MITRE's Christopher J. Hegarty Named IEEE Fellow

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

BEDFORD, Mass., December 27, 2010 — Christopher J. Hegarty, Director for Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Engineering & Spectrum at MITRE, has been named a 2011 IEEE Fellow. Considered one of the technical community's most prestigious honors, the IEEE's grade of Fellow recognizes "unusual distinction and significant contributions to the advancement or application of engineering, science, and technology" with significant value to society. Hegarty was specifically recognized for "contributions to satellite navigation for civil aviation." This year's Fellows class was announced at the December 2010 meeting of the IEEE Board of Directors.

Hegarty joined the company in 1992, working for the Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD), the federally funded research and development center that MITRE operates on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). His current work focuses primarily on aviation applications of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and on issues of GPS compatibility and interoperability. He is also MITRE's focal point for spectrum management within CAASD.

"Chris sets an example of professional and technical excellence only exceeded by his mission focus," said Alfred Grasso, MITRE president and CEO. "His work on GPS and spectrum issues is widely acknowledged and referenced, and his achievements have had an impact on a global scale."

Hegarty played an instrumental role in the selection of the frequency for the GPS third civil signal, and co-led the development of the specification for this signal. He served as editor of NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation from 1997 to 2006, and as the Institute's president from 2008 to 2009. He has authored or co-authored more than 50 articles appearing in conference proceedings, magazines, and peer-reviewed journals including the Proceedings of the IEEE, NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Wireless Networks, Radio Science, GPS World, and Inside GNSS. He is also the co-editor/co-author of Understanding GPS: Principles and Applications, 2nd Edition (Artech House, 2006), which has sold over 5000 English-language copies since its release and has also been translated into Chinese.

Hegarty currently serves as the chair of RTCA, Inc.'s Program Management Committee, which functions as a Federal Advisory Committee providing oversight of nearly 20 special committees that develop recommendations on aviation communication, navigation, and surveillance systems. He also co-chairs RTCA Special Committee 159, which develops GPS avionics standards. He is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, including the MITRE President's Award, the Federal Aviation Administration Appreciation Award, the Department of State Superior Honor Award, and the Institute of Navigation's Johannes Kepler Award.

Hegarty holds a doctorate in electrical engineering, with an area of specialization in spread spectrum communications, from George Washington University. He also earned a master's degree and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

About The MITRE Corporation

The MITRE Corporation (www.mitre.org) is a not-for-profit organization that provides systems engineering, research and development, and information technology support to the government. It operates federally funded research and development centers for the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Homeland Security, with principal locations in Bedford, Mass., and McLean, Va.

About the IEEE

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) is the world's largest professional association dedicated to advancing innovation and technological excellence for the benefit of humanity. Through its more than 375,000 members in 160 countries, the IEEE is a leading authority on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics. Dedicated to the advancement of technology, the IEEE publishes 30 percent of the world's literature in the electrical and electronics engineering and computer science fields and has developed nearly 900 active industry standards. The organization annually sponsors more than 850 conferences worldwide. Additional information about the IEEE can be found at www.ieee.org.

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