The IEEE Photonics Society Engineering Achievement Award is given to recognize an exceptional engineering contribution which has had a significant impact on the development of laser or electro-optic technology or the commercial application of technology within the past 10 years. It may be given to an individual or to a group for a single contribution of significant work in the field.  The award consists of an honorarium of $2000 and a medal. The presentation is made at the IEEE Photonics Conference.

Please note that no candidate shall have previously received a major IEEE award for the same work. Previous winners of a Photonics Society Career Award (Aron Kressel, Engineering Achievement, Quantum Electronics, William Streifer Scientific Achievement) are not eligible candidates for consideration of the same work. Candidates need not be members of the IEEE or the Photonics Society. 

Prof. Dr. Ing. habil Ulrich L. Rohde is a partner of Rohde & Schwarz, Munich Germany; chairman of Synergy Microwave Corp., Paterson, New Jersey; president of Communications Consulting Corporation; serving as an honorary member of the Senate of the University of the Armed Forces Munich, Germany honorary member of the Senate of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany; past member of the Board of Directors of Ansoft Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dr. Rohde is serving as a Professor of Radio-Microwave Frequency Theory and Techniques at several universities worldwide, to name a few : Honorary Professor IIT-Delhi, Honorary Chair Professor IIT-Jammu, Professor at the University or Oradea for microwave technology, a honorary professor at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg University of Technology, and professor at the German Armed Forces University Munich (Technical Informatics ).

Rohde has published 350+ scientific papers, co-authored over dozen books and over dozens patents; received several awards, to name a few: recipient of 2019 IETE Fellow Award, 2019 IEEE CAS Industrial Pioneer Award; 2017 RCA Life time achievement award, 2017 IEEE-Cady Award, 2017 IEEE AP-S Distinguish achievement award, 2016 IEEE MTT-S Applications Award, 2015 IEEE-Rabi Award, 2015 IEEE Region-1 Award and 2014 IEEE-Sawyer Award.

Dr. Ulrich Rohde is the recipient of the “2021 Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.” The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, also known as the Federal Cross of Merit, is the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to individuals for services to the nation.