As General Chair, I invite you to participate in the 2016 IEEE MTT-S WAMICON, Wireless and Microwave Technology Conference, to be held in Clearwater, Florida on Monday April 11th to Wednesday April 13th 2016. WAMICON 2016 is the 17th consecutive Wireless and Microwave Conference to be held in Florida. WAMICON started life as an outcome of industry/academic exchange between the University of South Florida (USF) Electrical Engineering Department’s Center for Wireless and Microwave Information Systems (WAMI Center) and a number of both local and national companies involved in microwave and wireless engineering. The first “conference” was held in February 1999 at the Embassy Suites adjacent to the USF campus. From that conference, with its approximately 50 attendees, we have blossomed to approximately 200 attendees over the ensuing years. We are now an IEEE MTT-S sponsored annual international conference in various locations in Florida with generous support from academia and industry. WAMICON has also grown from the viewpoint of having a range of commercial sponsors, a great mix of industry, governmental and academic attendees and authors as well as an expanding exhibitor presence. One of the aspects that adds to the charm of the event is the strong participation of students and early career engineers as organizers and presenters. One of the highlights has always been a lively, well-attended, evening (student presenter dominated) poster session reception preceding a welcome reception to close the first day of our two-and-half day event.

Come to Florida to share your knowledge with others by presenting your latest results. Expand your network. Catch up with old friends. Return invigorated with new ideas and enthusiasm.

As has also become a tradition for many years at WAMICON, three author awards will be presented (consisting of trophies and gifts) for the best student poster, best student paper and best professional presentation. One other special award presented is the Rudolf E. Henning Distinguished Mentoring award, given each year since 2009 to a person exemplifying selfless dedication to encouraging students and/or mentoring young engineers to advance their careers in the areas of RF/Microwave and/or Wireless Engineering. The 2015 awardee was Dr. Zoya Popovic of the University of Colorado at Boulder.

On behalf of the WAMICON 2016 Steering Committee, I would like to extend to all of you a warm welcome to participate in this year’s Wireless and Microwave Conference at the beautiful Marriot Suites, Clearwater, Florida.