Honorary Membership and the Honor Roll

Honorary Membership is the Society’s highest accolade. It recognizes individuals who have performed distinguished service in the advancement of engineering in motion pictures, television, or in the allied arts and sciences. Honorary Members who have passed away are named to the SMPTE Honor Roll, which also posthumously recognizes individuals who were not awarded Honorary Membership during their lifetimes but whose contributions would have been sufficient to warrant such an honor.

Honorary Membership is conferred upon Charles H. Jablonski in recognition of his decades of pushing the state-of-the-art in entertainment production and distribution, as well as his service to the education and mentorship of young entertainment engineers. He has played key roles in establishing the use of new technologies at the Olympics, in transitioning television operations and transmission from analog to digital processes, and in working with start-ups to advance and enhance the quality of content for the consumer experience. As a Fellow and recognized leader of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Jablonski has served in a variety of Section and Board roles including President (1999-2000) and continues to champion the education of the entertainment industry and provide support to those entering the industry with new ideas and ambition.