The IEEE David Sarnoff Award was established in 1959 through agreement between the RCA Corporation and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and continued by the Board of Directors of the IEEE. In 1989, sponsorship of the award was assumed by the Sarnoff Corporation. It may be presented each year to an individual or team up to three in number for exceptional contributions to electronics. Recipient selection is administered through the Technical Field Awards Council of the IEEE Awards Board.

James J. Coleman is an expert in laser design and leader in the field of optoelectronics. He is currently the Intel Alumni Endowed Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His study of strain-layered lasers led to the development of the 980 nm pump laser used throughout fiber-optic telecommunications systems. Prior to his current position, Dr. Coleman worked at Rockwell International, where he helped develop the metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process used to grow III-V semiconductor lasers and photonic devices, which are used for optical storage and medical applications. An IEEE Fellow and co-author of 375 journal publications and 7 patents, Dr. Coleman has received several awards and honors, including the IEEE William Streifer Scientific Achievement Award and was an IEEE LEOS Distinguished Lecturer. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science, Masters of Science and Doctorate, all in Electrical Engineering, from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.