Munson, Robert

2012 Distinguished Alumni Award

In recognition of the innovation and pioneering development of microstrip patch antennas and microstrip phased arrays.

Robert Munson started his career in antennas as a technician in the University of Illinois Antenna Lab. In 1961, he worked there part time for Professor John Dyson doing work on frequency independent antennas.

After graduation, he worked at Ford Aeronutronic in Newport Beach, California. From 1963 to 1967 he developed and built many conformal re-entry vehicle antennas. Some of these antennas provide continuous transmission throughout re-entry. At this time he earned an MSEE at the University of Southern California.

In 1967, Robert joined Ball Aerospace in Boulder, Colorado, to start an antenna business. He invented, developed, and produced numerous microstrip antennas for nearly all U.S. programs (NASA, Army, Navy, Air Force). He convinced many customers to convert to conformal microstrip antenna instead of protruding antennas. He was awarded over 30 U.S. patents. Robert published basic texts on microstrip antenna in numerous papers and books. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu and was a distinguished lecturer for IEEE. He received the Boulder New Pioneer Award in 2009.

In 1995 Robert retired from Ball to his Boulder farm to raise sweet corn, pumpkins, squash, seeds, peaches, and numerous other fruits and vegetables. He travels, lectures, consults, skis, hunts, and fishes in his spare time.