The purpose of this award is to recognize individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the technology of navigation and position equipment, systems, or practices. The committee has established this as a PLANS tradition, thus permitting the IEEE to recognize those who have contributed most significantly to this modern era of electronic navigation.
Award/Recognition Menu
The IEEE Kershner winner is recognized with:
- An engraved crystal obelisk award trophy.
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A full complimentary PLANS conference registration.
The IEEE award is recognized on the PLANS conference website and is published in the AESS Magazine in conjunction with a summary report on the PLANS conference.
In 1986, the IEEE PLANS Executive Committee established an award for outstanding achievement. The purpose was to recognize individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the technology of navigation and position equipment, systems or practices. The committee has established this as a PLANS tradition, thus permitting the IEEE to recognize those who have contributed most significantly to this modern era of electronic navigation.
It is appropriate that the award has been named for Dr. Richard B. Kershner (1913-1982). Dr. Kershner participated in the initial conception and then led the development of Transit, the world's first navigation satellite system. His technical contributions and his leadership of the Program at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory are examples of the highest standards of personal and professional performance which this award is intended to recognize. The Transit Program was first funded in 1959, and the system become operational in 1964. During this short interval Dr. Kershner directed the development and launch of some of the world's first satellites, developed user equipment for both submarines and surface ships, and founded the science of satellite Doppler geodesy to improve knowledge of the earth's gravity field. The result was a navigation satellite system which served the U.S. Navy and tens of thousands of civil users worldwide.
Individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the technology of navigation and position equipment, systems or practices.
Please submit nominations for this prestigious award to (Click to show email) by the deadline. Include all the following information in the nomination email:
- The name and contact information of the nominee
- Your name and contact information
- A paragraph explaining why the individual should be considered for this award
- A proposed citation (25 words or less)
- Any other relevant information.
2025
For his pioneering contributions to the theory and practice of positioning, navigation, and timing with terrestrial and non-terrestrial signals of opportunity.
2023
For her numerous outstanding and sustained contributions to advancing research in applications of GNSS and multi‐sensor integrated systems for assured navigation that contributed to the advancement of GNSS algorithms and creation of its new applications.
2020
For her contributions to the advancement of navigation receiver technology including event-driven multi-GNSS data collection systems, robust tracking under scintillation, reduction of errors due to oscillator frequency offsets, multipath, and interference; and as an educator whose passion for teaching and mentoring has benefited students throughout the world.
2018
For his continued contributions in the field of radio-navigation, from Loran-C through GNSS, including its many augmentations, as well as for the guidance of students.
2016
For his contributions to the field of electronic navigation and development of advanced navigation technologies including the path planning and control for the re-entry and landing of the NASA Space Shuttle, missiles, projectiles, and commercial aircraft; as an educator and mentor who trained and inspired many navigation engineers; and as an active participant in industry-related education and outreach.
2014
For successfully fielding four generations of navigation systems and his pioneering work in the development of nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscopes; including the development of the ring laser gyro and the zero-lock gyro, the development of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometers used in inertial measurement units, and precision gyros that enhances navigation performance in GPS-challenged environments.
2012
For his pioneering work in the integration of GPS receivers with inertial navigation systems and the development and perfection of carrier-phase GPS interferometry for the high precision measurement of fixed and moving baselines.
2010
For his work on inertial and multi-sensor navigation and referencing systems.
