The Society of Broadcast Engineers has announced the recipients of the 2026 SBE National Awards, which recognize outstanding achievements by individual members, local chapters and SBE sustaining member companies.
This year, Joseph DiMaggio has been named the Robert W. Flanders SBE Engineer of the Year, recognized posthumously for his “outstanding contributions” to broadcast engineering and the SBE Connecticut Valley Chapter 14, of which he was a founding member.
DiMaggio spent more than 47 years at WVIT(TV), where he retired as chief engineer. He died in 2025. “Joe was known for his generosity in sharing technical knowledge, warm friendship and encouragement to colleagues,” said the SBE in a press release. “Joe’s dedication, kindness, and willingness to mentor others left a lasting impact on the broadcast community.”
Jerry Brown, CPBE, of Oxford, N.C., is the recipient of the 2026 James C. Wulliman SBE Educator of the Year Award. A member of Chapter 93 in Raleigh-Durham, Brown has been part of the SBE since 1983 and, according to the SBE, was key in creating the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcast Technology Academy.
[Related: “This Program Trains Up New Broadcast Engineers”]
As for other notable awards, Dielectric has received the SBE Technology Award for its RingMaster FM antenna system. The company said it delivers full-bandwidth FM performance with fewer components, reduced weight and lower costs.
Also, the portable “Testing Kit On The Go,” assembled by John-Erick M. Rempillo, CPBE, of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, has won the Facility Innovation of the Year Award. The SBE said it offers safe, off-site diagnosis and repair of faulty power supplies in the CBC’s NV and VS series transmitters, eliminating the risks of live-system troubleshooting.
Additionally, SBE Chapter 39 has won the Best Chapter Communication Award for its newsletter, “Quarterly Digest,” produced by chapter Membership Chair Isaiah Chavez. Also, SBE Chapter 37’s AntennaFest 2025: Shared Signals, held at WETA(TV/FM) headquarters in Arlington, Va., won the Best Chapter or Regional Educational Event Award.
[Related: “SBE Chapter 37 Opens Registration for AntennaFest 2026”]
All honorees will be recognized at the SBE 2026 National Meeting held in Middleton, Wis., at the Midwest Regional Broadcasters Clinic on Sept. 15 and 16.
To check out the full list of individual award recipients, click on this link.
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