Each year, SPIE members are named Fellows of the Society "who have made significant scientific and technical contributions to the multidisciplinary fields of optics, photonics, and imaging." These members are also recognized for their technical achievements and for their service to the general optics community and SPIE.

This year, Robert Edmund is one of them. Edmund has been active in the field of optics and photonics for 50 years. He has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Edmund Optics since 1997 and Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1998.

Robert Edmund is committed to educating the next generation of engineers: In 2011, he dedicated the Edmund Scientific Division to outreach, and now the program teaches optics to thousands of students annually. In addition, Robert has been lobbying the U.S. Parliament on behalf of optics for more than 30 years. He is also very involved with the University of Arizona, awarding two special scholarships each year to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in optics.