Computer Pioneer Award
The Computer Pioneer was established in 1981 by the Board of Governors of the IEEE Computer Society to recognize and honor the vision of those people whose efforts resulted in the creation and continued vitality of the computer industry. The award is presented to outstanding individuals whose main contribution to the concepts and development of the computer field was made at least fifteen years earlier.

Nomination Deadline:

1 October 2019
Nominate

No endorsement is required.

The recognition is engraved on a silver medal specially struck for the Society.

All members of the profession are invited to nominate a colleague who they consider most eligible to be considered for this award.

 

Charter Recipients

On the occasion of the initiation of the Computer Pioneer Award, the Board of Governors of the IEEE Computer Society has named, as charter recipients of this award, the following individuals who meet the Computer Pioneer Award criteria, and who also have received previous computer awards sponsored by the Society.

 

Howard H. Aiken CR “Large-Scale Automatic Computation”
Samuel N. Alexander CR “SEAC”
Gene M. Amdahl CR “Large-Scale Computer Architecture”
John W. Backus CR “FORTRAN”
Robert S. Barton CR “Language-Directed Architecture”
C. Gordon Bell CR “Computer Design”
Frederick P. Brooks, Jr. CR “Compatible Computer Family System/360”
Wesley A. Clark CR “First Personal Computer”
Fernando J. Corbato CR “Timesharing”
Seymour R. Cray CR “Scientific Computer Systems”
Edsgar W. Dijkstra CR “Multiprogramming Control”
J. Presper Eckert CR “First All-Electronic Computer – ENIAC”
Jay W. Forrester CR “First Large-Scale Coincident Current Memory”
Herman H. Goldstine CR “Contributions to Early Computer Design”
Richard W. Hamming CR “Error-Correcting Code”
Jean A. Hoerni CR “Planar Semiconductor Manufacturing Process”
Grace M. Hopper CR “Automatic Programming”
Alston S. Householder CR “Numerical Methods”
David A. Huffman CR Sequential Circuit Design”
Kenneth E. Iverson CR “APL”
Tom Kilburn CR “Paging Computer Design”
Donald E. Knuth CR “Science of Computer Algorithms”
Herman Lukoff CR “Early Electronic Computer Circuits”
John W. Mauchly CR “First All-Electronic Computer – ENIAC”
Gordon E. Moore CR “Integrated Circuit Production Technology”
Allen Newell CR “Contributions to Artificial Intelligence”
Robert N. Noyce CR “Integrated Circuit Production Technology”
Lawrence G. Roberts CR “Packet Switching”
George R. Stibitz CR “First Remote Computation”
Shmuel Winograd CR “Efficiency of Computational Algorithms”
Maurice V. Wilkes CR “Microprogramming”
Konrad Zuse CR “First Process Control Computer”

 

 

Past Recipients
2018
Barbara Liskov

For pioneering data abstraction, polymorphism, and support for fault tolerance and distributed computing in the programming languages CLU and Argus.
2018
Bjarne Stroustrup

For bringing object-oriented programming and generic programming to the mainstream with his design and implementation of the C++ programming language.
2016
E. Grady Booch

For pioneering work in Object Modeling that led to the creation of the Unified Modeling Language (UML).
2015
Michael J. Flynn

For more than 50 years of leadership, which includes the creation of TCCA and SIGARCH, basic contributions to computer arithmetic, microarchitecture and multiprocessing, and quantitative analysis of microarchitectures.
2015
Peter M. Kogge

For the pioneering of three areas of computer architecture development of parallel algorithms for recurrence embodied in the Kogge-Stone adder, development of the multi-core microprocessor chip and the formalization of methods for designing the control of a computer pipeline.
2014
Linus Torvalds

For pioneering development of the Linux kernel using the open-source approach.
2013
Stephen B. Furber

For pioneering work as a principal designer of the ARM 32-bit RISC microprocessor.
2013
Edward Feigenbaum

For pioneering work in Artificial Intelligence, including development of the basic principles and methods of knowledge-based systems and their practical applications.
2012
Cleve Moler

For improving the quality of mathematical software, making it more accessible and creating MATLAB.
2011
David Kuck

For pioneering parallel architectures including the Illiac IV, the Burroughs BSP, and Cedar; and, for revolutionary parallel compiler technology including Parafrase and KAP Tools.
2009
Jean Sammet

For pioneering work and lifetime achievement as one of the first developers and researchers in programming languages.
2009
Lynn Conway

For contributions to superscalar architecture, including multiple-issue dynamic instruction scheduling, and for the innovation and widespread teaching of simplified VLSI design methods.
2008
Betty Jean Jennings Bartik

For pioneering work as one of the first programmers, including co-leading the first teams of ENIAC programmers, and pioneering work on BINAC and UNIVAC I.
2008
Edward J. McCluskey

For seminal contributions to the design and synthesis of digital systems over five decades, including the first algorithm for logic synthesis (the Quine-McCluskey method).
2008
Carl A. Petri

For establishing Petri net theory in 1962, which not only was cited by hundreds of thousands of scientific publications but also significantly advanced the fields of parallel and distributed computing.
2006
Mamoru Hosaka

For recognition of pioneering activities within computing in Japan.
2006
Arnold M. Spielberg

For recognition of contribution to real-time data acquisition and recording that significantly contributed to the definition of modern feedback and control processes.
2004
Frances (Fran) E. Allen

For pioneering work establishing the theory and practice of compiler optimization.
2003
Martin Richards

For pioneering system software portability through the programming language BCPL widely influential and used in academia and industry for a variety of prominent system software.
2002
Per Brinch Hansen

For pioneering development in operating systems and concurrent programming, exemplified by work on the RC4000 multiprogramming system, monitors, and Concurrent Pascal.
2002
Robert W. Bemer

For meeting the world's needs for variant character sets and other symbols, via ASCII, ASCII-alternate sets, and escape sequences.
2001
Vernon L. Schatz

For the development of Electronics Funds Transfer which made possible computer to computer commercial transactions via the banking system.
2001
William H. Bridge

For the marrying of computer and communications technology in the GE DATANET 30, putting terminals on peoples desks to communicate with and timeshare a computer, leading directly to the development of the personal computer, computer networking and the internet.
2000
Harold W. Lawson

For inventing the pointer variable and introducing this concept into PL/I, thus providing for the first time, the capability to flexibly treat linked lists in a general-purpose high level language.
2000
Gennady Stolyarov
2000
Georgiy Lopato

For pioneering development in Belarus of the Minsk series computers' hardware, of the multicomputer complexes and of the RV family of mobile computers for heavy field conditions.
1999
Herbert Freeman

For pioneering work on the first computer built by the Sperry Corporation, the SPEEDAC, and for subsequent contributions to the areas of computer graphics and image processing.
1998
Irving John (Jack) Good

For significant contributions to the field of computing as a Cryptologist and statistician during World War II at Bletchley Park, as an early worker and developer of the Colossus at Bletchley Park and on the University of Manchester Mark I, the world's first stored program computer.
1997
Homer (Barney) Oldfield

For pioneering work in the development of banking applications through the implementation of ERMA, and the introduction of computer manufacturing to GE.
1997
Frances Elizabeth (Betty) Snyder-Holberton

For the development of the first sort-merge generator for the Univac which inspired the first ideas about compilation.
1996
Angel Angelov

For computer science technologies in Bulgaria.
1996
Richard F. Clippinger

For computing laboratory staff member, Aberdeen Proving Ground, who converted the ENIAC to a stored program.
1996
Edgar Frank Codd

For the invention of the first abstract model for database management.
1996
Norbert Fristacky

For pioneering digital devices.
1996
Victor M. Glushkov

For digital automation of computer architecture.
1996
Jozef Gruska

For the development of computer science in former Czechoslovakia with fundamental contributions to the theory of computing and extraordinary organizational activities.
1996
Jiri Horejs

For informatics and computer science.
1996
Lubomir Georgiev Iliev

A founder and influential leader of computing in Bulgaria; leader of the team that developed the first Bulgarian computer; made fundamental and continuing contributions to abstract mathematics and software.
1996
Robert E. Kahn

For the co-invention of the TCP/IP protocols and for originating the Internet program.
1996
Laszlo Kalmar

For recognition as the developer of a 1956 logical machine and the design of the MIR computer in Hungary.
1996
Antoni Kilinski

For pioneering work in the construction of the first commercial computers in Poland, and for the development of university curriculum in computer science.
1996
Laszlo Kozma

For development of the 1930 relay machines, and going on to build early computers in post-war Hungary.
1996
Sergey A. Lebedev

For the first computer in the Soviet Union.
1996
Alexey A. Lyapunov

For Soviet cybernetics and programming.
1996
Romuald W. Marczynski

For pioneering work in the construction of the first Polish digital computers and contributions to fundamental research in computer architecture.
1996
Grigore C. Moisil

For polyvalent logic switching circuits.
1996
Ivan Plander

For the introduction of computer hardware technology into Slovakia and the development of the first control computer.
1996
Arnols Reitsakas

For contributions to Estonia's computer age.
1996
Antonin Svoboda

For the pioneering work leading to the development of computer research in Czechoslovakis and the design and construction of the SAPO and EPOS computers.
1995
Gerald Estrin

For significant developments on early computers.
1995
David Evans

For seminal work on computer graphics.
1995
Butler Lampson

For early concepts and developments of the PC.
1995
Marvin Minsky

For conceptual development of artificial intelligence.
1995
Kenneth Olsen

For concepts and development of minicomputers.
1994
Gerrit A. Blaauw

In recognition of your contributions to the IBM System/360 Series of computers.
1994
Harlan D. Mills

In recognition of contributions to Structured Programming.
1994
Dennis M. Ritchie

In recognition of contributions to the development of Unix.
1994
Ken L. Thompson

For his work with UNIX.
1993
Erich Bloch

For high speed computing.
1993
Jack S. Kilby

For co-inventing the integrated circuit.
1993
Willis H. Ware

For the design of IAS and Johnniac computers.
1992
Stephen W. Dunwell

For project stretch.
1992
Douglas C. Engelbart

For human machine interaction.
1991
Bob O. Evans

For compatible computers.
1991
Robert W. Floyd

For early compilers.
1991
Thomas E. Kurtz

For BASIC.
1990
Werner Buchholz

For computer architecture.
1990
C.A.R. Hoare

For programming languages definitions.
1989
John Cocke

For instruction pipelining and RISC concepts.
1989
James A. Weidenhammer

For high speed I/O mechanisms.
1989
Ralph L. Palmer

For the IBM 604 electronic calculator.
1989
Mina S. Rees

For the ONR Computer R&D; development beginning in 1946.
1989
Marshall C. Yovits
1989
F. Joachim Weyl
1989
Gordon D. Goldstein

For his work with the Office of Naval Research and computer R&R; beginning in 1946.
1988
Freidrich L. Bauer

For computer stacks.
1987
Marcian E. Hoff, Jr.

For microprocessor on a chip.
1987
Robert R. Everett

For Whirlwind.
1987
Reynold B. Johnson

For RAMAC.
1987
Arthur L. Samuel

For Adaptive non-numeric processing.
1987
Nicklaus E. Wirth

For PASCAL.
1986
Cuthbert C. Hurd

For contributions to early computing.
1986
Peter Naur

For computer language development.
1986
James H. Pomerene

For IAS and Harvest computers.
1986
Adriann van Wijngaarden

For ALGOL 68.
1985
John G. Kemeny

For BASIC.
1985
John McCarthy

For LISP and artificial intelligence.
1985
Alan Perlis

For computer language translation.
1985
Ivan Sutherland

For the graphics SKETCHPAD.
1985
David J. Wheeler

For assembly language programming.
1985
Heinz Zemanek

For computer and computer languages MAILUEFTERL
1984
John Vincent Atanasoff

For the first electronic computer with serial memory.
1984
Jerrier A. Haddad

For his part in the lead IBM 701 design team.
1984
Nicholas C. Metropolis

For the first solved atomic energy problems on ENIAC.
1984
Nathaniel Rochester

For the architecture of IBM 702 electronic data processing machines.
1984
Willem L. van der Poel

For the serial computer ZEBRA.
1982
Harry D. Huskey
1982
Arthur Burks

For his early work in electronic computer logic design.
1981
Jeffrey Chuan Chu

For his early work in electronic computer logic design.