Award/Recognition Menu

Description

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.

Prize

$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.

Funding

Funded by the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society

Presentation

At a convenient IEEE AESS conference

Eligibility

The candidate does not have to be an IEEE AESS member, but given everything else being equal, a member will be given preferential consideration.

Nomination Deadline
1 December
Nomination Deadline Extension
Friday, 31 January, 2025
Nomination Form
Application Details

For questions, please contact the VP Awards.

2023

Dr. Joachim Ender
DEU
Fraunhofer FHR
Region 8 (Africa, Europe, Middle East)
Email

For seminal pioneering contributions to multichannel Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

2022

Henk Blom
NLD

Henk Blom

Delft University of Technology
Region 8 (Africa, Europe, Middle East)

For development of the Interacting Multiple Model (IMM) approach to multi-model estimation and maneuvering target tracking.

2021

Pramod K Varshney
USA
Syracuse University
Region 1 (Northeastern U.S.)
Email

For contributions to signal processing and information fusion enabling advanced aerospace and electronic systems

2020

Alfonso Farina
ITA
Retired
Region 8 (Africa, Europe, Middle East)
Email

For pioneering contributions to the analysis, design, development, and experimentation of digital-based adaptive radar systems.

2019

Azad M. Madni
USA
University of Southern California
Region 6 (Western U.S.)

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)

USA
Capraro Technologies, Inc.
Region 1 (Northeastern U.S.)
Email

Modeling, Simulation Analysis, Design of a Real-Time Expert System Constant False and Alarm Rate (CFAR)

2016

Michael C. Wicks
USA
University of Dayton
Region 1 (Northeastern U.S.)
Email

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

Asad M. Madni
USA
UCLA
Region 6 (Western U.S.)

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

Daniel A. Tazartes
USA
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Region 6 (Western U.S.)
Email

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 The radio range (circa 1907)

For Hyperbolic radio navigation

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 Aircraft approach and landing electronics

For Visual “L–R” radio compass

1959

For Aircraft automatic radio direction finding

For Aircraft automatic radio direction finding

1958

For Arctic, Antarctic and transatlantic flight radio communication

For Four-course radio range beacon

For Four-course radio range beacon

1957

For Directional properties of radio transmission and reception (circa 1905)

For Direction finding, altimetry, ignition shielding, and radar

1956

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

For Marine radio direction finding; radio compass

For Two-way voice radio for aircraft

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