Story Behind the Success: 2025 Fred Nathanson Memorial Award Winner

I am incredibly honored to be recipient of the 2025 Fred Nathanson Memorial Award. I would like to thank IEEE AESS and the Radar Systems Panel Awards Committee for selecting me as the recipient of this award. There have been so many accomplished researchers that have received this award, and I am truly humbled to be added to that group. I was happy to receive the award at the IEEE International Radar Conference in Atlanta in 2025. The IEEE Radar Conference and the International Radar Conferences series have been technical homes for my research since I was a graduate student, so it was meaningful to me to receive the award in front of so many friends and colleagues that I have made over the years.

I have been incredibly lucky in my career to be surrounded with such wonderful and supportive people who have shaped me as a person and researcher. First, I would like to thank my family who encouraged me throughout my studies and supported my decision to pursue a PhD. I had to move away from home for a few years, but I’m happy to be back closer to family. Next, I’d like to thank all my graduate school colleagues that made research fun and exciting, even when we were all stressed because of paper deadlines or exams. That time really shaped my perspective on what research can and should be, and I’m happy we are all still friends today. After graduate school, I learned from so many brilliant people at the Air Force Research Lab in Ohio. The challenges that community faces have given me a deeper appreciation for the importance of this field. At my current role as a Professor at the University of Kansas, I have had the opportunity to reconnect with mentors and colleagues that have greatly impacted my career, and to advise students that consistently offer fresh perspectives on problems and solutions, reminding me why I am passionate about this work. is Most of all, I would like to thank my wife, Sarah, who has been my rock for 15 years. 

It is nice to reflect on my career and how I got to where I am today. I have a fortunate path filled with many great people… a fact that is not lost on me. I look forward to many more years of discussions, insights, critiques, debates, and collaborations. Thank you.