About the Award
The IEEE PELS Outstanding Achievement Award in Aerospace Power recognizes innovators and researchers who have made outstanding technical contributions to the advancement of power electronic components and systems for both aviation and space applications.
Award Prize:
- Honorarium (USD 1,500)
- Plaque
- Reimbursement towards the recipient’s necessary conference registration, travel, and accommodation costs incurred to attend the award ceremony (up to USD 1,000)
Submitting a Nominee
To submit a nominee, you will need to log into your existing IEEE account (or register for a new one) to identify as a nominator. Select the “IEEE PELS Outstanding Achievement Award in Aerospace Power” and enter the required data and documents.
The portal to submit an application is now closed.
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Details About the
Award
2026: Patrick Wheeler
For pioneering contributions to power electronics technologies for aviation electrification
Prof Pat Wheeler received his BEng [Hons] degree in Electrical Engineering in 1990 from the University of Bristol, UK. He received his PhD degree for his work on Matrix Converters from the University of Bristol, UK in 1994. In 1993 he moved to the University of Nottingham and worked as a research assistant in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. In 1996 he became a Lecturer in the Power Electronics, Machines and Control Group at the University of Nottingham, UK. Since January 2008 he has been a Full Professor in the same research group.
Since 2018 he has been the Head of the Power Electronics, Machines and Control Research institute at the University of Nottingham. He was Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Nottingham from 2015 to 2018 and the Director for Global Engagement in the Faculty of Engineering 2020 to 2025. He has been a member of the IEEE PELs AdCom (2011 to 2024) and was IEEE PELS Vice-President for Technical Operations from 2020 to 2024. He is currently a member of the IEEE PSPB as Chair of the IEEE Thesurus Editorial Board. He has also published over 1120 academic publications in leading international conferences and journals.
Any active IEEE member is eligible for this award. There is no other restriction as to affiliation, age, IEEE member grade, or nationality.
Criteria: Judgment of the nominees is based on the following:
- Past relevant activities to the field and PELS TC 11
- Sustained impact on PELS TC 11 and the profession
- Quality of the nomination
- Quality of the technical achievement or innovation
2025
Jin Wang
2024
Bulent Sarlioglu
2023
Don Tan