Robert D. Briskman Receives 2017 IEEE/AESS Judith A. Resnik Space Award

Electrical and Computer Engineering Alumnus Robert D. Briskman, Co-Founder of Sirius XM Radio, has received the 2017 IEEE/AESS Judith A. Resnik Space Award. He was nominated for his dedication and success in the development of civilian satellite communication and broadcast systems.

Since 1965, he has been responsible for launching over 30 successful satellites, including the launch of the first commercial communications satellite called “Early Bird” (later renamed INTELSAT 1). In 1975, he designed the 6/4 GHz satellite radio communications frequency plan incorporating dual polarization which was approved by the FCC and is still used today in North America, Asia and Europe. For the past two decades, Sirius XM Radio has implemented a satellite radio broadcast system now serving over 35 million subscribers in North America, and Briskman remains an integral part of programs for future Sirius XM satellite deployments.

The Judith A. Resnik Space Award is an annual AESS award to recognize candidates that have provided outstanding contributions to space engineering in the AESS Fields of Interest; i.e. “the organization, systems engineering, design, development, integration, and operation of complex systems for space, air, ocean, or ground environments.”

Briskman’s award was presented at the Awards Luncheon at the IEEE/AIAA 2017 Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC) on Thursday, September 21 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Briskman also won the IAF Hall of Fame Award in April 2017. Read more about his award here.

Published September 26, 2017