History

Softronics Ltd. was incorporated in the State of Iowa in 1984 by Robert H. Sternowski to pursue opportunities in medical electronics.  The first 15 years saw a series of small consulting and prototype efforts in medical electronics.  The last five years have seen a steady increase in business as Mr. Sternowski prepared to retire from his 34 year career at Rockwell Collins Inc.  We are a successful bidder and winner of several Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contracts, and are also working on several proprietary commercial projects, including two projects teamed with universities.

Softronics can provide detailed references (e.g, DUNS, DoD CAGE code, credit, etc.) as required.  We are already a registered veteran-owned small business with many agencies of the U.S. Government, including the Department of Defense.

As the founder and driving force behind Softronics Ltd., Mr. Sternowski is now working full time at Softronics Ltd. since his January, 2004, retirement from Rockwell Collins.  He brings with him a broad spectrum of experience from circuit and RF system design to engineering management to product line management to business development and sales in both commercial and government/military markets.  Armed with this experience, he has carefully selected his staff with the requisite skill mix to provide highly-competent, state-of-the-art technical design, manufacturing, and support services to Softronics’ customers.

A brief synopsis of Mr. Sternowski’s experience and resume follow; full staff resumes can be provided as required.

POSITIONS:

2004-Present.  President, Softronics Ltd.  Responsibilities include business development, corporate management, system engineering, and project management.

1973-2004.  Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA. Various positions in engineering and program/product management of military and commerical radio and communications equipment and systems design, manufacture and support. 1973-1975 radio, power supply  designer.  1975-1977 program manager.  1977-1980 engineering department head (125 people).  1980-1998 business area manager for special projects, special communications, surveillance systems and electronics warfare.  1998-2001 engineering director, advanced projects, surveillance and electronic warfare (110 people, $25M annual budget).  2001- 2004. Senior member of technical staff for special projects, including communications, homeland security, and advanced satellite systems.  Conceive, analyze, research, propose, present and design advanced, quick-reaction, first-of-a-kind solutions to special project requirements requiring wireless/radio.  Produce internal business/market/product plans to justify pursuit/investment.  Includes communications, EW systems and techniques.  Do analysis, competitive/threat research, conceptual design & oversight, report writing, field tests, customer presentations and reviews, installations.  Noted “out-of-the-box” thinker.  Considerable domestic and international travel.

1972-1973.  Corning Glass Works Inc, Wilmington, NC.  Shift Foreman, metal film resistor plant. Executed daily manufacturing plan, supervised 12 people on rotating four shifts.

EDUCATION:

  • BS, Electrical Engineering, University of Dayton

  • Master of Commerce, University of Richmond

  • MS, Electrical Engineering, Iowa State University

PATENTS:

  • US 3,927,363: Current Limited Self-saturating DC/DC Converter

  • US 5,886,081: Efficient Dielectrically Heatable Compound and Method

  • US 5,973,308: Efficient Dielectric Heater

  • US 6,169,678: Dielectric Heating Using Spread Spectrum Energy

  • US 6,297,758: Electro-Optical Scanning Analog-to-Digital Converter

PUBLICATIONS

  • “Using Preselectors to Improve HF Performance”, Communications International, May, 1980.

  • “Digital Signal Processing (DSP): Trends, Benefits and Challenges”, Digital Avionics Systems Conference, London, UK, 1997.

  • “HF Radio Systems & Circuits”, Chapter 5.6 (Modular Radio), Noble Publishing, Atlanta, 1998.

  • “Adaptive Radio for Multimedia Wireless Links”, IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, May, 1999.

  • “Aviation Communications Symposium”, AAAA tutorial given at Ft Monmouth, NJ, March, 2001.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:

  • Registered Professional Engineer (Electrical), State of Iowa

  • Commercial radiotelephone license, since 1964

  • Amateur radio license, since 1963

  • Served on Defense Science Board, 2002/2003 term, “Wideband CDMA” Study

 

© Softronics Ltd. 2004.  Contact Webmaster with questions/comments at bobs@softronicsltd.com

Page last updated:  10 November 2007