Watts Humphrey Awarded Prestigious National Medal of Technology
Watts S. Humphrey, founder of the SEI Software Process Program and a fellow of the SEI, has been awarded the prestigious 2003 National Medal of Technology for his contributions to the software engineering community. The National Medal of Technology is the highest honor awarded by the President of the United States to America's leading innovators. A formal ceremony took place March 14, 2005, at the White House.
The National Medal of Technology is given to individuals, teams, and/or companies for their outstanding contributions to the nation's economic, environmental, and social well-being through the development and commercialization of technology products, processes, and concepts; technological innovation; and development of the nation's technological expertise.
Humphrey came to the SEI in 1987 after 27 years with IBM Corporation
(see bio).
Since joining the SEI, Humphrey developed the basis for the Capability
Maturity Model for Software (SW-CMM), which became the generally accepted
standard for assessing and improving software processes worldwide. In 1995,
Humphrey expanded his original vision of software engineering discipline to
include methods that improve the work-life of individual software engineers
and their teams. He initiated and led the development and introduction of two
new methods, the Personal Software Process (PSP) and Team Software Process
(TSP), which have produced impressive results in the quest toward defect-free
software.
The National Medal of Technology (NMT) was established in 1980 by an Act of Congress. The medal is the nation's highest honor awarded by the President for technological innovation. The awards process generally takes over a year, beginning with the Call for Nominations and a submission deadline several months away. The NMT Evaluation Committee of distinguished, independent experts evaluates the merits of all candidates nominated through an open, competitive solicitation process. Committee recommendations are submitted to the Secretary of Commerce, who makes recommendations to the President for final selection. The National Medal of Technology laureates are announced by the White House and the Department of Commerce once the medalists are notified.
For More Information
For more information, see http://www.sei.cmu.edu/about/press/watts_release.html and http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05052/460610.stm.