Congratulations to Tom Clark, K3IO, AMSAT Board Member, and long time pioneer involved with amateur satellite development. In an announcement from the ARRL we learned they honored “veteran AMSAT personality and Amateur Radio digital pioneer Tom Clark, K3IO (ex-W3IWI), with its President’s Award. ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, presented the award plaque to Clark at a January 10 meeting of the Potomac Valley Radio Club in Blacksburg, Virginia.” (Read the ARRL announcement here.)
Tom’s pioneering work on Software Defined Radio led to the development of AMSAT’s SDX, the Software Defined Transponder, included in ARISSat. The photo (right) shows Tom Clark, K3IO; Rick Hambly, W2GPS; and Bob McGwier, N4HY, after the first successful test of the SDX.
Currently serving as an advisor to Virginia Tech as adjunct professor of aerospace and ocean engineering and of electrical and computer Engineering, Tom is performing a crucial role in the Phase 4B geosynchronous satellite opportunity on the USAF Wide Field of View spacecraft, in which Virginia Tech is a partner.