WOODROW WILSON HIGH SCHOOL Alumni
PORTLAND, OREGON

http://www.wilsonalumni.com

MILITARY SPOTLIGHT

ROBERT ACKER (1983)
US Air Force Reserves

Robert Acker passed away unexpectedly on November 10, 2014 at the age of 49, while on an afternoon run near him home. Robert was born March 29, 1965, in Hartford, CT, to Robert and Bonnie Acker. He graduated as valedictorian of his class at Wilson High School in 1983. With a four-year ROTC scholarship, Robert earned a BS in aeronautical and astronomical engineering from MIT in 1987. He subsequently earned an MS in aeronautical and astronomical engineering from MIT in 1988 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1994. Robert also was an officer in the Air Force Reserves. Robert’s distinguished career in aeronautics and high tech communications spanned 20 years. From 1994 to1996, he was vice president and general manager of Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation, where he secured contracts with NASA to build an unmanned research aircraft. From 1997-2004, he was one of the first employees and founding vice presidents of XM Satellite Radio, where he developed MyFi, the first portable satellite radio receiver, and secured a patent for key features standard in most portable satellite radios used today. Two Harvard Business School case studies were written about Robert’s experience writing the XM business plan and launching the service, both of which are taught at business schools around the country. From 2004 to 2006, he was vice president of music services for RealNetworks. From 2006 to 2008, he was senior vice president of marketing for Dash Navigation, where he launched the company’s first product. From 2008 to 2010, he was vice president and general manager of Aha Radio, where he built and led the worldwide team that created the industry-leading automotive cloud platform. Most recently, he was president and CEO of Seek Thermal, a company that recently unveiled its smartphone accessory that enables people to “see heat” through high quality thermal imaging. A California memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church on Santa Cruz Avenue. An Oregon memorial service and interment was held December 22, 2014 at Calvin Presbyterian Church in Tigard, OR.