The USC Viterbi School of Engineering celebrated a legend in the field of microwave communications – Simon Ramo, whose last name signifies the “R” in TRW – and outstanding professionals from industry and from USC at the 30th annual Viterbi Awards Banquet held May 8 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

USC Viterbi School Dean Yannis C. Yortsos presided over the dinner and reception, which included a special Lifetime Achievement Award given to Ramo, co-founder of TRW Inc., which later merged to become the Northrop Grumman Corp.

Ramo’s career spans 70 years and several areas of endeavor. As a scientist and engineer, he obtained a Ph.D. magna cum laude from the California Institute of Technology at age 23, then went on to become a General Electric scientist.

He achieved global recognition as a pioneer in microwaves, which are extremely high radio frequencies fundamental to radar and advanced communications, and he developed GE’s electron microscope. Before age 30, he had accumulated 25 patents, was made a fellow of several major professional societies, and he was voted one of America’s “most outstanding young electrical engineers.”

Ramo became one of the nation’s top experts in guided missiles, first as the director of the Falcon guided missile program for air defense and later as the chief scientist for the nation’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Program. As the leading civilian contributor to this “largest single program in the country’s history,” he was awarded a special citation of honor by the Air Force.

Celebrating his 95th birthday at the same time, Ramo is a founding member of the National Academy of Engineering. USC President Steven B. Sample and Dean Yortsos presented him with the first USC Viterbi School Lifetime Achievement Award during the opening presentation.

The Daniel J. Epstein Management Award went to Patrick Soon-Shiong, the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Abraxis Bioscience, LLC, for his industry leadership and exemplary professional accomplishments and contributions to the field of management.

Soon-Shiong is a noted research scientist, physician and surgeon who has devoted his career to developing next-generation technology to enhance the medical care of patients with life-threatening diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Katherine Crothall, a distinguished alumna and principal of Liberty Venture Partners, was honored with the Mark A. Stevens Distinguished Alumni Award.

Established in 1978 in tandem with the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Awards, the award is presented to a USC Viterbi alumnus and industry leader in recognition of her/his exemplary professional accomplishments and in acknowledgement of exceptional contributions to the field of engineering.

Crothall heads up a venture fund focused primarily on health care. Prior to joining Liberty, Crothall was founder, president and chief executive officer of Animas Corp., a leading manufacturer of insulin infusion pumps located in West Chester, Pa.

Crothall holds more than 20 patents and is the recipient of several awards, including the Greater Philadelphia Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2003 and the Raymond Rafferty Entrepreneurial Excellence Award in 2004. She is also a director of several private companies.