Bob Profet 1932–2006

Bob Profet created the modern IEEE Aerospace Conference, 1994-2006, one of the most successful and well conceived conferences in the aerospace field. He devised many innovations for organization and management of technical engineering conferences, including a full-day peer paper review session, use of computer technology in conference management, a family style of conference operation ongoing over multiple years, a weeklong conference at a remote venue providing multiple opportunities for attendee interaction on technical matters. He demonstrated the capability of gathering a large international attendance from commercial, civil and military sectors, as well as from the institutional, industrial and scientific community. He believed in and promoted the fostering of young people.

The Robert A. Profet Award was created by the AESS and the IEEE to honor those showing outstanding organizational leadership for IEEE conferences. It recognizes candidates that, like he, have the unique capability of conceiving and organizing innovative and successful events in the field of interest of the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society. The first awards were made at the 2007 IEEE Aerospace Conference in Big Sky, Montana, to Bob's wife, Karen (who devised the Junior Engineering Conference and has served as Technical Program Co-chair since 2001), and to their four children.