Lin-Nan Lee


Dr. Lee is a Vice President of Engineering at Hughes Network Systems (HNS) in Germantown, Maryland, USA. He heads the Advance Development Group which performs research and development in source coding, channel coding, modulation, multiple access and networking technologies. He and his group have made many significant contributions to the design and engineering of HNS wireless and satellite communications products and technology. Among the most notable are, high-quality voice coding at low data rates, turbo codes, and space-time codes. The group actively participated in the third generation wireless communications standards process in both U.S. and Europe, and has been successful in introducing the turbo codes, channel access protocols and several other key technologies into the proposed standards.

Lin-Nan Lee received his B.S. degree from National Taiwan University, his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Norte Dame, all in Electrical Engineering, in 1970, 1972, and 1976, respectively. His Ph.D. dissertation on concatenated codes with feedback formed the basis for turbo codes, in which a great deal of interest has been gathered in recent years. During 1975-1977, he was with the Linkabit Corporation. There, he co-developed the Priority Oriented Demand Assignment (PODA), packet-based satellite multiple access protocol before packet-switching laid the framework for the current Internet phenomenon.

During 1978-1992, he worked for Communications Satellite Corporation (COMSAT), serving in various research and development positions in the COMSAT Laboratory and as Chief Scientist of COMSAT System Division. His major research areas at COMSAT spanned across secure communications, channel coding, digital signal processing, and high-definition television. In recognition of his accomplishments, he has been awarded the COMSAT Exceptional Invention Award, the 1985 COMSAT Research Award, and the 1988 COMSAT Research Award.

Dr. Lee is a Fellow of IEEE. He has authored or co-authored over 20 US patents, more than two dozen journal and conference papers, and a chapter of a book.