In Memoriam: Michael Braasch, AESS President-Elect and Esteemed Colleague
Dr. Michael Scott Braasch, 58, passed away on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at his home, surrounded by his wife and daughters. On August 31st, 2024, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and three weeks later, he was with the Lord.
Born September 2, 1966, in West Allis, Wisconsin, Dr. Braasch was the son of the late Milton Braasch and Doris Braasch (née Cottrell). He is survived by his wife of nearly 36 years, Soo Yin Braasch; two daughters, Marie Braasch (Chris) Chelberg of Burlingame, CA and Mindy Yong Braasch of Aliso Viejo, CA; and two sisters, Patricia Braasch of Central, NC and Cheryl Hasson (Steve) Rushton of Pendleton, NC.
Dr. Braasch was a graduate of Logan High School. He obtained his B.S. (1988), M.S. (1989), and Ph.D. (1992) in Electrical Engineering from Ohio University (OU). He joined the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) department at OU as a faculty member in 1994, eventually becoming a Thomas Professor of Engineering. He was a beloved teacher and mentor both at home and abroad; he was an Arskine Visiting Fellow at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, as well as a guest lecturer at institutions in Russia, Switzerland, France and Singapore.
During his time at OU, Dr. Braasch served for several years as Director of the Avionics Engineering Center (AEC). He was internationally recognized for his work in characterizing the effects of GPS multipath and was one of the originators of the integrated multipath-limiting antenna for GPS. He was also an expert in Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) and authored the book Fundamentals of Inertial Navigation Systems and Aiding (Radar, Sonar and Navigation). Over the years, he was highly sought by corporations including Apple and Google to act as an expert witness in these areas. In February 2024, after 30 years of service, Dr. Braasch retired from Ohio University and joined Northrop Grumman as a consulting engineer.
Dr. Braasch was elevated to Fellow of the Institute of Navigation (ION) in 2009 and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2023. He was President-Elect of IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS), after serving in numerous leadership positions in both ION and IEEE.
When he wasn’t working, Mike enjoyed singing and playing the guitar, hiking, and traveling with his family. He also loved flying, having trained as both an airplane and helicopter pilot.
Mike was a devout Christian. As a member of Athens Bible Church, he frequently gave guest sermons. He also led Bible studies for non-English-speaking Chinese women, with his wife Soo providing translation services.
A funeral service will be conducted on Tuesday, October 1st at 1:00pm at Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens, with Rev. William Hixson officiating. Burial will be in Alexander Cemetery, Hebbardsville. Visiting hours will take place on Monday, September 30th from 4-6pm (open casket) and Tuesday, October 1st from 12-1pm (closed casket) at the funeral home. Flowers are welcome. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Athens Bible Church, 42 Poston Road, The Plains, OH 45780. Feel free to share a memory, a note of condolence, or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.