The Technical Committee on Communications Quality & Reliability (CQR) is an IEEE Communications Society international professional organization that is unique in its service to the quality, reliability and security professionals of the global communications industry.  The IEEE Communications Society CQR Chair Scott Poretsky,  honored Mark Wegleitner, François Cosquer, and Howard E. Janzen with the 2018 CQR Chairman’s Award at an awards ceremony during the 2018 CQR International Workshop in Austin, Texas on May 16, 2018.

Criteria upon which recipients were selected include:

  • sustained contributions in the field of Quality, Reliability & Security of
    communications services, networks or systems;
  • a demonstration of the core value of a professional society- adding value to others; and
  • integrity consistent with that of a role model.

             

Scott Poretsky (CQR Chair) & Mark Wegleitner      Scott Poretsky & François Cosquer            Howard Janzen & Scott Poretsky

 

2017 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Mark Wegleitner, Infinera and Verizon (retired), USA
For his technical leadership planning, designing, and implementing many reliable and innovative network services for business and residential customers; for overcoming technical and business challenges to deliver high quality triple-play services to millions; for his vision to advance the digital experience and benefit the lives of people across the United States.
Mark Wegleitner, Infinera Board of Directors and former Verizon CTO
Mark Wegleitner has been a member of the Infinera Board of Directors since May 2011.  From September 2007 until his retirement in July 2010, Mr. Wegleitner serves as the Senior vice President, Technology, for Verizon Communications, Inc., a telecommunications company, where his responsibilities included technology assessment, network architecture, platform development and laboratory testing for wireline and wireless communications networks.  From July 2000 to September 2007, he served as Chief Technology Officer for Verizon, with responsibility for wireline communications technologies.  Prior to the creation of Verizon, Mr. Wegleitner held various positions in the Network Services division of Bell Atlantic, a telecommunications company, including Chief Technology Officer from January 1999 to July 2000.  Prior to joining Bell Atlantic, he worked at Bell Laboratories and AT&T General Departments.  Mr. Wegleitner holds a B.A. in Mathematics from St. john’s University and an M.S. in electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley.
François Cosquer, Nokia, France
For his stewardship of the cybersecurity community; for decades of research and innovation to advance cybersecurity; for protecting multiple generations of communication networks and their users; for encouraging and developing future security technologists; for his work as an instructor and industry role model in academia.
François Cosquer, CTO Security – Nokia Software business group

Dr. François Cosquer is CTO Security for Nokia Software business group with particular focus on NFV security.  In close collaboration with elite customers, his responsibilities cover defining guidelines and best practices for end to end solutions including supporting security R&D lifecycle from security requirements to security testing and validation.  He also supports audits, incidents response and root cause analysis activities.  In collaboration with Bell Labs research he develops technical direction, provides design and architecture expertise to end to end solutions.  He previously served as Head of Solutions Security for the Alcatel-Lucent Corporate Solutions organization and as CTO Security and Technology Strategist for the Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Business Group.

Over the past 20 years, he has held senior positions with research institutions, equipment vendors and telecommunications operators.  He draws on extensive experience in security architecture, networking, operating systems, middleware, and multimedia applications.  He has been a regular invited speaker, panelist, and chair at key industry events and conferences.  François graduated in Electronics and Computing and holds an MSc in Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering.  He currently serves as Affiliate Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Concordia, Montreal.  Before moving back to Paris in 2007, François lived in London, Manchester, Munich, Lisbon, Berlin and Ottawa and speaks fluent French, English, German and Portuguese.

Howard E. Janzen, CoolPlanet, USA

For his lifelong industry contributions and visionary leadership in the creation and global deployments of innovative, transformative technologies and networks that are the foundation of modern high reliability communications; for his service through the GIIC to bridge the digital divide; and his enthusiasm for life and adventure that brings a positive mindset to teams taking on seemingly impossible challenges.

Howard Janzen served at Cool Planet since May 2012 in a role as Executive Chairman as well as President & CEO.  He moved into the role of Chairman of the Board in December 2017.  Janzen was the Chief Executive Officer of One Communications, the country’s largest privately held multi-regional supplier of integrated telecommunications solutions to businesses, from March 2007 until its sale to Earthlink on April 1, 2011.  From January 2004 to September 2005 he served as President of Sprint Business Solutions, the business unit serving Sprint’s global business customer base with almost 10,000 employees and $12 billion in annual revenue.  From May 2003 to January 2004, he was President of Sprint’s Global Markets Group, responsible for Sprint’s $8 billion long distance business for both consumer and business customers.  From 1994 until October 2002, Janzen served as President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman from 2001, of Williams Communications Group, where he led the company in completing its almost $7 billion next generation fiber optics network and completed the largest IPO in the telecom industry at that time with peak market capitalization of $30 billion.

Beginning in 1979, Janzen served in a number of leadership roles in Williams’ energy and natural gas pipeline businesses.

Janzen currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of GTT, Sonus Networks and Vocera Communications.

Janzen earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in metallurgical engineering from The Colorado School of Mines and is a licensed Professional Engineer.  He completed the Harvard Business School Program for Management Development.  Janzen was named a Colorado School of Mines Distinguished Achievement Medalist and was inducted into the University of Tulsa, College of Engineering and Natural Sciences Hall of Fame.  Janzen serves as a board member for the Colorado School of Mines Foundation and The University of Tulsa.  He also serves on the Governor’s Science and Technology Council for the State of Oklahoma and is a Commissioner and Chairman of the Global Information Infrastructure Commission (GIIC).