The Marion Rose Service Award was established by the HEART Society to recognize outstanding long-term involvement in, and service to, the Hardened Electronics and Radiation Technology Community, in celebration of Marion’s example.

Marion Rose (1940-2009) was a founding father and ardent supporter of the HEART society and annual conference from its inception. Marion served on the inaugural HEART Steering Committee as Treasurer, and in that role guided the fiduciary formation of HEART as the premier professional organization for radiation-hardened technology community. He was instrumental in every aspect of the HEART operation over three decades, including serving in several roles on the Steering Committee and the annual conference committees.
Marion’s career in radiation effects began in 1966, with his professional work spanning General Atomics, IRT, Maxwell Labs, and Physitron; finally rising to Principal Scientist at L-3 Jaycor in 1996, where he worked until weeks of his death. He is remembered for this expertise in Transient Radiation Effects on Electronics and neutron radiation effects; participating in all phases of nuclear weapon and natural radiation survivability programs, including environment definition, hardened design, verification and validation, hardness assurance, maintenance, and surveillance.
Throughout his long and productive career, and his service to HEART, Marion was a mentor and friend to many of those involved in the military and aeronautics community, including many still active within the HEART society. He served tirelessly, with a keen sense of community, wherever he was needed, without the desire for accolades or recognition. He stood ready and willing to give his wise counsel to others, always with a twinkle in his eye. He is greatly missed by the radiation effects community.
This award honors Marion’s commitment to community and service. The inaugural 2019 Award was presented to the Marion Rose family to commemorate his exemplary leadership, guidance, and inspiration.

Purpose of the Award:
To recognize individuals "For Service and Involvement in Hardened Electronics and Radiation Technology Community"

Previous Awards

2025 Award Winner

William (Bill) Seidler
“For continual service to the HEART Society and providing exceptional leadership and mentorship to future generations within the HEART community.”

Dr. William A. Seidler Short Biography of Participation in the Radiation Effects Community

Dr. Seidler is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and was awarded the Peter Haas Award for technical contributions to radiation effects in 2013.  Dr. Seidler received best paper awards at the 1979 and 1982 IEEE Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects Conferences (NSREC) and at the 1990 and 1999 Hardened Electronics and Radiation Technology (HEART) Conferences.  Dr. Seidler served as Guest Editor of the 1982 and 1983 IEEE Transactions for Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects (NSRE), Technical Program Chairman of the 1985 HEART Conference, Chairman of Publications for both the HEART and NSRE Conferences from 1986-88, Awards Chairman for the 1989 IEEE NSREC, and the Chairman of the HEART Steering Committee from 1988-1992 and again from 2003-2006.  He served as General Chairman of the 1996 HEART Conference.  Dr. Seidler was awarded a Life Fellow Award from the IEEE for his lifetime contributions to technology and has been twice selected as IEEE Huntsville Engineer of the Year for 2009 and 2012.  
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Dr. Seidler was the first non-government HEART Steering Committee Chair appointed by representatives of the sponsoring government agencies in 1989 and had publications in the Journal of Radiation Effects (JRE) recognized by our major government laboratories as a conference whose publications carried the professionalism necessary for technical promotions as did the IEEE NSREC.   He started the HEART Society, a non-profit, whose mission was to run professional classified conferences and upgrade the Journal of Radiation Effects to be equivalent to the IEEE Transactions for Nuclear Science.  Bill was elected to a second term as the HEART Steering Committee Chair and as Chairman of the Enterprise for the HEART Society in 2003.  He has developed short courses in radiation effects for the HEART conference as well as engineers at Boeing and Lockheed.  He is currently retire; but, is consulting on radiation effects for missile defense contractors and developing high current miniature pulse power systems that have wide applications at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.