Computer Pioneer Award

The Computer Pioneer Award was established in 1981 by the IEEE Computer Society Board of Governors to recognize individuals whose contributions to the computer field were made at least fifteen years prior. The award honors those who played a significant role in creating and sustaining the computer industry. It is presented on a silver medal engraved with the recognition. The award has since been renamed the "Women of the ENIAC Computer Pioneer Award."

There are two types of recipients: Computer Pioneer Charter Recipients and Computer Pioneer Recipients. Charter Recipients were individuals who met the criteria at the award's inception in 1981 and had previously received IEEE Computer Society awards before that year. Annual recipients have been recognized since 1981 for their contributions to computer concepts and development.

Notable Computer Pioneer Charter Recipients include Howard H. Aiken, known for large-scale automatic computation; John W. Backus, who developed FORTRAN; J. Presper Eckert and John W. Mauchly, creators of ENIAC, the first all-electronic computer; Grace M. Hopper, a pioneer in automatic programming; Donald E. Knuth, known for his work on computer algorithms; and Konrad Zuse, credited with the first process control computer.

The nomination process is open to all members of the profession, who can submit candidates they believe are most eligible by October 15 each year. The award aims to celebrate visionaries whose efforts have shaped the computer industry.