IEEE-HKN Honor Society Names Top Award for Asad M. Madni, Visionary Leader and Pioneer

IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (HKN), IEEE’s honor society, is proud to announce the creation of the IEEE-HKN Asad M. Madni Outstanding Technical Achievement and Excellence Award. Established to recognize and honor the nearly 50 years of technical and philanthropic accomplishments, and visionary leadership of Dr. Asad M. Madni (pictured at left with his son, Jamal), the Award will be presented annually beginning in 2020 to a practitioner in the IEEE technical fields of interest who has distinguished himself or herself through an invention, development or innovation that has had worldwide impact.

Dr. Madni, IEEE life fellow, IEEE-HKN Eminent member, and member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, has received numerous national and international awards and honors for his pioneering work including the IEEE-HKN Vladimir Karapetoff Outstanding Technical Award in 2017. Since his retirement in 2006 as the President/ COO/CTO of BEI Technologies Inc., he has been an independent consultant; ECE distinguished adjunct professor & distinguished scientist, and Faculty Fellow, Institute of Transportation Studies at UCLA , guiding doctoral research, mentoring students and is an active volunteer for IEEE-HKN.

“The Madni Family embodies the core principles of the IEEE-HKN: Scholarship, Character and Attitude. Their commitment to philanthropy and excellence in engineering education and inspiring young engineers is critical to continue the time-honored traditions of Eta Kappa Nu,” said Nancy Ostin, Director of the honor society.

S.K. Ramesh, 2016 IEEE-HKN President, 2018-2019 IEEE-HKN Development Committee Chair, and 2016-17 IEEE Vice President, Educational Activities noted: “It has been an honor and a privilege to get to know Asad and the family over the years. He inspires and motivates everyone around him to follow in his footsteps with his outstanding technical contributions coupled with a rich legacy of giving and philanthropy that will make a difference for years to come. We are very grateful and appreciative beyond any words can express to him, Taj, and Jamal for all that they do for our profession and the community.”

Dr. Madni believes that “A professionally successful career that does not include philanthropy is an incomplete and unsatisfying one, and I never forget that achieving this privilege in my profession makes it incumbent upon me and my family to give back, and help guide the generation following us.”

Using his beliefs as a guiding principle, Dr. Madni along with his wife Gowhartaj and son Jamal (also an IEEE-HKN member and award recipient) established the IEEE-HKN Asad, Gowhartaj and Jamal Madni Family Fund of the IEEE Foundation. The Fund provides IEEE-HKN with the financial resources it urgently needs to drive new levels of recognition and programming. We are grateful to them for their visionary leadership and investment in the future of HKN.