The following is a press release from the Hamvention Awards Committee:

The 2026 Awards team is pleased to announce the Hamvention Award Winners. It is always difficult to make our final decisions as we receive many excellent nominations. Please join us in congratulating these very deserving winners.

Michael Kalter
W8CI Award Chairman 2026

Technical Achievement Award Robert Famiglio K3RF

Robert B. “Bob” Famiglio, K3RF, has spent almost 60 years in amateur radio, blending technical expertise, legal knowledge, and leadership in emergency communications. Licensed at 13, Bob earned a BSE in electrical engineering and a doctorate in law, now admitted to practice in several states and before federal courts and agencies while working in the technology sector. For more than 40 years he has served as Volunteer Counsel, advising hams on PRB 1 matters, zoning, and antenna ordinances, RFI enforcement, and club governance; his technical understanding of station engineering and interference resolution has informed effective legal strategies and regulatory comments.

Elected to ARRL leadership for multiple terms (EPA Section Manager, Atlantic Division Vice Director, and later Director), he championed member rights, transparency, and representative governance. Previously, Bob served several terms as Vice President & General Counsel of the Radio Club of America and functioned as corporate counsel for the board.

In emergency communications he served as ARES District Emergency Coordinator for Greater Philadelphia, supporting regional response agencies applying technical expertise, message handling, and interoperability between amateur and public safety systems; his formal training as a professional firefighter enhances his ability to align ham radio technology with operational needs of served agencies.

A long-time mentor, Bob supports on-air training nets and club programs stressing technical competence, regulatory literacy, and readiness for public service. He believes that amateur radio’s core value lies in the skills, service, and technical capability of operators, not merely spectrum access, and he has worked to translate complex technical issues—spectrum coexistence, interference mitigation, and regulatory compliance—into clear, actionable recommendations for policymakers. Bob’s blend of engineering, legal acumen, and emergency response experience has encouraged continuous training, lowered barriers to participation, and inspired new generations of ham radio operators.

Amateur of the Year Award Dr. Jose “Otis” Vicens NP4G

First licensed at the age of sixteen, Otis, known to friends and fellow operators on the air as NP4G, developed a passion for amateur radio. Born and raised in Humacao, Puerto Rico, he is the only amateur radio operator in his family.

Otis later moved to the United States to study Biology at Purdue University, where he became active with the W9YB Amateur Radio Club. One of his early memories of service through amateur radio was in 1998, when he helped provide communications support in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Georges. In Puerto Rico he graduated from the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine. He then completed a specialty program in Pediatric Dentistry at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. In 2008, Otis returned to his hometown of Humacao to begin practicing orthodontics.

Early in his ham career Otis attended the DX Forum at Dayton Hamvention, where presentations on major DXpeditions inspired him to someday be a part of future adventures. He has now participated in many DXpeditions from all over the world including the very rare Bouvet Island (3Y).

Otis is very active in Puerto Rico ham radio. He is Past President of the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League (PRARL) in 2012 and during the 2017 Puerto Rico hurricane disasters NP4G helped coordinate amateur radio emergency communications across eastern Puerto Rico following Hurricane Georges.

NP4G is now President of the International DX Association (INDEXA) and most recently was part of the all KP4 team to activate the very rare Desecheo Island with amazing technology as KP5/NP3VI.

Special Achievement Award Martha Fell N3QBE and Joe Fell W3GMS

Martha and Joe Fell’s journey began in 1966 when Joe earned his Novice license (WN3GMS) at the age of fourteen. Shortly thereafter, he met Harry I. Davis, W3FDY (SK), who mentored him for four years. Harry taught him to think critically, design circuits, and execute projects with precision. His guidance was life-changing, and Joe pledged to honor his request to give back to others just as Harry had done for him.

To fulfill this promise, Joe chose to retire at age 56, following a 34-year corporate career and the successful launch of his own company. The success of this mission is thanks to his wife, Martha, whose dedication to overseeing administration and logistics has greatly benefited their students.

Their program’s reach has grown significantly over the decades. In 1976, Joe designed and built a repeater for his mentor’s radio site which remains operational 50 years later, serving a group of approximately eighty-five operators. Their weekly technical net has become a primary resource for both new and seasoned amateurs, including many professional electrical engineers.

Today, they mentor students of all ages and interests. While their first student is currently pursuing a PhD in Electrical Engineering at MIT, their youngest started at just eight years old.

Club of the Year Long Island CW Club

Long Island CW Club (LICW) is an online Morse code training community built to help everyday hams become confident and proficient CW operators. We combine high standards with a welcoming culture: we teach real operating skills, we treat people with respect, and we keep learning for fun. LICW offers structured classes from beginner through advanced, a wide range of topical forums, and practice resources that help students move from “copying characters” to true conversational flow.  Our instructors are volunteers who remember what it felt like to be new, and who coach students through plateaus with clear, effective teaching methods, encouragement, and accountability. LICW is also proud to be a diverse community, with strong participation and leadership across generations - including more than four hundred women who serve as instructors and club leaders - along with programs that support youth and hams with disabilities. LICW is a community - people who show up for each other, celebrate progress, and share the joy of CW on the air.

Source: Hamvention

The following is a message from the Dog Day Amateur Radio Club:

The Dog Day Radio Amateur Radio Club, K0DOG, best known for participation in International Dog Day each August, will be calling CQ in tribute to dogs who have supported members of the military over the years.

Starting at 0000 UTC March 12 through to 2359 UTC March 13, hams will be active on the HF bands using CW and SSB, commemorating K9 Veterans Day.

The late Joe White, a Vietnam veteran and K9 handler, popularized March 13th as K9 Veterans Day because the date marks the start of dogs’ formal military training in the US in 1942 through the formation of the K9 Corps, or the War Dogs Program of the US Army.

This amateur radio activation is a tribute to all dogs throughout history who have served – wherever they have served.

Learn more about hero dogs and how to be a part of this special celebration by visiting the QRZ.com bio page for K0DOG.

Source: Dog Day Radio Amateur Radio Club

Registration is now open for the 2026 RaDAR Rally event. RaDAR is Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio, an event in which ham radio operators deploy into the field, make five contacts, then redeploy again all within a 4 hour window.

See the RaDAR Rally info page for registration details. The event takes place April 4th with registrations accepted through April 3rd. An intro video and roster are also available.

Source: RaDAR Rally