Kees Van Oosbree W0AAE is a 21-year-old amateur radio operator whose story reads like a prequel to the next generation of ham radio leadership. A Minnesota native and aerospace engineering student at Iowa State, Kees isn’t just participating in the hobby—he’s reshaping it. From satellites and CW pileups to youth-led DXpeditions and remote contesting, he’s threading together high-rate operation with forward-looking innovation. In 2024, he was awarded the ARRL’s prestigious Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award—fitting recognition for a young operator already a decade ahead of the curve. It all started with a childhood visit to the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting, where a QSO map pinned with Antarctica sparked a lifelong curiosity. Unlike most of his peers, Kees wasn’t drawn in by the internet; the ionosphere did the convincing. His contest resume already includes CQ WW efforts from NØNI and a remote multi-op at ZF5T. Yet his impact extends well beyond the mic: he organized youth remote operations for DXpeditions to Rotuma and Saba, and helped build a remote station on Frying Pan Tower in the Atlantic. Technically sharp but deeply community-minded, Kees thrives in leadership roles—even as he confesses a singular love for CW rate and an obsession with perfecting 2BSIQ. He’s bullish on the future of the hobby, pointing to AI-enhanced contesting, real-time ionospheric prediction, and a rising class of remote-native hams. In 2026, he’ll represent youth at WRTC in the UK, shoulder to shoulder with the contest titans he’s long admired—N6MJ, KL9A, AA3B, and others.
looking forward to work you on the "BIRDS" it looks like you are all ready making a giant leap for "HAM KIND" 73 Phil KI6PMD..
fry pan lighthouse. If you have the $$$, you can stay overnight. Sounds like a good start for a horror movie...
Being a young man in ham radio since age of 15 and now 44 years later I can tell you it’s pretty cool talking with older people over radio who were always very support and kind I had great time over HF and I can only imagine this young man is having a blast finding our culture and lifestyle mostly hidden by outside ignorance and lack of understanding about our culture in ham radio which we like the him found some people just get it and others just don’t or won’t …!!!!
