2020 Fellow

Presented to: Dr. José Ángel Ávila Rodríguez

Citation: For pioneering contributions to the design of the Galileo signal plan, and leadership in the modernization of Galileo.

Dr. José Ángel Ávila Rodríguez is GNSS Evolutions Signal and Security Principal Engineer at the European Space Agency (ESA), and has nearly 20 years of experience in satellite navigation. Until 2010, he was principal engineer at the Institute of Geodesy and Navigation at the University FAF Munich, where he was responsible for research activities on GNSS signals, interoperability and compatibility. In those years, he has also taught satellite navigation and electrical engineering courses for graduate students.

Dr. Ávila Rodríguez currently leads a large team of ESA and industry experts responsible for laying the foundations of the Galileo signal and security modernization. His leadership has been foundational in Galileo modernization activities.

Dr. Ávila Rodríguez has made pioneering contributions in the field of signal structure, multiplex techniques and code design, introducing theoretical models for the definition of current and future navigation signals. His work lent understanding to the compatibility and interoperability among GNSS systems. He has fundamentally contributed to the innovations of CBOC multiplexing, which is the European implementation of the MBOC common modulation agreed between GPS and Galileo for the E1/L1 frequency band.

Dr. Ávila Rodríguez received the ION’s Parkinson Award (2008) and Early Achievement Award (2009). He is also recipient of the European Patent Office European Inventor Award (2017) and the Spanish Ministry of Defense’s Cross of the Aeronautical Merit (2019). He has held numerous volunteer leadership positions within the ION on Council and the Satellite Division. He is a coorganizer of the ESA-JRC Summer School on GNSS.

Dr. Ávila Rodríguez received a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University FAF Munich, and a MSEE from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. In addition, he holds a MS in Economics from the National Distance Education University in Spain.