The William E. Jackson Award is presented to an outstanding graduate student in the field of aviation electronics and telecommunications. This  award is a memorial to William E. Jackson, a pioneer in the development and implementation of the nation’s air traffic control system and an enthusiastic supporter of student engineers.

This year’s 50th presentation of the William E. Jackson Award has been presented to Dr. Andrew Kiyoung Sun for his thesis entitled “GBAS Integrity under Ionospheric Scintillation: Error Characterization, Modeling, and Performance Evaluation.”

Andrew Kiyoung Sun is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder. He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in 2017, 2020, and 2025, respectively. Following his doctoral work, he continued as a postdoctoral researcher at KAIST through the prestigious Jang Young Sil Fellow Program before joining the University of Colorado Boulder.

Click here to learn more about the William E. Jackson Award submission process.

Click here to see previous winners of the William E. Jackson Award.

RTCA’s award program recognizes individuals whose contributions meaningfully advance aviation standards and safety. The program has been refreshed to ensure recognition is impact-driven, selective, and aligned with clear criteria, preserving the prestige of each award.

Awards are not guaranteed each year and are presented only when nominees meet established standards of excellence.

Congratulations to Our 2026 Award Recipients

Thank you for your dedication, leadership, and contributions to advancing aviation standards and supporting RTCA’s mission. Your commitment, expertise, and service help shape the future of aviation and strengthen the standards development process.

The Excellence Award honors a standing committee member for outstanding contributions to standards development in 2025.

The Chair Award recognizes a Special Committee Chair for effective leadership, accountability, and adherence to RTCA Special Committee Guidance.

The Legacy Award honors a long-standing committee member whose sustained contributions have had lasting impact on aviation standards and safety.

For more information:

Awards Program, please contact Ka’Nika Evans