National Medal of Technology
Encyclopedia
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation (formerly known as the National Medal of Technology) is an honor granted by the President of the United States
to American inventors and innovators who have made significant contributions to the development of new and important technology
. The award may be granted to a specific person, to a group of people or to an entire organization
or corporation
. It is the highest honor the United States can confer to a US citizen for achievements related to technological progress.
in the international arena. The first National Medals of Technology were issued in 1985 by then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan
to 12 individuals and one company. Among the first recipients were technology giants like Steve Jobs
and Stephen Wozniak, founders of Apple Computer
, and AT&T Bell Laboratories
, a veritable powerhouse in technological innovation. The medal has since been awarded annually.
On August 9, 2007, President George Bush signed the America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science) Act of 2007. The Act amended Section 16 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, changing the name of the Medal to the "National Medal of Technology and Innovation."
Each year the Technology Administration
under the U.S. Department of Commerce
calls for the nomination of new candidates for the National Medal of Technology. Candidates are nominated by their peers who have direct, first-hand knowledge of the candidates achievements. Candidates may be individuals, teams of individuals (up to 4), organizations or corporations. Individuals and all members of teams nominated must be U.S. citizens and organizations and corporations must be U.S.-owned (i.e. 50% of their assets or shares must be currently held by U.S. citizens).
All nominations are referred to the National Medal of Technology Evaluation Committee which issues recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce
. All nominees selected as finalists through the merit review process will be subject to an FBI security check. Information collected through the security check may be considered in the final selection of winners. The Secretary of Commerce is then able to advise the President of the United States as to which candidates ought to receive the National Medal of Technology. The new National Medal of Technology laureates are then announced by the U.S. President once the final selections have been made.
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
to American inventors and innovators who have made significant contributions to the development of new and important technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
. The award may be granted to a specific person, to a group of people or to an entire organization
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
or corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
. It is the highest honor the United States can confer to a US citizen for achievements related to technological progress.
History
The National Medal of Technology was created in 1980 by the United States Congress under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act. It was a bipartisan effort to foster technological innovation and the technological competitiveness of the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the international arena. The first National Medals of Technology were issued in 1985 by then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
to 12 individuals and one company. Among the first recipients were technology giants like Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
and Stephen Wozniak, founders of Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
, and AT&T Bell Laboratories
Bell Labs
Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...
, a veritable powerhouse in technological innovation. The medal has since been awarded annually.
On August 9, 2007, President George Bush signed the America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science) Act of 2007. The Act amended Section 16 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, changing the name of the Medal to the "National Medal of Technology and Innovation."
Award process
Technology Administration
The Technology Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that works with United States industries to promote economic competitiveness...
under the U.S. Department of Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
calls for the nomination of new candidates for the National Medal of Technology. Candidates are nominated by their peers who have direct, first-hand knowledge of the candidates achievements. Candidates may be individuals, teams of individuals (up to 4), organizations or corporations. Individuals and all members of teams nominated must be U.S. citizens and organizations and corporations must be U.S.-owned (i.e. 50% of their assets or shares must be currently held by U.S. citizens).
All nominations are referred to the National Medal of Technology Evaluation Committee which issues recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce
United States Secretary of Commerce
The United States Secretary of Commerce is the head of the United States Department of Commerce concerned with business and industry; the Department states its mission to be "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce"...
. All nominees selected as finalists through the merit review process will be subject to an FBI security check. Information collected through the security check may be considered in the final selection of winners. The Secretary of Commerce is then able to advise the President of the United States as to which candidates ought to receive the National Medal of Technology. The new National Medal of Technology laureates are then announced by the U.S. President once the final selections have been made.
Laureates
, there have been more than 135 individuals and 12 companies recognized. Summarized here is a list of notable laureates and a summary of their accomplishments.| Year | Name | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Fred Brooks Fred Brooks Frederick Phillips Brooks, Jr. is a software engineer and computer scientist, best known for managing the development of IBM's System/360 family of computers and the OS/360 software support package, then later writing candidly about the process in his seminal book The Mythical Man-Month... , Erich Bloch Erich Bloch Erich Bloch is a German-born American electrical engineer and administrator. He served as director of National Science Foundation from 1984 to 1990.... and Bob Evans Bob O. Evans Bob Overton Evans , also known as "Boe" Evans, was a computer pioneer and corporate executive at IBM . He led the groundbreaking development of compatible computers that changed the industry.-Early life and education:Evans was born in Grand Island, Nebraska... |
"For their contributions to the IBM System/360, a computer system and technologies which revolutionized the data processing industry…" |
| 1985 | Steve Jobs Steve Jobs Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc... and Steve Wozniak Steve Wozniak Stephen Gary "Woz" Wozniak is an American computer engineer and programmer who founded Apple Computer, Co. with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne... |
"For their development and introduction of the personal computer Personal computer A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator... …" |
| 1985 | Joseph F. Sutter | "For his contributions to the development of the commercial airliner jet, the 747…" |
| 1986 | Bernard M. Gordon | "For his invention and development of D/A and A/D Analog-to-digital converter An analog-to-digital converter is a device that converts a continuous quantity to a discrete time digital representation. An ADC may also provide an isolated measurement... conversion…" |
| 1986 | Reynold B. Johnson Reynold B. Johnson Reynold B. Johnson was an American inventor and computer pioneer. A long-time employee of IBM, Johnson is said to be the "father" of the disk drive... |
"For his invention and development of magnetic disk storage…" |
| 1987 | Robert N. Noyce | "For his inventions in the field of semiconductor Semiconductor A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter... integrated circuits…" |
| 1988 | Arnold O. Beckman | "For exceptional creativity in designing analytical instruments" (spectrophotometry Spectrophotometry In chemistry, spectrophotometry is the quantitative measurement of the reflection or transmission properties of a material as a function of wavelength... ) |
| 1988 | Edwin H. Land Edwin H. Land Edwin Herbert Land was an American scientist and inventor, best known as the co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation. Among other things, he invented inexpensive filters for polarizing light, a practical system of in-camera instant photography, and his retinex theory of color vision... |
"For the invention, development and marketing of instant photography Instant camera The instant camera is a type of camera that generates a developed film image. The most popular types to use self-developing film were formerly made by Polaroid Corporation.... ." |
| 1988 | David Packard David Packard David Packard was a co-founder of Hewlett-Packard , serving as president , CEO , and Chairman of the Board . He served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1969–1971 during the Nixon administration... |
"For extraordinary and unselfish leadership in both industry and government, particularly in widely diversified technological fields…" |
| 1989 | Herbert W. Boyer and Stanley N. Cohen | "For their fundamental invention of gene splicing techniques … and discovery of recombinant DNA Recombinant DNA Recombinant DNA molecules are DNA sequences that result from the use of laboratory methods to bring together genetic material from multiple sources, creating sequences that would not otherwise be found in biological organisms... technology" |
| 1989 | Dr. Robert R. Everett | "For his work in real-time computer technologies and applications" |
| 1989 | Helen T. Edwards Helen T. Edwards Helen Thom Edwards is an American physicist. She led the effort to design and build the Tevatron, then the world's highest energyparticle acceleratorand the first high-energy accelerator completely based on superconducting magnets.... , Richard A. Lundy, J. Ritchie Orr and Alvin Tollestrup |
"For their contributions to the design, construction and initial operation of the Tevatron Tevatron The Tevatron is a circular particle accelerator in the United States, at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory , just east of Batavia, Illinois, and is the second highest energy particle collider in the world after the Large Hadron Collider... particle accelerator" |
| 1990 | John Atanasoff | "For his invention of the electronic digital computer…" |
| 1990 | Marvin Camras Marvin Camras Marvin Camras was an electrical engineer and inventor who was widely influential in the field of magnetic recording.Camras built his first recording device, a wire recorder, in the 1930s for a cousin who was an aspiring singer... |
"For the development and commercialization of magnetic recording…" |
| 1990 | Jack Kilby Jack Kilby Jack St. Clair Kilby was an American physicist who took part in the invention of the integrated circuit while working at Texas Instruments in 1958. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics in 2000. He is credited with the invention of the integrated circuit or microchip... |
"For his invention and contributions to the commercialization of the integrated circuit Integrated circuit An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material... and the silicon thermal print-head; for his contributions to the development of the first computer using integrated circuits; and for the invention of the hand-held calculator, and gate array Gate array A gate array or uncommitted logic array is an approach to the design and manufacture of application-specific integrated circuits... ." |
| 1990 | Gordon Moore Gordon Moore Gordon Earle Moore is the co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of Intel Corporation and the author of Moore's Law .-Life and career:... |
"For his seminal leadership in … large-scale integrated memory Computer memory In computing, memory refers to the physical devices used to store programs or data on a temporary or permanent basis for use in a computer or other digital electronic device. The term primary memory is used for the information in physical systems which are fast In computing, memory refers to the... and the microprocessor Microprocessor A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and... …" |
| 1991 | Grace Murray Hopper | "For her pioneering accomplishments in the development of computer programming languages Programming language A programming language is an artificial language designed to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly a computer. Programming languages can be used to create programs that control the behavior of a machine and/or to express algorithms precisely.... …" |
| 1991 | Frederick McKinley Jones | "For … development of refrigeration Refrigeration Refrigeration is a process in which work is done to move heat from one location to another. This work is traditionally done by mechanical work, but can also be done by magnetism, laser or other means... technology … which revolutionized the preservation Food preservation Food preservation is the process of treating and handling food to stop or slow down spoilage and thus allow for longer storage.... and distribution Food distribution Food distribution, a method of distributing or transporting food or drink from one place to another, is a very important factor in public nutrition. Where it breaks down, famine, malnutrition or illness can occur... of food and other perishables…" |
| 1992 | Bill Gates Bill Gates William Henry "Bill" Gates III is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and author. Gates is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen... |
"For his early vision of universal computing at home and in the office…" |
| 1993 | Kenneth H. Olsen | "For his contributions to the development and use of computer technology" (Digital Equipment Corporation Digital Equipment Corporation Digital Equipment Corporation was a major American company in the computer industry and a leading vendor of computer systems, software and peripherals from the 1960s to the 1990s... – DEC) |
| 1994 | Irwin M. Jacobs Irwin M. Jacobs Irwin Mark Jacobs , is an electrical engineer and the co-founder and former chairman of Qualcomm, and chair of the board of trustees of the Salk Institute. In 2010, Jacobs was listed as number 828 on Forbes's annual list of the World's Top Billionaires.-Education:Jacobs earned his B.S... |
"For his development of Code Division Multiple Access Code division multiple access Code division multiple access is a channel access method used by various radio communication technologies. It should not be confused with the mobile phone standards called cdmaOne, CDMA2000 and WCDMA , which are often referred to as simply CDMA, and use CDMA as an underlying channel access... (CDMA) as a commercial technology adopted as a U.S. digital cellular standard" |
| 1995 | Alejandro Zaffaroni Alejandro Zaffaroni Alejandro Zaffaroni is a serial entrepreneur who is responsible for founding several successful biotechnology companies in Silicon Valley.... |
"For his contributions to time released medicine and serial entrepreneurship in the field of biotechnology." |
| 1996 | Stephanie Kwolek Stephanie Kwolek Stephanie Louise Kwolek is a Polish-American chemist who invented poly-paraphenylene terephtalamide—better known as Kevlar. She was born in the Pittsburgh suburb of New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Kwolek has won numerous awards for her work in polymer chemistry.- Early life and education :Kwolek was... |
"For her contributions to the discovery, development and liquid crystal processing of high-performance aramid Aramid Aramid fibers are a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. They are used in aerospace and military applications, for ballistic rated body armor fabric and ballistic composites, in bicycle tires, and as an asbestos substitute. The name is a portmanteau of "aromatic polyamide"... fibers (Kevlar)" |
| 1997 | Vinton Cerf and Robert E. Kahn | "For creating and sustaining development of Internet Protocol Internet Protocol The Internet Protocol is the principal communications protocol used for relaying datagrams across an internetwork using the Internet Protocol Suite... s" |
| 1997 | Ray Dolby Ray Dolby Ray Dolby is the American engineer and inventor of the noise reduction system known as Dolby NR. He was also a co-inventor of video tape recording while at Ampex. He is the founder of Dolby Laboratories.-Biography:... |
"For his inventions and for fostering their adoption worldwide through the products and programs of his company" |
| 1998 | Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie Dennis Ritchie Dennis MacAlistair Ritchie , was an American computer scientist who "helped shape the digital era." He created the C programming language and, with long-time colleague Ken Thompson, the UNIX operating system... |
"For co-inventing the UNIX Unix Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna... operating system and the C programming language which together have led to enormous advance to computer hardware, software and networking systems. And assimilated the growth of an entire industry thereby enhancing American leadership in the information age." |
| 1999 | Glen Culler Glen Culler Glen Jacob Culler was a professor of electrical engineering and an important early innovator in the development of the Internet. Culler joined the University of California, Santa Barbara mathematics faculty in 1959 and helped put the campus in the forefront of what would become the field of... |
"For pioneering innovations in multiple branches of computing, including early efforts in digital speech processing, invention of the first on-line system for interactive graphical mathematics computing and pioneering work on the ARPAnet." |
| 1999 | Ray Kurzweil | "For pioneering and innovative achievements in computer science such as voice recognition, which have overcome many barriers and enriched the lives of disabled persons and all Americans." |
| 1999 | Robert A. Swanson Robert A. Swanson Robert A. Swanson was a venture capitalist who cofounded the biotechnology giant Genentech in 1976 with Herbert Boyer. Genentech is a pioneer in the field, and it remains one of the leading biotech companies in the world.... |
"For his foresight and leadership in recognizing the commercial promise of recombinant DNA technology and his seminal role in the establishment and development of the biotechnology industry." |
| 1999 | Robert W. Taylor Robert Taylor (computer scientist) Robert William Taylor , known as Bob Taylor, is an Internet pioneer, who led teams that made major contributions to the personal computer, and other related technologies.... |
"For visionary leadership in the development of modern computing technology, including computer networks, the personal computer and the graphical user interface." |
| 2000 | Douglas Engelbart Douglas Engelbart Douglas Carl Engelbart is an American inventor, and an early computer and internet pioneer. He is best known for his work on the challenges of human-computer interaction, resulting in the invention of the computer mouse, and the development of hypertext, networked computers, and precursors to GUIs... |
For inventing the computer mouse and helping develop hypertext Hypertext Hypertext is text displayed on a computer or other electronic device with references to other text that the reader can immediately access, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence. Apart from running text, hypertext may contain tables, images and other presentational devices. Hypertext is the... |
| 2000 | Dean Kamen Dean Kamen Dean L. Kamen is an American entrepreneur and inventor from New Hampshire.Born in Rockville Centre, New York, he attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute, but dropped out before graduating after five years of private advanced research for drug infusion pump AutoSyringe... |
"For inventions that have advanced medical care worldwide, and for … awakening America to the excitement of science and technology." |
| 2001 | Arun Netravali Arun Netravali Arun N. Netravali is an Indian-American engineer who is a pioneer of digital technology including HDTV. He conducted seminal research in digital compression, signal processing and other fields. Netravali has been President of Bell Laboratories and Chief Scientist for Lucent Technologies.-Early... |
"pioneering contributions that transformed TV from analog to digital, enabling numerous integrated circuits, systems and services in broadcast TV, CATV, DBS, HDTV, and multimedia over the Internet; and for technical expertise and leadership, which have kept Bell Labs at the forefront in communications technology." |
| 2002 | Carl D. Keith Carl D. Keith Carl Donald Keith was a chemist who was co-inventor of the three-way catalytic converter, which has played a dramatic role in reducing pollution from motor vehicles since their introduction in the mid-1970s.... and John J. Mooney John J. Mooney John J. Mooney is an American chemical engineer who was co-inventor of the three-way catalytic converter, which has played a dramatic role in reducing pollution from motor vehicles since their introduction in the mid-1970s.... |
For inventing the three-way catalytic converter Catalytic converter A catalytic converter is a device used to convert toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine into non-toxic substances. Inside a catalytic converter, a catalyst stimulates a chemical reaction in which noxious byproducts of combustion are converted to less toxic substances by dint... |
| 2002 | M. George Craford M. George Craford Dr. M. George Craford is a distinguished American electrical engineer best known for his pioneering work in Light Emitting Diodes .Dr. Craford received his MS and PhD degrees in physics from the University of Illinois in 1967, began his professional career at the Monsanto Chemical Company, then... , Russell Dean Dupuis, Nick Holonyak Nick Holonyak Nick Holonyak, Jr. invented the first practically useful visible LED in 1962 while working as a consulting scientist at a General Electric Company laboratory in Syracuse, New York and has been called "the father of the light-emitting diode"... |
For inventing the LED |
| 2002 | Haren Gandhi | For automobile emissions control contributions |
| 2003 | Jan D. Achenbach Jan D. Achenbach -External links:... |
"For his seminal contributions to engineering research and education and for pioneering ultrasonic methods for the detection of cracks and corrosion in aircraft, leading to improved safety for aircraft structures." |
| 2003 | Watts Humphrey Watts Humphrey Watts S. Humphrey was an American software engineer, key thinker in the discipline of software engineering, and was often called the "Father of Software quality".- Biography :... |
"For his vision of a discipline Capability Maturity Model The Capability Maturity Model is a development model that was created after study of data collected from organizations that contracted with the U.S. Department of Defense, who funded the research. This model became the foundation from which CMU created the Software Engineering Institute... for software engineering Software engineering Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software... , for his work toward meeting that vision, and for the resultant impact on the U.S. Government, industry, and academic communities." |
| 2003 | Robert Metcalfe Robert Metcalfe Robert Melancton Metcalfe is an electrical engineer from the United States who co-invented Ethernet, founded 3Com and formulated Metcalfe's Law., he is a general partner of Polaris Venture Partners... |
"For leadership in the invention, standardization, and commercialization of Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies.... ." |
| 2004 | Ralph Baer | "For inventing the first video game console Video game console A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game... ." |
| 2004 | Roger Easton, Sr. Roger L. Easton Roger L. Easton is an American scientist. He is the principal inventor and designer of the Global Positioning System . In 1955, Easton co-wrote the Naval Research Laboratory's Project Vanguard proposal for a U.S. satellite program in competition with two other proposals, including a proposal from... |
"For his extensive pioneering achievements in spacecraft Spacecraft A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo.... tracking, navigation Navigation Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks... and timing Timing Timing is the time when something happens or the spacing of events in time. Some typical uses are:* The act of measuring the elapsed time of something or someone, often at athletic events such as swimming or running, where participants are timed with a device such as a stopwatch... technology that led to the development of the NAVSTAR-Global Positioning System Global Positioning System The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites... (GPS)." |
| 2005 | Ronald J. Eby, Maya Koster, Dace Viceps Madore and Velupillai Puvanesarajah | "For their work in the discovery, development and commercialization of Prevnar, the first-ever vaccine to prevent the deadly and disabling consequences of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections in children." |
| 2005 | Dean L. Sicking | "For his innovative design and development of roadside and race track safety technologies that safely dissipate the energy of high-speed crashes, helping prevent fatalities and injuries." |
| 2005 | Alfred Y. Cho Alfred Y. Cho Alfred Yi Cho is the Adjunct Vice President of Semiconductor Research at Alcatel-Lucent's Bell Labs. He is known as the "father of molecular beam epitaxy"; a technique he developed at that facility in the late 1960s. He is also the co-inventor, with Federico Capasso of quantum cascade lasers at... |
"For his contributions to the invention of the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) technology and the development of the MBE technology into an advanced electronic and photonic devices production tool, with applications to cellular phones, CD players, and high-speed communications." |
| 2006 | Leslie A. Geddes Leslie A. Geddes Leslie Alexander Geddes was an electrical engineer and physiologist. He has conducted research in electromyography, cardiac output, cardiac pacing, ventricular defibrillation, and blood pressure. He discovered and demonstrated precisely the optimal sites on the chest for defibrillation or pacing... |
"For his contributions to electrode design and tissue restoration, which have led to the widespread use of a wide variety of clinical devices. His discoveries and inventions have saved and enriched thousands of lives and have formed the cornerstone of much of the modern implantable medical device field." |
| 2006 | Paul G. Kaminski | "For his contributions to national security through the development of advanced, unconventional imaging from space, and for developing and fielding advanced systems with greatly enhanced survivability. He has made a profound difference in the national security posture and the global leadership of the United States." |
| 2006 | Herwig Kogelnik Herwig Kogelnik Herwig Kogelnik is an electrical engineer working in optical communications.He was born in Graz, Austria and received his engineering degree from the Technische Hochschule Wien in Vienna, Austria in 1955, and a Doctorate in 1958, also from the Technische Hochschule. In 1960, he received his Ph.D.... |
"For his pioneering contributions and leadership in the development of the technology of lasers, optoelectronics, integrated optics, and lightwave communication systems that have been instrumental in driving the growth of fiber optic transmission systems for our Nation's communications infrastructure." |
| 2006 | Charles M. Vest | "For his visionary leadership in advancing America's technological workforce and capacity for innovation through revitalizing the national partnership among academia, government, and industry." |
| 2006 | James Edward Maceo West James Edward Maceo West James Edward Maceo West is an American inventor and acoustician. Along with Gerhard Sessler, West developed the foil electret microphone in 1962... |
"For co-inventing the electret microphone in 1962. Ninety percent of the two billion microphones produced annually and used in everyday items such as telephones, hearing aids, camcorders, and multimedia computers employ electret technology." |
| 2007 | Paul Baran Paul Baran Paul Baran was a Polish American engineer who was a pioneer in the development of computer networks.He invented packet switching techniques, and went on to start several companies and develop other technologies that are an essential part of the Internet and other modern digital... |
"For the invention and development of the fundamental architecture for packet switched communication networks which provided a paradigm shift from the circuit switched communication networks of the past and later was used to build the ARPANET and the Internet." |
| 2007 | Roscoe O. Brady | "For the discovery of the enzymatic defects in hereditary metabolic disorders such as Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick disease, Fabry disease and Tay-Sachs disease, devising widely used genetic counseling procedures and development of highly effective enzyme replacement therapy that provided the foundation for patient treatment; and for stimulating the creation of and fostering the success of many biotechnology companies that now produce the therapeutics for the treatment of these diseases." |
| 2007 | David N. Cutler Dave Cutler David Neil Cutler, Sr. is an American software engineer, designer and developer of several operating systems including RSX-11M, VMS and VAXELN at Digital Equipment Corporation and Windows at Microsoft.- Personal history :... |
"For having envisioned, designed and implemented world standards for real-time, personal and server-based operating systems for over 30 years, carrying these projects from conception through design, engineering and production for Digital Equipment Corporation’s RSX-11 and VAX/VMS and for Microsoft’s Windows NT-based computer operating systems, and for his fundamental contributions to computer architecture, compilers, operating systems and software engineering." |
| 2007 | Armand V. Feigenbaum Armand V. Feigenbaum Armand Vallin Feigenbaum is an American quality control expert and businessman. He devised the concept of Total Quality Control, later known as Total Quality Management .... |
"For leadership in the development of the economic relationship of quality costs, productivity improvement, and profitability and for his pioneering application of economics, general systems theory and technology, statistical methods and management principles that define the Total Quality Management approach for achieving performance excellence and global competitiveness. " |
| 2007 | Adam Heller | "For fundamental contributions to electrochemistry and bioelectrochemistry and the subsequent application of those fundamentals in the development of technological products that improved the quality of life of millions across the globe, most notably in the area of human health and well-being." |
| 2007 | Carlton Grant Willson | "For creation of novel lithographic imaging materials and techniques that have enabled the manufacturing of smaller, faster and more efficient microelectronic components that better the quality of the lives of people worldwide and improve the competitiveness of the U.S. microelectronics industry." |
| 2008 | Forrest M. Bird | "For his pioneering inventions in cardiopulmonary medicine, including the medical respirator; devices that helped launch modern-day medical evacuation capabilities; and intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (IPV) technologies, which have saved the lives of millions of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other conditions." |
| 2008 | Esther Sans Takeuchi | "For her seminal development of the silver vanadium oxide battery that powers the majority of the world's lifesaving implantable cardiac defibrillators, and her innovations in other medical battery technologies that improve the health and quality of life of millions of people." |
| 2008 | John Warnock John Warnock John Edward Warnock is an American computer scientist best known as the co-founder with Charles Geschke of Adobe Systems Inc., the graphics and publishing software company. Dr. Warnock was President of Adobe for his first two years and Chairman and CEO for his remaining sixteen years at the company... and Charles Geschke Charles Geschke Charles Geschke, is best known as the 1982 co-founder with John Warnock of Adobe Systems Inc., the graphics and publishing software company.-Education:... |
"For their pioneering contributions that spurred the desktop publishing revolution and for changing the way people create and engage with information and entertainment across multiple mediums including print, Web and video." |
| 2009 | Harry W. Coover Harry Coover Harry Wesley Coover, Jr. was the inventor of Eastman 910, commonly known as Super Glue.-Life and career:Coover was born in Newark, Delaware, and received his Bachelor of Science from Hobart College before earning his Master of Science and Ph. D. from Cornell University... |
"for his invention of cyanoacrylates, a new class of adhesives that have influenced medicine and industry, and are known widely to consumers as "super" glues." |
| 2009 | Helen M. Free | "for her seminal contributions to diagnostic chemistry, primarily through dip-and-read urinalysis tests, that first enabled diabetics to monitor their blood glucose levels on their own." |
| 2009 | Steven J. Sasson Steven Sasson Steven J. Sasson , is an American electrical engineer and the inventor of the digital camera. Sasson is a 1972 and 1973 graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in electrical engineering.-Biography:... |
"for the invention of the digital camera, which has revolutionized the way images are captured, stored and shared, thereby creating new opportunities for commerce, for education and for improved worldwide communication." |
| 2009 | Federico Faggin Federico Faggin Federico Faggin , who received in 2010 the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by Barack Obama, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on scientists, engineers, and inventors, at the White House in Washington, is an Italian-born and naturalized U.S... , Marcian E. Hoff Jr. Marcian Hoff Marcian Edward "Ted" Hoff, Jr. , is one of the inventors of the microprocessor. Hoff joined Intel in 1967 as employee number 12, and is credited with coming up with the idea of using a "universal processor" rather than a variety of custom-designed circuits. His insight started the microprocessor... , Stanley Mazor Stanley Mazor Stanley Mazor is an American engineer who was born on 22 October 1941 in Chicago, Illinois. He was one of the designers of the world's first microprocessor, the Intel 4004, together with Ted Hoff, Masatoshi Shima, and Federico Faggin.-Early years:... |
"for the conception, design, development and application of the first microcomputer, a universal building block that enabled a multitude of novel digital electronic systems." |
| 2010 | Rakesh Agrawal Rakesh Agrawal Dr. Rakesh Agrawal is the Winthrop E. Stone Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. Previously he was employed for more than two decades with Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., where he was elected to the highest technical position in the... |
"for an extraordinary record of innovations in improving the energy efficiency and reducing the cost of gas liquefaction and separation. These innovations have had significant positive impacts on electronic device manufacturing, liquefied gas production, and the supply of industrial gases for diverse industries." |
| 2010 | B. Jayant Baliga B. Jayant Baliga Dr. B. Jayant Baliga is a distinguished American electrical engineer best known for his work in power semiconductor devices, and particularly invention of the insulated gate bipolar transistor. Scientific American magazine included him among the 'Eight Heroes of the Semiconductor Revolution' when... |
"for development and commercialization of the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor and other power semiconductor devices that are extensively used in transportation, lighting, medicine, defense, and renewable energy generation systems." |
| 2010 | C. Donald Bateman C. Donald Bateman Charles Donald Bateman, known as Don Bateman, is the inventor of the Ground Proximity Warning System , a device that is responsible for a marked decline in controlled flight into terrain accidents.... |
"for developing and championing critical flight-safety sensors now used by aircraft worldwide, including ground proximity warning systems and wind-shear detection systems." |
| 2010 | Yvonne C. Brill | "for innovation in rocket propulsion systems for geosynchronous and low earth orbit communication satellites, which greatly improved the effectiveness of space propulsion systems." |
| 2010 | Michael F. Tompsett | "for pioneering work in materials and electronic technologies including the design and development of the first charge-coupled device (CCD) imagers." |
See also
:Category:National Medal of Technology recipients- National Medal of ScienceNational Medal of ScienceThe National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
- National Medal of ArtsNational Medal of ArtsThe National Medal of Arts is an award and title created by the United States Congress in 1984, for the purpose of honoring artists and patrons of the arts. It is the highest honor conferred to an individual artist on behalf of the people. Honorees are selected by the National Endowment for the...