IEEE Awards Booklet - 2009 - 17

I E E E

T E C H N I C A L

F I E L D

AWA R D S

2009 IEEE
Emanuel R. Piore Award

2009 IEEE
Photonics Award
Sponsored by IEEE Photonics Society

Sponsored by IEEE Emanuel R. Piore
Award Fund

Robert L. Byer

David J. DeWitt

For seminal contributions to nonlinear optics and solidstate lasers for commercial applications from precision
measurement to manufacturing

For fundamental contributions to the architecture,
algorithms and implementation of innovative database
systems

Considered by many of his peers as a "pathfinder" in the fields of
nonlinear optics and solid-state lasers, Robert L. Byer's research
and inventions have led to widespread applications of lasers in
areas ranging from space science to electronics manufacturing.
Working with lasers at Stanford University, Stanford, California,
USA, since 1969, his lab developed the first tunable visible color
laser source, ultraviolet solid-state lasers needed for drilling very
small holes in circuit boards of electronic components, and laser
diode pumped monolithic ring Nd: YAG laser, which is known as the
nonplanar ring oscillator (NPRO). The NPRO laser is still being manufactured today, and is used for satellite-to-satellite communications,
installed in submarines for sensitive sonar applications, and in space
research. He is currently the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of
Applied Physics at Stanford University. An IEEE Fellow, he has
written more than 500 scientific papers and holds 50 patents in this
field. Dr. Byer has previously received the IEEE Quantum Electronics
Award and the Optical Society of America R.W. Wood Prize.

David J. DeWitt's widespread impact on database technology includes
developing new architectures and performance analysis metrics and
creating one of the world's leading academic research groups. Dr.
DeWitt led the evolution of database architectures by developing
many of the algorithms used in parallel database systems and by
building their prototypes. His Gamma database represented a move
toward using an array of general-purpose computers working in
parallel to process data instead of special-purpose "database
machines." Today's commercial parallel systems can be traced back to
the Gamma database. He also pioneered the idea of multimedia and
object-oriented databases that can handle digital images, audio, video
and Internet content. Dr. DeWitt developed the benchmarks that have
become the standard performance metrics for the industry. The
University of Wisconsin-Madison's database group of the Computer
Science Department was founded by Dr. DeWitt, and the group has
produced some of the top names in the field. He is currently a Technical
Fellow, Microsoft Jim Gray Systems Lab, Madison, Wisconsin.

2009 IEEE
Judith A. Resnik Award

2009 Donald O. Pederson Award in
Solid-State Circuits
Sponsored by IEEE Solid-State
Circuits Society

Sponsored by IEEE Aerospace and
Electronic Systems, IEEE Control Systems
and IEEE Engineering in Medicine and
Biology Societies

Teresa H. Meng

Sudhakar K. Rao

For pioneering contributions to the development of
integrated wireless communications systems

For innovations and contributions leading to advanced
multiple beam and reconfigurable beam payloads for
communication satellites

An engineer, scholar and entrepreneur who saw the potential for
combining digital signal processing (DSP) and radio-frequency (RF)
circuitry on a single chip, Teresa H. Meng enabled the wireless freedom
needed for universal personalized network access through wireless
communications. Dr. Meng's strategy of integrating DSP and RF in
standard CMOS technology has become the basis of today's lowercost, lower-power and higher-performing wireless systems. In 1999,
while on leave from Stanford University, Dr. Meng founded Atheros
Communications to produce high-volume, inexpensive integrated
chips for wireless local area network (WLAN) applications, enabling
WLANs to move from specialized to widespread use, such as in office
and home environments. After returning to Stanford in 2001, Dr. Meng
has focused her research efforts on bio-implant technologies, neural
prosthetics and noninvasive medical treatments using focused EM
energy. Dr. Meng is an IEEE Fellow, a member of the National Academy
of Engineering and currently the Reid Weaver Dennis Professor of
Electrical Engineering at Stanford University, Stanford, California.

A leading authority in satellite antenna modeling, multiple-beam
antennas and reconfigurable antenna payloads, Sudhakar K. Rao's
work has resulted in advanced satellite payloads featuring increased
capacity, improved performance and lower cost. While with Boeing
Satellite Systems during 1996-2003 and with Spar Aerospace Limited
in Canada during 1983-96, Dr. Rao demonstrated leadership in multiple-band and wide-band antenna systems, high-efficiency horn
antennas, advanced reflector antennas, multiple-beam reconfigurable
antennas, cross-link waveguide antennas and radiation pattern
modeling. His designs support simultaneous transmission and
reception of C-band, X-band, K-band, Ka-band and EHF-band signals
for commercial and military applications, geostationary and low- and
medium-Earth orbiting satellites, providing broadcast and fixed
satellite services. He is now developing multiband payload technology, advanced payloads and high-power satellite payload test methods
at Lockheed Martin. An IEEE Fellow, Dr. Rao is a corporate senior
fellow at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Newtown, Pa.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Awards Booklet - 2009