ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, will deliver the keynote address at the 2016 ARRL National Convention banquet, held in conjunction with Orlando HamCation®. The banquet will take place on Saturday, February 13, 2016, at the historic Highland Manor in Apopka, Florida. Tickets are available on the ARRL National Convention website.

Sumner will retire in May, and his address will be part retrospective, part a look toward the future. He joined the Headquarters staff in 1968 for the summer and became a part of the permanent staff in 1972. He was named Secretary and General Manager of ARRL in 1982, with a change in title to Executive Vice President in 1985, and named CEO in 2001.

He has traveled to more than 60 countries in connection with his ARRL and International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) responsibilities which include 17 years as IARU Secretary.

First licensed as KN1ZND in 1962 at age 13, Sumner has been active in most phases of Amateur Radio operating. He is an avid CW contester and has served on the judging committees of World Radiosport Team Championships in Slovenia (2000), Finland (2002), Brazil (2006), Russia (2010), and New England (2014). Sumner is the trustee of the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station W1AW and of IARU club station NU1AW.

The 2016 ARRL National Convention, hosted by Orlando HamCation, will take place February 12-14 in Orlando, Florida. The February 13 banquet will host additional speakers and presentations, including a special recognition of HamCation’s 70th anniversary.

Visit the 2016 ARRL National Convention website for additional details and information.