[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 116 (Tuesday, September 26, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO CHARLES R. TRIMBLE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 26, 2000

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Charles R. Trimble, 
former C.E.O. and Chairman of Trimble Navigation, who is receiving the 
American Electronics Association's (AEA) forty-seventh Medal of 
Achievement for his leadership in advancing and commercializing global 
positioning system (GPS) solutions.
  Charles Trimble exemplifies the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit 
for which Silicon Valley is internationally recognized. In 1978, 
Charles Trimble left the comfort and security of Hewlett-Packard, where 
he helped develop significant scientific achievements in signal 
processing, high-speed analog-to-digital converters, and digital time 
measurement techniques, to establish his own start-up company, Trimble 
Navigation. Once housed in an old, reconstructed theater, Trimble 
Navigation now has 23 offices in 15 countries and annual revenues that 
exceed $270 million. It was the first publicly held company engaged 
solely in developing and distributing GPS solutions. His business 
acumen and success persuaded INC Magazine to name him ``Entrepreneur of 
the Year'' in 1991.
  During his 20-year tenure at Trimble Navigation, Charles Trimble 
democratized the use of GPS technology, putting it into the hands of 
different constituencies that have employed GPS products in ways not 
originally imagined. Trimble's GPS technology now accompanies pilots in 
the air, climbers on Mount Everest, farmers in the Mid-West and 
merchants at sea. Trimble's products have increased the accuracy of 
scientific research, hygrographic surveying and even golf course 
construction. Charles Trimble's ability to communicate his vision is 
the source of Trimble Navigation's great success. For his work, he 
earned the 1996 Kershner Award and the American Institute of 
Aeronautics and Astronautics' 1994 Piper General Aviation Award.
  But Charles Trimble is more than just a voice for his company--he is 
also a voice for his industry. Since 1996, Charles Trimble has served 
as Chairman of the United States GPS Industry Council, unifying the 
industry behind a common message to policy makers, industry officials 
and the media.
  Charles Trimble's expertise and influence extend beyond the GPS 
industry. He sat on the Vice President's Space Policy Advisory Board's 
task group exploring the future of the U.S. Space Industrial Base for 
the National Space Council. He is an elected member of the National 
Academy of Engineering. Charles Trimble was also a member of the Board 
of Governors for the National Center for Asia-Pacific Economic 
Cooperation (APEC), and a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
  AEA's Medal of Achievement award recognizes that behind all great 
scientific achievements are exceptional people. I join the Silicon 
Valley community and the electronics industry in recognizing Charles 
Trimble as one of the remarkable individuals that has shaped the 
direction of this new economy and this new era of technological 
advancement.
  I ask my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to join me in honoring this great 
and good man whom I am proud to know and represent. We are indeed a 
better nation and a better people because of him.

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