Abstract :
The IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS) annually awards their Pioneer Award recognizing distinguished individuals who have contributed notable achievements to the technical fields of interest of the AESS. The achievement for which the award is given should have ??contributed significantly to bringing into being systems, which are still in existence today, and have occurred at least 20 years prior to the year of the award?? to ensure proper historical perspective. It is not a condition that the award winner should have been sole or original inventor or developer of any system. ??Significant contribution,?? of a specific nature, is the key criterion. Contributions by more than a single individual can be recognized by a joint award. Nationality, residence, membership in AESS, IEEE, or any other organization are not factors.