2006 Kershner Award

Presented to: Dr. Myron Kayton

Citation: For his work on avionic, navigation, communication, and computer-automation systems.

Dr. Myron Kayton has 50 years of -experience designing avionic, navigation, communication, and computer-automation systems.

Dr. Kayton received a Ph.D. in Instrumentation from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1960, an M.S. from Harvard University with a concentration in electrical engineering, and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from The Cooper Union.

From 1960 to 1965, he was section head at Litton's Guidance and Control Division where he designed and analyzed some of the earliest multi-sensor navigation systems.

From 1965 to 1968, Dr. Kayton served as deputy manager for Lunar Module Guidance and Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center where his office directed the contractors designing two inertial navigation systems, an alignment telescope, and the flight controls.

From 1968 to 1981 at TRW, Dr. Kayton served as chief engineer for spacelab avionics, head of system engineering for space shuttle avionics, and project engineer for the electronics of the inertial upper stage and a nuclear power plant, among many assignments.

Presently, Dr. Kayton is a consulting engineering at Kayton Engineering Company serving clients in the areas of automotive electronic systems, automated process systems, upper-stage spacecraft, a satellite interceptor, commercial communication systems, numerous aircraft avionic systems, and a dozen land navigators.

Dr. Kayton is a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), was an elected member of the corporate board of directors, and served two terms as president of its Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS). He has been technical chairman for several conference sessions, keynote speaker, and an active member of standards committees for navigation sensors and computers for nuclear power plants. Dr. Kayton taught at UCLA and is a IEEE Distinguished Lecturer. He is the author of numerous papers and of the standard reference text, Avionics and Navigation Systems (1st and 2nd editions) and of Navigation: Land, Sea, Air, and Space. He is a past recipient of the IEEE's Millennium Medal. He is listed in Who's Who in Engineering, Who's Who in America, and in American Men and Women in Science.

The PLANS 2006 Executive Committee is proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of Dr. Myron Kayton.