Richard E. Merwin Award for Distinguished Service

For outstanding service to the profession at large, including significant service to the Computer Society or its predecessor organizations

The Computer Society's highest level volunteer service award. A bronze medal and $5,000 are given for outstanding service to the profession at large, including significant service to the Computer Society or its predecessor organizations.

Award nominations require a minimum of 3 endorsements by the award deadline.

Review the Nomination Questions for this award (pdf). The award is presented at the IEEE CS Awards Ceremony.

2025 Richard E. Merwin Subcommittee Chair

John D. Johnson

President/Founder, Docent Institute

About Richard E. Merwin

Past Recipients

2024 Joseph Bumblis: For contributions to the electrical and computer engineering profession, IEEE, IEEE Computer Society, and academic excellence in computer networking and engineering education.
2023 Ron Vetter: For exceptional contributions to the computing profession and sustained impactful service to the IEEE Computer Society.
2022 Laurel Kaleda: For exemplary service, leadership, and dedication to the IEEE Computer Society and the Computing Profession at large.
2021 Dejan S. Milojicic: For distinguished service to the IEEE Computer Society, with impactful, innovative, and long-lasting contributions to the profession.
2020 Roger U. Fujii: For his sustained and innovative leadership contributions to IEEE Computer Society standards, strategic activities, and financial transformation.
2019 John W. Walz: For service to the Computer Society with dedication and strong leadership aligned with a visionary strategic plan.
2018 Sorel Reisman: For sustained contributions, leadership, and service to the IEEE Computer Society, the IEEE and the computing profession at large.
2017 Susan K. “Kathy” Land: For exemplifying true volunteer spirit and commitment to excellence, for significant and continuing contributions that support the vision and mission of the IEEE and the Computer Society.
2016 Michael R. Williams: In recognition of exemplary contributions to the computing profession through outstanding scholarship and enduring and committed volunteer participation and leadership of the IEEE Computer Society.
2015 Rangachar Kasturi: For exemplifying a true volunteer spirit and a commitment to excellence through significant and continuing contributions supporting the vision and mission of the IEEE and the Computer Society.
2014 Stephen L. Diamond: For distinguished leadership and service to the IEEE, IEEE Computer Society and the Computing profession.
2012 Carl K. Chang: For outstanding contributions and exemplary leadership and service to the IEEE Computer Society and the computing profession.
2009 Willis K. King: For exemplary service to the IEEE Computer Society and the computing profession at large.
2006 Benjamin W. Wah: For outstanding achievements, sustained leadership, and dedicated service to the IEEE Computer Society.
2005 Mario R. Barbacci: For outstanding achievements and dedicated service to the IEEE Computer Society.
2004 Murali R. Varanasi: For sustained contributions and leadership in Computer Science and Computer Engineering education and accreditation.
2003 Doris. L. Carver: For dedicated and sustained leadership to the computing profession and to the IEEE Computer Society.
2002 Bruce D. Shriver: For outstanding service to both the Computer Society and the computing profession that continues to have enormous impact on responsible governance, high quality publications, conferences, and the international community.
2001 Ronald G. Hoelzeman: For dedication and sustained leadership resulting in improvements in Computer Society products and services through improved infrastructure.
2000 Gerald L. Engel: For continuing and significant contributions to the educational activities in the computer field and the profession.
1999 James H. Aylor: For dedication and sustained long-term leadership resulting in the development of significant innovations in Computer Society products and services, especially in the area of printed and electronic publications.
1998 Edward A. Parrish
1997 Duncan H. Lawrie
1996 Ming T. (Mike) Liu
1995 James T. Cain: For outstanding sustained contributions and leadership in education and the computer profession.
1994 Helen M. Wood: For outstanding and sustained contributions and leadership to the society and the institute, particularly in the area of standards, publications, and information services.
1993 C. V. Ramamoorthy: For contributions to the publications, conferences, and education activities of the computer profession.
1992 Roy L. Russo
1990 Martha Sloan: In recognition of outstanding contributions to the computer profession.
1989 Stanley Winkler
1987 Oscar N. Garcia: In recognition of outstanding contributions to the computer profession.
1986 Theodore H. Bonn
1985 Tse-yun Feng
1984 Rex Rice: In recognition of outstanding contributions to the computer profession.
1983 Merlin G. Smith
1982 Sidney Fernbach: In recognition of outstanding contributions to the profession.
1981 Stephen S. Yau: In recognition of outstanding contributions to the computer profession.