KEYDET CLUB KEYDET CLUB Bossard ’56 Establishes New Scholarship
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n fall 2012, Bernard B. Bossard ’56 signed an agreement that created a new scholarship within the Keydet Club – the Bernard B. Bossard ’56 Athletic Scholarship. By doing so, he continued what is an amazing record of support for VMI. As a cadet, he was known for the long hours of study he invested, as he pursued his electrical engineering degree. That strong work ethic certainly helped him when, after Army service, he worked for the Bossard ’56 U.S. Army Research Laboratories and then RCA Communications, specializing in the development of radars and microwave communications. In 1968, he left RCA to found National Electronic Laboratories, which developed various solid-state devices. The company merged with KMC Semiconductor in 1970, manufacturing microwave transmission devices and helping to develop a critical component for the Patriot air-defense missile. In 1977, he joined Horizon House-Microwave, Inc. and I/ TTIC. At the former, he was responsible for publishing three publications related to the electronics industry, including The Journal of Electronic Defense, which had a combined circulation of 200,000. As president of I/TTIC, he oversaw the design and installation of various internet and microwave communications systems. In the 1980s, while a partner in the Suite 12 Group, he invented and patented broadband wireless technology, including a revolutionary television system that could broadcast television, voice and data. He is a former executive vice president and chief technical officer of CellularVision USA, Inc. and CellularVision Technology & Telecommunications LP, which developed various applications for the technology. Because of his extensive knowledge and research in the telecommunications industry, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) awarded his company with “pioneer’s preference” which ultimately resulted in ownership of the lucrative New York territory. Between 1959 and 1994, he wrote more than 50 professional articles and delivered 11 formal papers to the FCC. He was a consultant on projects related to the manned space program, including Apollo, as well as to the National Security Agency. Due to the pioneering nature of his work, he has been awarded 11 patents. Not surprisingly, Bossard is recognized as a leading American scientist. Popular Science recognized his achievements by presenting him its “Best of What’s New Award”
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in 1994. The following year, Popular Mechanics presented him with its Design and Engineering Award. He also received an FCC Pioneer Preference Award for his television system in the New York Metropolitan Area. Naturally, his expertise and knowledge have been widely sought, and as a result, he was a guest lecturer at eight universities and received over 30 guest speaker invitations from technical groups in the field. In addition to science and technology, he has taken an active interest in international affairs. His support of the State of Israel was recognized in 1998 when he was one of only two recipients of Israel’s 50th Anniversary Tribute Award; the other awardee was former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. He also has given VMI many years of volunteer service. From 1994-2002, he was a member of the VMI Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He took a year-long break and then joined the Keydet Club Board of Governors, serving through June 2009. His colleagues on these boards are quick to praise the service he rendered. “I served with Bernie on the VMI Foundation’s Board of Trustees,” recalled VMI’s superintendent, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62. “He always was keenly interested in what would make VMI a better place to live and learn for cadets. The experience in business that he brought to the board of trustees gave us someone from whom we all learned a lot.” Keydet Club President William A. Paulette ’69 said, “Unlike many of our board members, Bernie wasn’t an intercollegiate athlete as a cadet. But that didn’t matter to him, because he never saw what the Keydet Club does solely in terms of supporting VMI athletics. For him, it is support for all of VMI and for every cadet, period.” There is, however, one aspect of VMI to which Bossard does pay particular attention: its music programs. According to Col. John Brodie, VMI’s music director, Bossard has been a staunch supporter of VMI’s cadet-musicians. “He was a member of the band his entire cadetship,” said Brodie, “and he always told me that the band was ‘a great place’ for him.” Bossard has sponsored numerous trips of the band and the Glee Club to New York City. Whenever he came to VMI, Brodie recalls, he would visit the band’s offices and pay close attention to its parade performances. In 2007, when he heard that the VMI Regimental Band had been selected to perform in the Tournament of Roses Parade, Bossard was determined to help raise money to support the band’s trip. “He first made a sizeable donation,” remembers Brodie. “Then, he challenged the VMI family to match it, and they did.” It is interesting to note, however, that he did not want people to know he had made the initial challenge gift. According to Greg Cavallaro ’84, CEO of the VMI Keydet Club, who has worked with Bossard for decades, Bossard’s request for anonymity was quite normal. “When it comes to VMI, Bernie is never interested in getting credit. He focuses entirely on helping VMI and especially her cadets, faculty and coaches.” Bossard has compiled an enviable record of giving in support of
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