‘Father of the Cell Phone’ Marty Cooper, Illinois Tech Alum and Life Trustee, Awarded National Medal of Technology and Innovation

CHICAGO-January 3, 2025-Illinois Institute of Technology(Illinois Tech) alumnus, former professor, and university life trustee Marty Cooper (EE '50, M.S. '57)-a pioneering visionary in the field of mobile communications who's considered the "Father of the Cell Phone"-has been awarded the prestigiousNational Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI) in a ceremony held today at the White House. This award, bestowed by the president of the United States, is the nation's highest honor for technological achievement and recognizes leaders who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness, standard of living, and quality of life through innovation.

"I am deeply honored to receive this recognition," Cooper said. "This award is not just a reflection of my own journey but of the incredible teams, mentors, and family members who have supported and inspired me throughout the years. I have a lot of gratitude to Illinois Tech for the fact that I attended, actually taught at night school there for a while, and was active in the alumni organization for many years. I've also been on the board of trustees for many years. I am particularly grateful to Bob Galvin and John Mitchell at Motorola, who nurtured an environment where unconventional ideas like the handheld cell phone could thrive, and to my wife, Arlene Harris, whose brilliance and partnership have been indispensable in both my professional and personal life. None of this would have been possible without their belief in the power of innovation."

Cooper also highlighted his enduring connection to Illinois Tech. "Illinois Tech has a special approach to technology. It's a very practical approach, and that's the thing that I have appreciated in my entire career, including serving as a trustee at Illinois Tech. They still teach you theory, and they do it very effectively, but they put a lot of emphasis on hands-on understanding of the real human problem. And that is a unique approach at Illinois Tech. They do it better than any university in their class."

Cooper's commitment to innovation extends beyond the cell phone. At 96 years old, he remains an active inventor and advocate for technology's role in improving lives. His current project, a revolutionary "speech aid," aims to enhance communication for individuals with severe hearing impairments by isolating and amplifying speech in noisy environments. "The goal," Cooper explained, "is to reconnect people to their communities, to ensure no one is left behind because of technological barriers."

This drive to connect people, regardless of age or circumstance, reflects a central theme of Cooper's career. "Innovation is about human potential," he said. "It's about ensuring everyone has the tools to contribute their unique experiences and expertise, especially as they grow older. The result of that is a whole class of people in society who, before, without this technology are unproductive. But with these tools, they can use a lifetime of wisdom to help other people."

Cooper's legacy of innovation dates back to the 1960s, when he was working as a senior engineer at Motorola. In response to a Chicago police superintendent's request for a device that would help keep officers connected, Cooper developed an early version of the mobile handheld cellphone, outfitting police with a microphone and an antenna that they wore on their shoulders, using an early type of cellular system.

By the early 1970s, Motorola was in a race with AT&T Bell Labs, which had announced plans to develop a car phone. Seeing the limitations of a car phone vs. a fully mobile device, Cooper and his team developed not only the first handheld phone but also a system to support it. In 1973, Cooper placed the first cell phone call-ringing his counterpart at Bell Labs, Joel Engel.

"Marty Cooper's visionary contributions have transformed communication and commerce worldwide, and his selection for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation is a richly deserved recognition of the lasting impact he has made in shaping how we connect with one another," says Illinois Tech President Raj Echambadi. "Illinois Tech is immensely proud to count him among our most distinguished alumni."

After leaving Motorola in 1983, Cooper co-founded Cellular Business Systems, a leader in the cellular billing industry, which he later sold. In 1986, he and his wife, fellow wireless veteran Arlene Harris, co-founded Dyna, LLC, a technology-solutions company where he still serves as chairman. Cooper is executive chairman and co-founder of the wireless technology company ArrayComm-whose signal processing software, IntelliCell, maximizes the range, capacity, and quality of cellular and broadband systems-and the co-founder and director of GreatCall, whose Jitterbug cell phone service is designed for senior users.

Today Cooper is considered a global thought leader on personal communication devices, wireless technology, and spectrum use. He introduced the Law of Spectral Efficiency-known as Cooper's Law-which predicts the improvement over time of spectrum capacity in cellular networks, and he has introduced multiple-antenna signal processing into new standards such as WiMAX.

Michael P. Galvin (LAW '78), chair of the Illinois Tech Board of Trustees, added a personal note, "As someone who grew up witnessing my father, Bob Galvin, champion innovation at Motorola, I am particularly moved to celebrate Marty's achievements. Marty's ingenuity and determination have not only shaped telecommunications but also embodied the spirit of collaboration and curiosity that Illinois Tech stands for."

Cooper's optimism about the future of technology is unwavering. He believes that artificial intelligence, when harnessed responsibly, has the potential to revolutionize education and address global challenges like poverty and disease. "Ultimately, AI is going to be extraordinarily valuable for society. It's a way of creating a new educational system that adapts itself to the needs of every student." "AI could know enough about you, and it has access to all of the information in the world, to create an education for you that is personalized to your experience and your abilities. The key is ensuring access and equity, so that these transformative benefits reach everyone."

Cooper is the recipient of numerous other honors and awards, including the National Academy of Engineering Charles Stark Draper Prize, the Marconi Radio Award, and the Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research. He is an inaugural member of the Wireless History Foundation's Wireless Hall of Fame, a fellow of the IEEE and the Radio Club of America, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Illinois Tech awarded Cooper an honorary doctorate degree in 2004 and the Alumni Medal in 2010.

The Illinois Tech community celebrates Marty Cooper not just for his past achievements but for his enduring legacy of curiosity, connection, and innovation.

Photo: Marty Cooper pictured with his model of the first cell phone.

Illinois Institute of Technology

Based in the global metropolis of Chicago, Illinois Tech was born to liberate the power of collective difference to advance technology and innovation for all. It is the only tech-focused university in the city, and it stands at the crossroads of exploration and invention, advancing the future of Chicago and the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees inengineering, computing, architecture, business, design, science and human sciences, andlaw. Illinois Tech students are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences, personalized mentorship, and job readiness through the university's one-of-a-kindElevate program. Its graduates lead the state and much of the nation in economic prosperity. Its faculty and alumni built the Chicago skyline. And every day in the city's living lab, Illinois Tech fuels breakthroughs that change lives. Visitiit.edu.

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