Awards

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The IEEE AUTOTESTCON Frank McGinnis Professional Achievement Award recognizes outstanding leadership, individual initiative and technical contributions in the field of automatic test engineering, either for a specific accomplishment or for a body of activities during a career. The award honors the memory of Frank McGinnis who headed an Industry/Joint Services Automatic Test Task Force instrumental in initiating new thrusts in military R&D in ATE. The Task Force evolved into the National Security Industrial Association (NSIA) Automatic Test Committee. NSIA later merged with the American Defense Preparedness Association (ADPA), to become the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) where the Automatic Test Committee is still active under the NDIA Systems Engineering Division. The award includes a "keeper" trophy, a brass plate addition to the permanent plaque on display at the National Electronics Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, and a cash prize of $2,000.

The IEEE AUTOTESTCON Walter E. Peterson Award is presented each year to the best paper on technical topics at AUTOTESTCON. It is awarded in honor of Mr. Peterson and perpetuates his technical leadership, interest and inspiration in the introduction and utilization of new and advanced technology in the design and manufacture of automated test systems. The award includes a plaque and a cash prize of $1,000. 

The IEEE AUTOTESTCON David M. Goodman Best Paper Award for Management Topics recognizes the many contributions made by the late Dr. Goodman for his encouragement of management concepts and theory in the ATE environment. The award includes a plaque and a cash prize of $1,000. Mr. Goodman is also the creator of the Government-Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP) in 1959 that exists today and serves as a cooperative activity between government and industry participants seeking to reduce or eliminate expenditures of resources by sharing technical information. 

The Best Student Paper Award was designated the Oscar W. Sepp Award in 2016 in memory of long-time AUTOTESTCON contributor Oscar W. Sepp. Oscar chaired AUTOTESTCON in 1982 and as Conference chairman was responsible for formalizing the Exhibits Program. In addition to his contributions to AUTOTESTCON Oscar held numerous patents ranging from the flip-top toothpaste cap to aircraft escape systems and parachutes for many applications including nuclear weapons.   In 1981 he was appointed USAF SPO Director for Support Equipment.  He also later served in executive positions in industry including running his own consulting company for many years.  His many industry and military awards included the McGinnis Memorial Award conferred by the AUTOTESTCON Board in 1984 and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Support Systems Award presented at AUTOTESTCON 1985. The Oscar W. Sepp Best Student Paper award is sponsored by IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society, who also provide travel grants to selected AUTOTESTCON student contributors.

NDIA Automatic Test Committee

John Slattery Professional Achievement Award

 The John Slattery Professional Achievement Award is sponsored by the Automatic Test Committee of the Systems Engineering Division of the National Defense Industrial association (NDIA) and honors the memory of John Slattery, a long-time employee of the General Dynamics Electronics (GDE) Company, based in San Diego, California, for his professional contributions to the advancement of automatic testing via Automatic Test Equipment (ATE). It is presented annually to an individual who has made major contributions to improving the state of automated testing in support of the national security posture of the United States, including outstanding technical achievements, demonstrated technical innovation, contributions to ATE technology, participation in ATE industry/government peer groups, an enthusiasm and eagerness to provide mentoring, uncompromised ethics and professionalism, and contributions to the industry that reflect technical excellence, competence and integrity, and an unswerving desire to achieve technical success regardless of political or management considerations.