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Pioneer Awards

The IFT Pioneer Award

Pioneer Award Winners are at the forefront of the telemetry field. They have demonstrated continual leadership and innovation in moving our highly technical field forward at high speed. Recipients have advanced the state of telemetry and its constituent areas ahead of all others. The International Foundation for Telemetering takes great pride in our technical and organizational leaders and with great respect and awe thanks these Pioneer Award Winners.

Nomination Guidelines

Nomination Guidelines

The ITC Pioneer Award recognizes individuals whose contributions to the field of telemetry represent either a single, outstanding achievement or a lifetime of significant accomplishments.

Nominees should exemplify one or more of the following:

  • Be recognized nationally and/or internationally as a leader or technical expert in telemetry and its applications.

  • Have made significant contributions to the research, development, testing, and/or fielding of new telemetry systems or subsystems.

  • Have uniquely contributed to major products, programs, or outcomes that enhance telemetry utilization, efficiency, or quality.

  • Have significantly advanced the education and training of professionals or students in the field of telemetry.

  • Have played a key role in the standardization of telemetry systems and subsystems, including the development of associated test methods.

  • Have led or contributed to the development of successful telemetry products or services that provide meaningful benefit to users, customers, or vendors.

  • Have applied telemetry engineering principles to solve complex, high-impact technical challenges.

  • Have demonstrably advanced the state of the art and/or practice of telemetry systems.

  • Be widely regarded as a deserving recipient based on sustained, distinguished contributions to the telemetry community.

The process for nominating a person for the IFT Pioneer Award is as follows:

  • Nominations are accepted from the general public.
  • The Nomination package will consist of a Nomination Justification Letter (1 -2 pages) signed by the person nominating the nominee and any other endorsement or attachments up to 10 pages.
  • The Nomination packages are due to the IFT Awards Chair (staff@telemetry.org) by 15 March annually.
  • The IFT Board will review the nominations at the Spring IFT Board Meeting and select based on the packages submitted.
  • One Award is offered per year. Nominations not selected can be re-submitted the following year.
  • The Award will consist of a Plaque and certificate and be presented by the Conference General Chair at the ITC General Session.

IFT Pioneer Award Winners:

1984 Dr. William Pickering (1st Award Recipient)
1985 Dr. Larry Rauch1986 Dr. Myron Nichols
1987 Dr. Eberhardt Rechtin
1988 No Award
1989 Dr. James Fletcher
1990 Dr. Bernard Oliver, Dr. John R. Pierce, Dr. Claude Shannon
1991 No Award
1992 Mr. Hugh Pruss
1993 Mr. Eugene Law
1994 No Award
1995 Mr. Stan Reynolds
1996 Mr. Harold Jeske
1997 Mr. Bill Rymer
1998 Mr. Benson Weinberg
1999 Mr. Walter Lipe2000 Mr. Norman Lantz
2001 No Award
2002 Mr. Jud Strock
2003 Mr. Melvin Levine
2004 No Award
2005 Arthur Sullivan
2006 Dr. Jim Means
2007 No Award
2008 No Award
2009 Dr. Gerhard Mayer
2010 Mr. Chuck Buchheit
2011 Lee H. Eccles
2012 No Award
2013 No Award
2014 Vic Hammond (AWARD)
2015 Mr. Bob Jefferis
2016 No Award
2017 Dr. Steven Horan
2018 Terry Hill
2019 Michael Rice
2020 No Award ( no conference)
2021 No Award
2022 Kurt Kosbar
2023 No Award
2024 Michael Marcellin
2025 Kip Temple