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Home2023 Award and Fellow Recipients

The Radio Club of America (RCA) proudly announces its 2023 annual award recipients and its incoming class of 2023 Fellows.  Since 1935, RCA has recognized through its awards program major contributors to wireless communications. This year, thirteen awards are being bestowed, and eight RCA members are being elevated to Fellow status.

AWARD RECIPIENTS
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Ajay Poddar, Armstrong Medal

RCA’s first award was presented to Major Edward H. Armstrong for his invention of circuits that made AM and FM radio possible, and for Major Armstrong’s lifetime of championing the work that established the foundation for modern radio technology. The award, now known as the Armstrong Medal, is only bestowed when an individual has demonstrated excellence and made lasting contributions to the arts and sciences of radio.


Ajay K. Poddar received the degree from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India, the Dr.-Ing. degree from Technical University Berlin, Germany, and the Dr.-Ing.habil. degree from Brandenburg Technical University, Cottbus, Germany. From 1991 to 2001, he was a Senior Scientist, responsible for many scientific research projects, including RADAR, guidance systems, and sensors for mine detection and underwater communication. He is currently a Chief Scientist with Synergy Microwave; a Full Professor with Oradea University, Romania; a Guest Lecturer with Technical University Berlin; and an Academic Advisory Board Member of the Don Bosco Institute of Engineering, Mumbai, India.

He has published over 350 scientific papers in journals and international conferences and has authored/co-authored six technical books.
For the past 30 years, he has been serving on several scientific committees, professional societies, and voluntary organizations. He holds more than forty patents. He has received over two dozen awards for technological innovations and meritorious services.

Eugene Tan

Eugene Tan, Jerry B. Minter Award

This award, established in 1996, recognizes innovative work in instrumentation, avionics, and electronics.

Eugene Tan, PhDreceived his bachelor’s in engineering summa cum laude, master’s in engineering, and PhD in Engineering from McMaster University. He has extensive experience in bringing research programs to commercialization. Eugene joined ANDE (then known as NetBio) in 2002 and has held a series of senior management positions. He currently serves as Chief Product Development Officer. Dr. Tan is responsible for the design, build, testing, and optimization of both the Rapid DNA consumable chips and the fully automated Rapid DNA instrument. He designed the instrument’s optical, mechanical, and electrical subsystems, creating the first ever field-forward Rapid DNA analysis instrument.

 

Dr. Tan led the worldwide effort to obtain regulatory approval for the forensic human identification Rapid DNA product line, based on a 27plex end-point PCR amplification (the FlexPlex Assay) followed by electrophoretic detection and laser-based fluorescence detection. The system was approved for law enforcement use by the FBI in 2018 based on evaluation of over five thousand study subjects. In 2017, the US Senate and House unanimously passed the Rapid DNA Act, allowing the FBI-approved Rapid DNA System to be utilized to test arrestees in police stations across the US. The system was also approved by the DoD and many international agencies. The forensic system is used outside the laboratory by non-technical users and has had many high-profile successes.

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Lynn Bisha, Ralph Batcher Memorial Award

Established in 1976, this award is presented to an RCA member for their significant work in preserving the history of radio and electronic communications.

 

A longtime association member and Museum Staff member of the Antique Wireless Association, Lynn has served and is serving in leadership positions including as an AWA Board Trustee, Associate Curator and the fourth Curator in AWA’s 71 years.

 

As AWA Curator, Lynn is responsible for the AWA Museum collection growth and enhancement activities as well as the design, development, and operation of the Museum exhibits. Under Lynn’s technical and management guidance, the world-renowned AWA Museum collection continues to grow and be enhanced. Lynn is responsible for artifact decisions on collection acquisitions and dispositions as well as how they are displayed. The AWA collection has at least quadrupled during his Curator tenure. He is fully committed to great stewardship of the history contained in the AWA collection and is a key contributor to AWA’s success in the preserving and sharing of the history of radio and electronic communications. This includes the 100+ years of Radio Club’s history and archives.

 

Lynn also serves as one of the five officers of the AWA corporation. He is an AWA Fellow, the recipient of the AWA’s Director’s Award in 2016, and recipient of AWA’s Lauren Peckham Award in 2021. He is a member and Fellow of the Radio Club of America, a member of the Rochester Amateur Radio Association, and a member of the Board of the Rochester DX Association.

Stephen Nichols

Stephen A. Nichols, Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Citation

Established in 1975, this award recognizes long-time RCA members who have either made noteworthy contributions to the success of RCA or to the radio industry. Originally known as the Pioneer Citation, this award was later named in honor of Edgar F. Johnson, the founder of radio manufacturer E.F. Johnson.

Stephen (Steve) Nichols is the Executive Director of the Project 25 Technology Interest Group (PTIG). He has led the organization for the last 9 years. PTIG is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and application of the Project 25 (P25) digital radio Standard for Land Mobile Radio technology. PTIG’s members include radio users, manufacturers, and consultants involved with the development and operation of P25 Public Safety, Government and Critical Infrastructure radio systems.

 

In December of 2013 he retired from Thales Defense and Security, Inc. Mr. Nichols had been with Thales for 16 years leading business development activities for the company’s Project 25 radio product lines, including the industry’s first multi-band multi-mode land mobile radio. He has more than 30 years of experience in the land mobile and public safety radio industries in various product development, marketing, and business development positions. Mr. Nichols previously worked for Thales’ predecessor organizations, Racal, EF Johnson, Bendix King, Uniden, RELM, and Hy-Gain Electronics.

 

Mr. Nichols is a member of APCO, ACP, IAFC, The Radio Club of America, and previously served as a member of the APCO Commercial Advisory Board, a contributor to NPSTC, and has represented numerous manufacturers at the TIA TR-8 standards meetings as well as Project 25 technology panels.

Ted Henry

Ted Henry, Alfred H. Grebe Award

Established in 1994, the Alfred H. Grebe Award recognizes significant achievements of excellence in the engineering and manufacturing of radio equipment.

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Alan Tilles, RCA Special Recognition Award

Initiated in 2000, this award is given in recognition of dedicated service to the Radio Club of America.

Mr. Tilles has been a leader in the land mobile radio industry for decades. Those leadership initiatives include authoring rules for land mobile radio frequency coordination and narrowbanding; representing hundreds of public safety entities in 800 MHz rebanding; working with the Telecommunications Industry Association on its Smart Building Initiative, authoring rules defining interference; writing and evaluating Requests for Proposal to implement public safety radio systems; and helping railroads acquire spectrum for Positive Train Control.

 

Mr. Tilles served as counsel to the National Association of Business and Educational Radio (NABER), and its successor organizations (PCIA and WIA) beginning in 1986, served as co-counsel for THE Radio Club of America from 2010-2015, and was a member of the Board of Trustees of Capitol Technology University from 2010-2021.

 

Mr. Tilles continues to serve the industry today. He is defining technology as a co-founder of, and Counsel to, the Government Wireless Technology & Communications Association (GWTCA).

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Ray Novak, RCA Special Service Award

The Special Services Award was established in 1975 to recognize those RCA members who have performed significant work to advance the goals and objectives of the Radio Club of America.

Throughout Ray Novak’s nearly three-decade career in the communications equipment industry he has been an innovator, leader, and tireless champion of bringing more youth into amateur radio. During his career he has learned from some of the best in the industry and is now continuing that tradition by mentoring new leaders as well as welcoming more youth through several initiatives.

 

Ray began his career in 1988 at MFJ Enterprises as an electronics technician after graduating from Northeast Mississippi Community College. From there he moved into international sales, later adding domestic sales to his role as sales manager. He credits Martin Jue, founder of MFJ, as an early career mentor and coach.

Ray joined Icom America in 1994, starting in technical support, moving to district sales manager in 1995, national sales manager in 1999, division manager in 2002 responsible for all amateur radio and receiver sales, and in 2014 he became responsible for land mobile radio, serving as Senior Sales Manager.

 

He credits his advancement to his colleagues Hiro Nakaoka, president; Bob Carey, retired vice president; and Chris Lougee, vice president. More recently that has included Nick Pennance, vice president, who is a supporter of youth activities at Icom. Ray has also learned from Gordon West and Carole Perry.

 

Through his and Icom America’s support of countless hamfests, Contest University, Ham Nation, AmateurLogic.tv, along with an innovative multi-faceted sponsorship agreement with the Boy Scouts of America, to name just a few, he has served to significantly advance amateur radio across the country and around the world.

 

Ray is a Fellow of The Radio Club of America, ARRL Lifetime Member, DXpeditioner to Mozambique and Bhutan, continuous supporter of engaging youth in amateur radio. He writes about amateur radio and land mobile topics on the Icom America blog at http://blog.icomamerica.com.

Chuck Soulliard

Charles J. Soulliard, Lee de Forest Award

The Lee de Forest Award, originated in 1983, is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to the advancement of radio communications.

Chuck started Midian Technologies in 1975. The first products were tone signaling modules for land mobile radio, and later covered DTMF, pulse tone, two-tone, and five-tone encoders, and decoders. Midian was the first to design these products, and these modules were adopted by many two radio manufacturers to install in their radios. Midian was the first to design and manufacture after-market 2805/1500 Hz and 600/1500 Hz MTS pulse tone decoders, and also the well-known SECODE SMART/IMTS/DTMF radio-telephone encoders-decoders with ANI.


In 1981, Midian entered the voice security market by introducing the world’s first voice scrambler small enough to fit inside a portable two-way radio. He also made telemetry and GPS modules and tracking systems for LMR and HAM accessory company Pryme with a proprietary version of APRS.

 

Mr. Souliard is a multiple patent holder. Now retired, he is a long-standing member and Fellow of The Radio Club of America with call sign K7JTJ. 

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Steve Floyd, Sarnoff Citation

The Sarnoff Citation, established in 1973 and named after Radio Corporation of America’s David Sarnoff, recognizes exceptional contributions of a technical or non-technical nature to the advancement of electronic communications.

Steve Floyd became a licensed Amateur Radio operator at 12 years old and is active as W4YHD. He is a BSEE graduate of Virginia Tech, a former student DJ and Chief Engineer at WUVT-FM in Blacksburg, Virginia. He obtained his MSEE (with emphasis on RF and Microwave Engineering and Radar Systems Engineering) from Johns Hopkins University in 1991.

 

Steve began his professional career designing high power RF communications and Radar systems at E-Systems Inc., then became Chief RF Systems Design Engineer for HAARP (High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program), working at APTI/BAE Systems. As Chief Engineer for the HAARP facility, he was responsible for all hardware systems designs, equipment installation, and site operations until 2014, when he became a part time consultant to the program.

 

Steve’s current responsibilities are primarily involved in the design of high power SDR based Radar systems, including EW and Communications systems, at Ultra Electronics. He is also active in the broadcast industry. He is a member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers, DC Chapter 37, and has a lifelong love of radio broadcasting and amateur radio.

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Tim Duffy and DX Engineering, RCA Business Award

This award recognizes an entrepreneurial business that produces a product for the wireless industry or provides a service to the wireless industry. It is awarded in 2023 in recognition of many contributions made to both the Radio Club of America and the wireless industry.

Tim Duffy, K3LR, is the Chief Executive Officer of DX Engineering. Licensed in 1972, he is very active on the HF bands and enjoys hosting multi-DX radio contest events.

 

Tim graduated from Pennsylvania State University. In 1999, he moved to Oklahoma where he was the Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President at Dobson Communications Corporation (Cellular One). In 2007, Dobson merged with AT&T, and he then served as AT&T’s Executive Director in the Network Planning and Engineering Group. In 2009, he left AT&T to join Stelera Wireless as its Chief Technology Officer, where he was responsible for the company’s technology direction, subscriber product development, engineering related operations and network build out. Tim is presently the Chief Executive Officer of DX Engineering.

 

Tim is president of his local ham club, the Mercer County Amateur Radio Club, for over 20 years. He is active in RACES, ACES, and ARES. Tim is a member of the CQ Contest Hall of Fame and was on Team USA for the World Radio Team Championship (WRTC) five times. He is the founder and chairman of Contest University (CTU). He is chairman of the Worldwide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF).

 

Tim received the 2015 Amateur of the Year Award presented by the Dayton Hamvention® Awards Committee and the 2016 YASME Excellence Award. He has been an active contest operator for 49 years and has hosted over 145 different operators as part of the K3LR multi operator DX contest efforts since 1992, which have made over 800,000 QSOs.

 

Tim served on the ARRL Contest Advisory Committee as a member and multi-year Chairman. He has been an active member of the CQ Contest Committee for 31 years and was the Atlantic Division Technical Achievement award winner in 1998. He was moderator of the Dayton Contest Forum for 10 years and has been moderator of the Hamvention Antenna forum for 38 years. He is a founding member and Vice President of the North Coast Contesters. He serves as founder and chairman of Contest University (15 years) and the Dayton Contest Dinner (28 years), chairman of the Top Band Dinner (9 years) – as well as coordinator of the Contest Super Suite (35 years) in Dayton. He is the founder and moderator of the popular RFI Reflector. He has been a guest on Ham Nation many times. Tim was a member of Team USA at WRTC – five times.


Tim received the Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio Service Award from the Radio Club of America (RCA) in 2010, and he was President of RCA from 2016 to 2018. He was elected to the CQ Contest Hall of Fame in 2006. He served as ARRL Section Manager for Western Pennsylvania 2015/2016 and currently serves as a director on the ARRL Foundation board.

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Todd Schlekeway, Jay Kitchen Leadership Award

Established in 2019, this award recognizes an individual who embodies the following characteristics: energetic advocacy, cooperation, avid interest and respect for all, and humor, and for someone who has achieved a high level of success leading a wireless association, government agency, or commercial enterprise.

Todd Schlekeway is well known for his volunteering and mentorship. Todd became the Executive Director of the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) in June 2012. He currently serves as President and CEO, providing overall leadership and vision working in concert with the Association’s staff, Board of Directors Volunteer Standing Committees, Wireless Industry Network, and approximately 820 member companies. Todd is a speaker and promoter of new ideas and concepts, where one of his noted subjects and presentations addresses issues regarding why the demand for wireless is outpacing the industry’s labor resources. He opens the thought process on how to effectively recruit, train and retain talent and concepts as to working with both institutions and the federal government to solve this issue.


Todd is a sought-after speaker on the future of employment within wireless and the need to find technicians to build wireless infrastructure.

 

Todd was the founder and principal of a public affairs and communications firm called Full Court Strategies Group LLC, where he has extensive experience in the areas of government relations, media relations, client relations, issue advocacy, event management, strategic planning and budgeting. Todd worked on the U.S. Presidential Inaugural Committee in 2004-2005 and on several high-profile U.S. Senate campaigns in South Dakota. Todd has also served two terms in South Dakota’s state legislature, where he represented a Sioux Falls legislative district in both the State House and the State Senate.


Todd received his undergraduate college degrees from the University of Sioux Falls (USF) with a BA in History/Political Science and a BS in Exercise Science. He also earned a master’s in education (M.Ed.) from USF. Todd participated in collegiate athletics as a member of the University of Sioux Falls basketball team during his tenure.

Karen Clark

Karen Clark, RCA President’s Award

This award was established in 1974 to honor individuals who, in the opinion of the President, have demonstrated unselfish dedication to the work of the Radio Club of America.

Karen Clark has been a member of the Radio Club of America since 1999, Fellow since 2004, RCA Executive Secretary 2007-2013, and an RCA Director in 2003-2007, 2013-2019, and 2023-present.

 

Karen has served on a range of RCA committees, including the Website, Banquet, Publications, Regional, Good & Welfare, and Sponsorship.

 

Karen has worked in the wireless industry for over 24 years, specializing in publishing. She has worked with Biby Publishing on AGL Magazine and PRIMEDIA Business Media on Mobile Radio Technology, Cellular Business, RF Design, and more.

 

Karen is currently Project Manager with Telogistix and Vice President of Colorado Wireless Association and Sponsorship Chair for the past 6 years. She received the Radio Club of America Special Services Award in 2002, Special Recognition Award in 2013, Premier “Above & Beyond” Award in July 2001, and Outstanding Support Award in August 1998. She is also the Secretary/Treasurer for the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association for the past 10 years.

Ruth Willet

Ruth Willet, Carole Perry Young Professional Award

A new award in 2023, the Carole Perry Young Professional Award was established to honor a Young Professional who was part of the RCA Youth Activities Program in their formative years and who has gone on to a career in wireless science.

 

Ruth Willet is a second-year graduate student in Acoustics at Pennsylvania State University, where she is working as a research assistant in Acoustic Prognostic Health Management. In May 2023, she presented her research at the 184th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America. Ruth graduated summa cum laude from Kettering University in 2021 with a double major in Engineering Physics and Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Acoustics. Throughout her undergraduate education and prior to starting graduate school, she worked at Textron Specialized Vehicles in Augusta, Georgia.

 

Ruth, KM4LAO, is also an accomplished Amateur radio operator. After becoming licensed in 2015 due to an interest in Morse code, she earned her Amateur Extra class license within a year. In 2018, she was awarded The Radio Club of America’s Young Achiever Award, which was presented at the International Wireless Communications Expo, and the ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award. She restarted the Kettering University Amateur Radio Club and served as its president for several years. She is now in her second year as event planner for the Penn State Amateur Radio Club. She is also the assistant camp director for Youth on The Air (YOTA).

 

Ruth is well-known for her enthusiastic approach to life and ham radio, and has been featured on the ICQ Podcast, multiple international magazine articles, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) pre-contact video, several YOTA workshops, multiple satellite communications workshops, and many video and podcast interviews.

 

 

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D. Terry Hall, NPSTC’s Richard DeMello Award

D. Terry Hall, Director

Emergency Communications York-Poquoson-Williamsburg

County of York, Virginia

 

Terry Hall has served over thirty years in public safety in many capacities. Prior to assuming his current position as Director of Emergency Communications for the York-Poquoson-Williamsburg Emergency Communications Center.  Terry Hall remains a sheriff’s deputy after actively serving seven years with the York County Sheriff’s Office. Director Hall has been recognized as a leader across the United States and is often called upon as a Subject Matter Expert pertaining to issues concerning public safety, emergency communications and emerging technologies. 

 

Through Director Hall’s leadership and vision, he was able to oversee the building and design of a state of the art 9-1-1 facility and also the consolidations with the Cities of Poquoson and Williamsburg 9-1-1 Centers. Terry Hall is the Systems Manager for a regional state-of-the art P25 radio system that encompasses six localities, 25 sites and over 6,000 subscribers that cover approximately 1,000 square miles. York County was the first 9-1-1 Center in the Country to develop and deploy wireless location technology and provided the model for systems that are now being implemented and used throughout the United States. Additionally, York County became the first in the world to develop and deploy Text to 9-1-1.  He chaired the Regional Advisory Council in Virginia and began the migration to full Next Generation 9-1-1 deployment. He served as Chair of Virginia Statewide Interoperable Executive Committee that recommended to the Governor to opt into FirstNet.  Also past Chair of SAFECOM and currently represents the National Association of Counties. 

 

Terry served as President of the Association of Public-Safety Officials International.  As President of APCO International, Terry represented more than 20,000 members worldwide, chaired the APCO International Global Alliance, represented public safety worldwide, testified before Congress and served on the University of Melbourne Disaster Strategic Board.  He chaired the Regional Advisory Council in Virginia and began the migration to full Next Generation 9-1-1 deployment. Past Chair of SAFECOM representing all Public Safety and Public Service and was enacted by Congress after the events of September 11, 2001.


FELLOWS
Angela Batey
Angela R. Batey

Angela is certified by the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council as a Senior Instructor and has worked in public safety for more than thirty-five years, working her way up from front-line Telecommunicator, serving as a Communications Training Officer and Shift Supervisor before becoming a part of the management team. She spent eleven years as a Training Coordinator and Professional Standards Manager at an Atlanta area 911 center before accepting a position as the coordinator of the communications training program for the Georgia Public Safety Training Center.

A proud graduate of the inaugural Certified Public-Safety Executive program, Angela credits the program with preparing her for her current role as the President of APCO International. Before being elected to the Executive Committee, Angela represented the Gulf Coast on the APCO Board of Directors. She is the past chair of APCO’s Group Leaders (liaisons between APCO committees and the Board of Directors), and the Communications Center Standards and Conference and Exposition Advisory Committees.

Currently working as the Director of the Office of Professional Standards at GPSTC, Angela is responsible for policy development and implementation, internal investigations, administrative reviews, and special projects. Angela has a Master’s degree in Post-Secondary Education with a concentration in Adult Education from Troy University and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from St. Leo University. She also holds a certificate of Paralegal Studies and an Associate’s degree in Psychology from Clayton State University. She is also an APCO International Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL).

In her spare time, Angela cherishes time with her family, especially her grandchildren, Emmett and Eleanor. She loves college sports, and is always up for a laugh with good friends.
Jon Paul Beauchamp
Jon Paul Beauchamp

Jon Paul Beauchamp is a lifelong end user of two-way radio communications. While in high school, and while at West Chester University, he volunteered with two ambulance companies, became a firefighter, earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice (with dual minors in Political Science and Social Work), all while serving a local agency as a police dispatcher. After College, Beauchamp spent 20 years working as a private investigator, providing support for several national and international contracts. Upon retiring in 2011, he partnered in a two-way radio dealership.

In 2017 Beauchamp joined Icom America and has been making airwaves ever since. Supporting teams of internal and external sales leaders has been a source of great pride. Additional roles within the industry include RCA (board member), Enterprise Wireless Alliance (board member), National Wireless Communication Council, Communications Marketing Association, APCO International and several other organizations. Beauchamp considers himself fortunate to have these organizations as part of his life, where his current role as leader of the ICOM America Business Development team provides opportunity for his personal interests and professional world to collide in the best possible way.

Jeff Bratcher
Jeff Bratcher

Mr. Jeffrey Bratcher is the Chief Network and Technology Officer of the FirstNet Authority. Mr. Bratcher is a key leader involved with the shaping of the technology for the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). He led the formation of the FirstNet Authority technology teams as well as the state-of-the-art Innovation and Technology lab located at the FirstNet Authority office in Boulder, Colorado. Building upon his success as the Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Bratcher was also appointed to lead the network team overseeing the implementation of the nationwide FirstNet broadband network built with AT&T.


Mr. Bratcher began his federal service in 2003 with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) also located in Boulder, Colorado. Prior to joining federal service, he worked for ten years within the wireless private sector deploying several of the first digital cellular systems in U.S. and international markets.


Mr. Bratcher received his BS in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University and his MS in Telecommunications from Southern Methodist University.

Cheryl Giggetts
Cheryl Giggets

Cheryl brings a wealth of experience gained over more than three decades in the Wireless Telecommunications Industry, specializing in Public Safety Communications consulting for local, state, and federal government agencies. Cheryl held positions of leadership in large Architectural and Engineering firms, throughout her career, resulting in her role as a Senior Vice President in a Fortune 500 firm. In 2017 she founded CTA Consultants, LLC, and currently serves as Principal Consultant on city/county systems, multi-jurisdiction regional systems, and statewide systems across the United States.

Cheryl has great experience with Project 25 and the procurement, development, and ongoing maintenance and support needed for the successful application of P25 Technology. Her objectivity and experience as a leading P25 consultant have resulted in numerous successful P25 System designs and deployments including the US Department of Justice Integrated Wireless Network (IWN), Commonwealth of Virginia Statewide Agencies Radio System (STARS), Oregon Wireless Interoperability Network (OWIN), Florida Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS), and the Pima County Wireless Integrated Network (PCWIN).

Ms. Giggetts experience also includes Cost Management and Analysis, which involves the development of complex project life cycle and sustainability models, project benefit/cost analysis and contract negotiations. An integral part of this cost management is the development of strategic plans, gap analysis, risk analysis, and risk mitigation strategies, which critically support a successful project/program business strategy.

Cheryl believes the foundation of every successful public safety communications project is building relationships between all stakeholders: first responders, government officials, elected officials, and the vendors. This foundation will promote collaboration between components and bureaus within the federal government, secretariats and agencies in a state government, localities within a multi-jurisdiction system, and agencies within a local jurisdiction.

Cheryl has demonstrated her commitment to giving back to her community by serving on public safety, technology, workforce development, and STEM education non-profit Boards of Directors. She has also demonstrated her commitment to giving back to her profession by serving on the Project 25 Technology Interest Group (PTIG) Board of Directors and participating in multiple developmental working committees and panels for APCO International, NENA International, iCERT, and NIST. She has recently been awarded the status of Fellow of The Radio Club of America, an organization promoting cooperation of those interested in scientific investigation in the art of Radio Communications since 1909.
Tom Loughney
Walter "Tom" Loughney, Jr.

Tom Loughney has a BS in Broadcasting from the University of Florida and resides in West Palm Beach, Florida with his companion Genie. He got started in amateur radio in 1955 with a Hallicrafters S-38B given to him by his uncle who was a Ham. He began as a SWL, but soon knew he wanted to be a Ham and received his Novice license in mid-1956. His family moved from the Buffalo, NY area to a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA and he finished 8th grade there. Then they bought a house trailer and travelled down the East coast on the US for about 6 months. After spending most of that time in different parts of Florida, they settled in Miami. By the time he graduated high school, he had met local Hams and worked after school and weekends at commercial radio stations. This led to his majoring in Broadcasting at the University of Florida, which included Engineering, Production and Journalism. He is a currently active member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers. Elmers were his uncle Jimmy, call long forgotten, and Jerry Wichner, K4ALW SK, whom he worked with at Miami and Hollywood radio stations.

Some of the companies he worked for over the past years have been WCKT-TV (Now WSVN - Miami) and KOB-TV (Albuquerque), LYNX Business Computer Systems, Inc, Allen Test products, Bear Automotive, Sun Electric, FirstCall Communications, American Telnet, RX Data Systems, Inc., and most recently the US Department of Commerce. He also worked in the automotive service field for several years and was an ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician, Paint & Body Technician, and Heavy Duty Truck Technician. He taught Engine Diagnosis, Brake, Alignment and Suspension Systems classes for several manufacturers and developed classroom training programs for them. He operates a technical consulting company, Advanced Radio Services, specializing in antenna design and low power communications.
Michael Pappas
Michael J. Pappas

Mike Pappas is currently the VP of Business Development and a co-owner of Orban Labs, Inc. Division of DaySequerra, one of the broadcast industry’s best-known names in audio processing.  Mike’s technical experience spans several decades, including roles in broadcast engineering, government communications, and railway communications.

Mike joined DaySequerra in 2015 as VP of Business Development and has assisted this forward-thinking and progressive company in the development of new products, new markets and new business opportunities. In 2016, DaySequerra acquired Orban Labs, Inc., one of the broadcast industry’s best-known names in audio processing.

Mike has been heavily involved in Orban Labs since the acquisition, helping to steer the development and market opportunities for a dozen new products. He has installed all of Orban’s beta sites for the new XPN-AM audio processor and has developed specialized field-testing methodology for MDCL operations at different AMC levels. Mike is proud to be part of this revitalization of Orban as it again leads the way in audio processing for radio, TV and Internet streaming.

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Chester "Barney" Scholl

Chester B. Scholl, Jr. graduated from the University of Miami BSSA and Dickinson School of Law JD, 1974. He is a partner in the law firm of Fruit, Dill, Goodwin and Scholl.

 

He held a First Class Radio Telephone license, holds an Extra class amateur radio license, and has been licensed since 1963. He is a life member of ARRL, helps other amateurs with zoning and other related legal issues in his role as Volunteer Counsel through the ARRL as well as clients in his legal practice, and is a Volunteer Examiner for amateur radio testing. He teaches Amateur Radio and law classes and has presented at and moderated the Legal Forum at the Xenia Ohio Hamvention.

 

He helped his local Emergency Services Council plan for a county radio system. He has been solicitor, board member and officer for a number of charitable organizations. He has represented a local cellular carrier in land acquisition and general matters and landowners in tower transactions and leases. He is a member of the City of Hermitage Planning Commission and has been solicitor for Township and Zoning Hearing Boards. He is a Trustee and past president of Mercer County Bar Association. He has been admitted to practice before Pennsylvania courts and the U. S. Supreme Court and Federal District Courts. His private practice includes elder law, real estate, zoning and bankruptcy.


He has been involved in wireless most of his life and had heard of the Radio Club of America for years. When the opportunity arose to get involved by being asked by the then current president, he felt that he could add expertise based on his legal profession, knowledge of wireless and experience with charitable organizations. Since being a member he has received the President’s award and has become a Life Member.

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Phillip Kirmuss

Mr. Philip C. Kirmuss is the Chief Technology Officer for Dark Wolf Ventures, a cutting-edge communications solutions company based in Colorado. In this role, Phil leads the Innovation and Engineering efforts for the company and has been responsible for developing a number of new products and custom solutions for military, national security, and public safety agencies. His focus has been on solutions for interoperability, range extension, and advanced functionality such as mapping and sensor control, across Land Mobile Radio (LMR), Satellite, and LTE domains. Phil’s history of innovation has led to him being awarded several patents, including his most recent patent at Dark Wolf for Multi-System Interconnectivity.

 

Phil’s career has included several communications and public safety roles. Most recently, he was the Radio Systems Manager for the City of Boulder in Colorado. There he was responsible for a wide range of public safety communications assets from the LMR Trunking System to advanced communications solutions for Police and Fire. He helped raise the standard for public safety agencies for innovative use of technology to increase agency effectiveness and safety.

Prior to Boulder, Phil held various roles at Icom America including Federal Solutions Manager and Technical Sales Manager. In these roles, he was responsible for solution development and deployment, communications systems integration, and solving complex field issues. In both his role at Icom and as a consultant he supported the Global War on Terror through several deployments into combat zones to develop and support communications capabilities for troops on the front lines, often developing first-of-their-kind solutions to communications issues and deploying country-scale communication systems.
In these roles he has designed systems and implemented solutions and products for the US ARMY, USAF, SOCOM, DOI, CECOM, USMS, USCG, NPS to name a few as well as several law enforcement and public safety radio systems throughout the US and Canada. 

The systems he has deployed and managed have covered the full spectrum of technologies from Conventional Analog, Dismounted Tactical Systems, NXDN Conventional & Trunking, P25 Conventional & Trunking and Satellite.  He has worked with products from nearly every major manufacturer including Motorola, Harris, Kenwood, Tait, Thales, EF Johnson, Icom, and Relm.