AFCEA International Awards Program
Sparky Baird Award

This annual award is given to the author(s) of the outstanding SIGNAL Magazine article of the year.

The W.J. "Sparky" Baird Award is named after COL W.J. Baird, USA (Ret.), former general manager of AFCEA and editor of SIGNAL Magazine. COL Baird became editor of SIGNAL in 1956 and held that position for 18 years. He assumed the additional duty of AFCEA general manager in 1959. That position became AFCEA President in 1977.

Note: Nominations are not solicited for this award. The Sparky Baird Award winner is chosen by an independent panel of judges from government, industry and journalism.

 

James Bussert (c) receives the 2011 Sparky Baird Award from Kent Schneider, AFCEA CEO, and Natlie Givans, AFCEA Chair of the Board, for his April 2010 SIGNAL Magazine article, “China Enters the Aircraft Carrier Club.” The award is named in honor of former AFCEA general manager and SIGNAL Magazine editor Col. W.J. “Sparky” Baird, USA (Ret.).

 

2010 Sparky Baird Award Winners

Carol Scheina

Gabe Mounce

Daniel Ward

"Twitter is Mission Critical"
SIGNAL Magazine, October 2009

 

2009 Sparky Baird Award Winner

Diana Raschke

"Asymmetric Warfare Requires Intelligence Community Reorganization"

SIGNAL Magazine, April 2008

 

2008 Sparky Baird Award Winner

Vinh Nguyen

"Current Trends in Intelligence Outsourcing Affect Workforce Stability"

SIGNAL Magazine, December 2007

 

Click here for a complete list of AFCEA Awards and nomination forms.

 

Award Questions?

Please contact Bob Ackerman
(703) 631-6192

signal@afcea.org