Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/960726
44 I-CONNECT007 I SHOW & TELL MAGAZINE 2018 IPC first began presenting the President's Award in 1966, and for many years it was the only award bestowed on IPC volunteers, to several individuals each year. In recent years, however, IPC has limited this award to one or two people each year. According to IPC: The President's Award is given to IPC mem- bers who have exhibited ongoing leadership in IPC and have made significant contributions of their time and talent to the association and the electronics interconnect industry. Individuals can receive this award only once. This year's recipient is Bob Cooke with NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC). After speaking with Bob, I understand why IPC chose to award him with this honor. Patty Goldman: Bob, congratulations on this award. Please tell me a little bit about yourself. Bob Cooke: I grew up in NASA. My dad started with NASA as a research physiologist study- ing the effects of high altitude flight environ- ments on humans. At one point, my mom decided that I needed to be motivated to do something with my life, other than work on stage as a special effects technician or be a semi-professional photographer, and insisted that my dad take me to work. After he com- pleted his flight experiment for the day, I got to play with the flight chamber. I'm probably the only person at NASA that has operated a flight chamber through explosive decompres- Bob Cooke IPC President's Award Recipient by Patty Goldman I-CONNECT007