FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty will receive the WIA Foundation’s second annual Wireless Leadership Award on February 17, 2026. Information on attending the celebrated event and reserving a table is available here.
The WIA Foundation will honor FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty with the second annual Wireless Leadership Award on February 17, 2026, during the Wireless Women’s Leadership Luncheon in Washington, D.C. This event brings together senior policymakers and industry executives to recognize leadership and expand opportunities across the wireless sector.
The luncheon, hosted in partnership with the WIA Women’s Wireless Leadership Forum, is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET at the Salamander Washington DC. Trusty will accept the award and participate in a fireside chat focused on policy, workforce development, and the evolving communications landscape.
Featured industry and policy leaders
The program is expected to draw a cross-section of federal leadership and infrastructure stakeholders. Scheduled speakers include officials from NTIA, Verizon, Crown Castle, American Tower, Vertical Bridge, SBA Communications, AT&T, and other organizations across wireless infrastructure, policy, and digital solutions development—reflecting the event’s emphasis on collaboration between government and industry.
Trusty’s path to the FCC
Trusty’s recognition follows a period of rising national visibility tied to her confirmation to the Federal Communications Commission and her subsequent role in shaping telecommunications policy. Her Senate approval positioned her among the newest voices on the Commission during a time of intense focus on spectrum strategy, broadband expansion, workforce sustainability, and infrastructure investment—issues closely aligned with the WIA Foundation’s leadership mission.
Prior coverage has highlighted Trusty’s engagement with industry stakeholders and her emphasis on policies intended to support network deployment, regulatory clarity, and long-term workforce development across the communications ecosystem. The Wireless Leadership Award signals continued industry recognition of that role, particularly as federal policymakers confront the next phase of wireless evolution spanning 5G maturity, emerging 6G planning, and nationwide broadband buildout.
Continuing a leadership tradition
Now in its second year, the Wireless Leadership Award is designed to spotlight individuals whose work advances the wireless industry while opening pathways for future leaders—especially women entering technical, operational, and policy roles. By pairing the award presentation with a leadership luncheon and policy discussion, organizers aim to reinforce the connection between public-sector decision-making and private-sector infrastructure execution.
As Washington prepares for another year of spectrum debates, broadband funding implementation, and workforce challenges, Trusty’s recognition places her squarely within the policy conversations shaping the industry’s next decade.
