The Radio Club of America has announced its 2026 annual award recipients and incoming class of Fellows.
The 2026 Awards and Fellows ceremonies will take place during the RCA Awards Banquet at the Westin Times Square in New York City on Nov. 21.
This year, RCA honored its first female recipient of the Armstrong Medal in the club’s history.
Radio World readers will recognize names among the 14 award winners, such as Jay Adrick, this year’s Ralph Batcher Memorial Award winner, while Geoffrey Mendenhall and Steve Floyd are among seven who have been elevated to Fellow status.
2026 Award Recipients
- Armstrong Medal: Dr. Andrea Goldsmith. Honored for lasting contributions to the arts and sciences of radio, Goldsmith becomes the first female recipient of the medal in RCA history. RCA’s first award, it was originally presented to Major Edwin H. Armstrong.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Jack Winters. Established in 2015, the award recognizes major lifetime achievements that have advanced wireless technology.
- Ralph Batcher Memorial Award: Jay Adrick. Established in 1976, this award honors an RCA member for significant work preserving the history of radio and electronic communications.
- Dr. Arno Penzias Award for Contributions to Basic Research in the Radio Sciences: Dr. Ajay Poddar.
- Carole Perry Young Professional Award: Audrey McElroy.
- Centenarian Award: Mal Gurian. Established in 1989, this award recognizes living RCA members who reach 100 years of age.
- Centenarian Award (Honorary): Dr. Henry L. Richter.
- Henri Busignies Memorial Award: Charles Kirmuss. Established in 1981, the award recognizes substantial contributions to electronics for the benefit of humanity.
- Frank Gunther Award: Anthony Rizi. Established in 1996, the award honors dedication to the field of military communications.
- Dr. Ulrich Rohde Award for Innovation in Applied Radio Science and Engineering: Charles Counselman. Established in 2023, the award recognizes significant contributions to innovation in applied radio science and engineering.
- Excellence in Sales and Marketing Award: Mike Wolf. Recognizes an individual with at least 10 years in the wireless industry who exhibits dedication, professional ethics and esprit de corps in sales, marketing and industry promotion.
2026 RCA Fellows
Elevation to Fellow is made by invitation to RCA members in good standing for at least five years whose contributions to radio communications, broadcast or the club are deemed outstanding by the board of directors.
The following RCA members have been elevated to Fellow status for 2026:
- Steve Floyd
- Rachel Jones
- Douglas Kwiatkowski
- Geoffrey Mendenhall
- Nick Pennance
- Nicholas Tusa
- Jack Varnado
RCA was founded in 1909 and, according to its website, is the oldest group of wireless communications professionals in the world.
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