Dr. Brad Parkinson on the Foundation and Future of GPS

In April 2019, we were honoured to welcome Dr. Brad Parkinson, the chief architect of the GPS network, to the Hexagon Campus in Calgary. During his visit, Dr. Parkinson toured our facilities, gave our team an inspiring presentation on the past, present and future of the GPS industry and participated in an enlightening panel discussion with our internal GNSS experts.

Dr. Parkinson was a career Air Force Officer who also received a masters degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the Michigan Institute of Technology. The combination of Parkinson’s education, career and significant scientific and research experience led him to be named program manager of what would become the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system in November 1972, as an Air Force Colonel.

During this time Dr. Parkinson played a leading role in developing, designing and testing the GPS system, paving the way for future generations to continue the advancement of GNSS technology in both the defence and commercial sectors. Dr. Parkinson's vast contributions to the GNSS industry have stimulated innovation that has impacted nearly every aspect of modern-day life and he continues to advocate for the preservation and protection of GPS.

Watch the informative video presentation below from one of the true innovators of our time to learn about Dr. Parkinson's views on the foundation and future of GPS.