2026 AOC Award Winners
Every year, AOC recognizes individuals and units for their outstanding performance in furthering the aims of the association in support of the United States or Allied achievements in electromagnetic warfare, electromagnetic spectrum operations, cyber electromagnetic activity, and information operations.
Please join us in celebrating this year’s award winners for their exemplary service to our community!
Awards will be presented at the AOC International Symposium & Convention, December 8–10, 2026, in National Harbor, MD.
Prestige Awards
AOC Gold Medal Award
Mari Kovach
AOC Gold Medal Award – International
Mark Threadgold
Hal Gershanoff Silver Medal Award
Giorgio Bertoli
Hal Gershanoff Silver Medal Award
Michael Herrera
Anton D. "Tony" Brees Lifetime Service Award
Scott Burkholder
Anton D. "Tony" Brees Lifetime Service Award
Chris Schnelle
Anton D. "Tony" Brees Lifetime Service Award
Filippo Neri
Anton D. "Tony" Brees Lifetime Service Award
Richard Wittstruck
AOC Technology Hall of Fame Award
Michael T. Hopf
AOC Technology Hall of Fame Award
Mansur Rachid
Joseph W. Kearney Pioneer Award
Dr. Patrick Ford
John M. Clifford Award for the Advancement of the Electromagnetic Domain
CDR Malte von Spreckelsen
John M. Clifford Award for the Advancement of the Electromagnetic Domain
Major General David M. Gaedecke, USAF (Ret.)
John M. Clifford Award for the Advancement of the Electromagnetic Domain
Thomas Conrad
Community Awards
Engineering and Technical Excellence Award
James Groffen
Engineering and Technical Excellence Award
Bahrat Patel
Engineering and Technical Excellence Award
Thomas Perry Steffen
Engineering and Technical Excellence Award
Major William D. Tisinger, USAF
Engineering and Technical Excellence Award
Christopher Williams
Project Team of the Year Award
GTRI Mission Data Rapid Reprogramming Team
Project Team of the Year Award
The 950th Spectrum Warfare Group Contact Team
Project Team of the Year Award
ADF EMB Project Team, Delivered by Consunet
Project Team of the Year Award
ERZIA
EW Professional Outstanding Young Crow Award
James Devlin Cassidy
EW Professional Outstanding Young Crow Award
Capt Josef Summers, USAF
EW Professional Outstanding Young Crow Award
SSgt Colin W. Huang, USAF
EW Professional Outstanding Young Crow Award
SGT Robert Finnestad, ANG
Professional Outstanding Achievement Award
Josh Fultz
Professional Outstanding Achievement Award
Jürgen von Piechowski
Professional Outstanding Achievement Award
LCDR Alexander Han Cheng, USN
Professional Outstanding Achievement Award
Jarrod Moore
Professional Outstanding Achievement Award
Dr. Stephen Hary
Academic and Educational Excellence Award
Dr. Renato Machado
Academic and Educational Excellence Award
Dr. Oleksandra Molloy
Academic and Educational Excellence Award
Fadi Hantouli
Academic and Educational Excellence Award
Dr. Valerie Sessions
Chapter Flow-Up Awards
Outstanding Chapter Support
Joong-Soo Lim
Outstanding Chapter Support
Lt Col Laureen James, USAF
Outstanding Chapter Support
Nicole Zaretski
Outstanding Chapter Support
Jenna Girompini
Outstanding Chapter Support
Joseph Sluz
Outstanding Chapter Support
General Joe Sharkey
Outstanding Chapter Support
P. Michael Gale
Outstanding Chapter Support
Robert Inkol
Outstanding Chapter Support
Dipak Roy
Military Awards
Military Service Award – Air Force
SSGT Yazmin Pagan Ortiz, USAF
Military Service Award – Army
Master Sergeant David Al Ritaw, USA
Military Service Award – Navy
Lt Jonathan Jun Feng Chen, USN
Military Service Award – Navy
LCDR Nathan Srinvas, USN
Military Service Award – Navy
LCDR Scott Wilder, USN
Military Service Award – Navy
Lt Mallory I. Lurate, USN
Military Service Award – Space Force
MSgt Mitchell Epler, USSF
Military Unit Excellence Award
116th Air Control Wing, US Air Force
Military Unit Excellence Award
Marine Corps Information Operations Center (MCIOC)
Military Unit Excellence Award
Marine Corps MARFORPAC G39
Military Unit Excellence Award
Navy Electronic Attack Squadron One Three Two (VAQ-132)
Military Individual Excellence Award – Air Force
Lt Col Anderson Gomes do Rosario Werneck (Brazil)
Military Individual Excellence Award – Navy
CW03 Mark Svatek, USN
Outstanding Unit Award – Air Force
90th Missile Security Operations Squadron C-sUAS
Outstanding Unit Award – Air Force
Detachment One, 55th Wing
Outstanding Unit Award – Air Force
Rapid Reaction Branch, Space System Delta 89