The ARRL Board of Directors named four ARRL award recipients at their 2012 Second Meeting, held July 20-21 in Windsor, Connecticut: the 2011 Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence Award; the 2012 ARRL Technical Innovation Award; the 2012 Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award, and the 2012 Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award. In addition, the Board named Former ARRL West Gulf Division Director Thomas W. Comstock, N5TC, as Director Emeritus of the ARRL.

The Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence Award

James Ahlstrom, N2ADR, of Stirling, New Jersey, was named the recipient of the 2011 Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence Award. Ahlstrom was recognized for his “technical excellence in his research, design, construction and documentation of a homebrew all-digital HF transceiver” that was published in the January/February 2011 issue of QEX.

Established in 1975 as the ARRL Technical Excellence Award, the name was changed in 1997 to honor the late Doug DeMaw, W1FB, a former ARRL Headquarters technical editor and well-known Amateur Radio author. The award consists of an engraved 9 inch pewter cup.

The ARRL Technical Innovation Award

David Rowe, VK5DGR, of Adelaide, South Australia, was named the recipient of the 2012 ARRL Technical Innovation Award. The Board noted that Rowe “has been a major leader and the primary technical author of an open-source CODEC2 protocol, designed to address the impediment to the development of amateur digital voice posed by closed-source protocols.”

The ARRL Technical Innovation Award is granted annually to the licensed radio amateur or to individuals who are licensed radio amateurs whose accomplishments and contributions are of the most exemplary nature within the framework of technical research, development and application of new ideas and future systems in the context of Amateur Radio activities.

The Philip J. McGan Silver Antenna Award

John T. Luebbers, K1AYZ, of Tavares, Florida, was named the recipient of the 2012 Philip J. McGan Silver Antenna Award. Luebbers was recognized by the Board for his “outstanding volunteer public relations success on behalf of Amateur Radio at the local and regional levels.”

The McGan award is named for Philip J. McGan, WA2MBQ (SK), the first chairman of the ARRL’s Public Relations Committee. After his death, friends in the New Hampshire Amateur Radio Association joined with the ARRL Board of Directors to pay a lasting tribute to the important contributions he made on behalf of Amateur Radio. The McGan Award goes to that ham who has demonstrated success in Amateur Radio public relations and best exemplifies the volunteer spirit of Phil McGan. Public Relations activities for which the McGan Award is presented include efforts specifically directed at bringing Amateur Radio to the public's attention (and most often the media’s) in a positive light. This may include traditional methods, such as news releases, or non-traditional methods, such as hosting a radio show or being an active public speaker.

The Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award

Joe Lowenthal, WA4OVO, of Memphis, Tennessee, was named the recipient of the 2012 Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award. The Board noted that Lowenthal “has a demonstrated record as an outstanding instructor for Amateur Radio classes, with hundreds of students benefitting from his expertise in the classroom and generous mentoring.”

Herb S. Brier, W9AD, long-time CQ Novice Editor, represented the spirit of effective, caring Amateur Radio instruction. The ARRL, in conjunction with the Lake County (Indiana) Amateur Radio Club, sponsors this award in his memory to recognize the very best in volunteer Amateur Radio instruction and recruitment.

ARRL Director Emeritus

In recognition of his service to the ARRL, the Board named Thomas W. Comstock, N5TC, as Director Emeritus of the ARRL. Comstock served as ARRL West Gulf Division Director from 1991-1997; prior to that, he served as Vice Director from 1980-1991. Comstock was also a Director of the ARRL Foundation and the Scholarship Committee. A list of all ARRL Honorary Officials can be found here.