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. The nomination deadline is the 15 October of each year.
>| Year | Recipient | Significant contribution | | 2018 | Barbara Liskov | for "pioneering data abstraction, polymorphism, and support for fault tolerance and distributed computing in the programming languages CLU and Argus." ([https://www.computer.org/web/pressroom/liskov-2018-computer-pioneer-award source]) |
| Bjarne Stroustrup | For pioneering C++. |
| 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 including the creation of TCCA and SIGARCH. |
| 2015 | Peter M. Kogge | For developing algorithms for recurrence, 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 | Edward Feigenbaum | For 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 E. Sammet | For pioneering work and lifetime achievement as one of the first developers and researchers in programming languages. |
| 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 Jeanings Bartik | Programmer including co-leading the first teams of ENIAC programmers, and pioneering work on BINAC and UNIVAC I |
| Edward J. McCluskey | Design and synthesis of digital systems over five decades, including the first algorithm for logic synthesis (the Quine-McCluskey method) |
| Carl A. Petri | Petri net theory (1962) and then parallel and distributed computing |
| 2006 | Mamoru Hosaka | Computing in Japan |
| Arnold M. Spielberg | Real-time data acquisition and recording that significantly contributed to the definition of modern feedback and control processes |
| 2004 | Frances E. Allen | Theory and practice of compiler optimization |
| 2003 | Martin Richards | 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 | Operating systems and concurrent programming, exemplified by work on the RC 4000 multiprogramming system, monitors, and Concurrent Pascal |
| Robert W. Bemer | ASCII, ASCII-alternate sets, and escape sequences |
| 2001 | Vernon Schatz | Electronic Funds Transfer which made possible computer to computer commercial transactions via the banking system |
| William H. Bridge | Computer and communications technology in the GE DATANET-30 |
| 2000 | Harold W. Lawson | Inventing the pointer variable and introducing this concept into PL/I |
| Gennady Stolyarov | Minsk series computers' software, of the information systems' software |
| Georgy Lopato | 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 | SPEEDAC of Sperry Corporation, and computer graphics and image processing |
| 1998 | Irving John (Jack) Good | 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 | Banking applications ERMA, and computer manufacturing |
| Francis Elizabeth (Betty) Snyder-Holberton | Sort-merge generator for the Univac and compilation |
| 1996 | Angel Angelov | Computer science technologies in Bulgaria |
| Richard F. Clippinger | Converted the ENIAC to a stored program at Aberdeen Proving Ground |
| Edgar Frank Codd | Abstract model for database management |
| Norber Fristacky | Digital devices |
| Victor M. Glushkov | Digital automation of computer architecture |
| [https://www.fi.muni.cz/usr/gruska/ Jozef Gruska] | Theory of computing and organizational activities |
| Jiri Horejs | Informatics and computer science |
| Lubomir Georgiev Iliev | Computing in Bulgaria; 1st Bulgarian computers; abstract mathematics and software |
| Robert E. Kahn | TCP/IP protocols and the Internet program |
| László Kalmár | 1956 logical machine and the design of the MIR computer in Hungary |
| [https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoni_Kili%C5%84ski Antoni Kiliński] | First commercial computers and informatics (computer science) curriculum in Poland, |
| László Kozma | 1930 relay machines, and early computers in post-war Hungary |
| Sergey A. Lebedev | Computer in the Soviet Union |
| Alexey A. Lyaponov | Soviet cybernetics and programming |
| Romuald W. Marczynski | Polish digital computers and computer architecture |
| Grigore C. Moisil | Polyvalent logic switching circuits |
| Ivan Plander | Computer hardware technology into Slovakia and the control computer |
| Arnold Reitsakas | Estonia's computer age |
| Antonín Svoboda | Computer research in Czechoslovakia and SAPO and EPOS computers |
| 1995 | Gerald Estrin | Early computers |
| David Evans | Computer graphics |
| Butler Lampson | Personal Computer |
| Marvin Minsky | Artificial intelligence |
| Kenneth Olsen | Minicomputers |
| 1994 | Gerrit A. Blaauw | IBM System/360 Series |
| Harlan B. Mills | Structured Programming |
| Dennis M. Ritchie | Unix |
| Ken L. Thompson |
| 1993 | Erich Bloch | High speed computing |
| Jack S. Kilby | Co-inventing the integrated circuit |
| Willis H. Ware | Design of IAS and JOHNNIAC computers |
| 1992 | Stephen W. Dunwell | Project stretch |
| Douglas C. Engelbart | Human computer interaction |
| 1991 | Bob O. Evans | Compatible computers |
| Robert W. Floyd | Compilers |
| Thomas E. Kurtz | BASIC |
| 1990 | Werner Buchholz | Computer architecture |
| C.A.R. Hoare | Programming languages definitions |
| 1989 | John Cocke | Instruction pipelining and RISC concepts |
| James A. Weidenhammer | High speed I/O mechanisms |
| Ralph L. Palmer | IBM 604 electronic calculator |
| Mina S. Rees | ONR Computer R&D development beginning in 1946 |
| Marshall C. Yovits |
| F. Joachim Weyl |
| Gordon D. Goldstein |
| 1988 | Friedrich L. Bauer | Computer stacks |
| Marcian E. Hoff, Jr. | Microprocessor on a chip |
| 1987 | Robert R. Everett | Whirlwind |
| Reynold B. Johnson | RAMAC |
| Arthur L. Samuel | Adaptive non-numeric processing |
| Niklaus E. Wirth | Pascal |
| 1986 | Cuthbert C. Hurd | Computing |
| Peter Naur | Computer language development |
| James H. Pomerene | IAS and Harvest computers |
| Adriann van Wijngaarden | ALGOL 68 |
| 1985 | John G. Kemeny | BASIC |
| John McCarthy | LISP and artificial intelligence |
| Alan Perlis | Computer language translation |
| Ivan Sutherland | Graphics Sketchpad |
| David J. Wheeler | Assembly language programming |
| Heinz Zemanek | Computer and computer languages for Mailüfterl |
| 1984 | John Vincent Atanasoff | Electronic computer with serial memory |
| Jerrier A. Haddad | IBM 701 |
| Nicholas C. Metropolis | Solved atomic energy problems on ENIAC |
| Nathaniel Rochester | Architecture of IBM 702 electronic data processing machines |
| Willem L. van der Poel | Serial computer ZEBRA |
| 1982 | Harry D. Huskey | Parallel computer SWAC |
| Arthur Burks | Electronic computer logic design |
| 1981 | Jeffrey Chuan Chu | Electronic computer logic design |