics
1981
For Spread-spectrum communications
For Spread-spectrum communications
For Spread-spectrum communications
For Spread-spectrum communications
1980
For Distance measuring equipment
1979
For Pilotless aircraft
1978
For Inertial technology
1977
For Monostatic radar
1976
For Zero reader flight display
1975
For Microwave radar
1974
For Precision omnidirectional microwave beacons
For Precision omnidirectional microwave beacons
1973
For Air traffic control secondary radar
For Secondary radar system development
For Secondary radar beacon design
1972
For Time-division multiplex telemetry
1971
For LORAN-C navigation
For LORAN-C navigation
1970
For Doppler VOR
1969
For DECCA (hyperbolic) navigation
For DECCA (hyperbolic) navigation
1968
For Aircraft ground speed using doppler
1967
For Frequency modulated radio altimeters
For Frequency modulated radio altimeters
1966
For Hyperbolic radio navigation
For The radio range (circa 1907)
1965
For VOR & ILS navigation antennas; the Alford Loop
1964
For Sonne (Consol) and other instrument landing systems (ILS)
1963
For Aircraft approach and landing radar
1962
For VHF omni-range (VOR)
1961
For Radio navigation systems: Loran, Skywave, RaduX, Omega
1960
For Visual “L–R” radio compass
For Aircraft approach and landing electronics
1959
For Aircraft automatic radio direction finding
For Aircraft automatic radio direction finding
1958
For Four-course radio range beacon
For Four-course radio range beacon
For Arctic, Antarctic and transatlantic flight radio communication
1957
For Directional properties of radio transmission and reception (circa 1905)
For Direction finding, altimetry, ignition shielding, and radar
1956
For Marine radio direction finding; radio compass
For Two-way voice radio for aircraft
For Automatic phase comparison direction finding
For Ground and airborne radio equipments
For Radio aids to navigation; radio range; direction finding; instrumented low approach
For Radio direction finding (circa 1900)
For Development facilities for aircraft communications, navigation and traffic control including AACS
For Airborne antennas and radio range systems
For Development facilities for aircraft communications, navigation, and traffic control including AACS
1955
For Wave propagation to/from aircraft; the Kolster localizer system
1954
For Replacement of radio batteries by AC; radio aids to marine and air navigation; and blind landing system (today’s ILS)
1953
For Radio direction finding for aircraft and the omnidirectional range
1952
For Use of (radio) waves for detection of ship traffic (circa 1922)
1951
For “Highways in the Sky”—The forerunner of today’s ATC
1950
For Electronic Countermeasures
1949
For Leadership in the development of aircraft electronics