INCOSE Awards - Hall of Leaders

As a non-profit professional engineering organization, the success of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) is entirely due to the efforts of its leaders and the many other volunteers who share their time, expertise, and knowledge to nurture the organization and advance the practice of systems engineering.

Through the Hall of Leaders, INCOSE recognizes and remembers the many individuals who have made the organization and systems engineering what it is today.

We invite you to learn about our valued members and their distinguished achievements.

Award Criteria

INCOSE strives to recognize those who contribute to the advancement of the systems engineering profession as well as the advancement of our organization. 

Criteria for our INCOSE awards are shown below: 

All award nomination packages should be sent electronically by their respective deadlines to [email protected]. An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent within one week.  If you do not receive a confirmation, please resend.

INCOSE
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Pioneer Award - Deadline 28 February

View Past Pioneer Award Recipients

All award nomination packages should be sent electronically by their respective deadlines to [email protected]. An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent within one week.  If you do not receive a confirmation, please resend.

The Pioneer Award will be presented to one distinguished individual or team, who by their achievements in the engineering of systems, has contributed uniquely to major products or outcomes enhancing society or meeting its needs. The criteria may apply to a single outstanding outcome or a lifetime of significant achievements in effecting successful systems.

Criteria

The Pioneer Award is intended to recognize outstanding pioneer- applications of Systems Engineering in the development of successful products or services of benefit to society. Some examples would include, but not be limited to; applying systems engineering principles to unique, highly complex problems; the successful application of systems engineering to brand new market segments and outstanding examples of advancing the state of the art and/or practice of systems engineering beyond its current bounds.

Nomination Process

Any INCOSE member in good standing may initiate a Pioneer Award nomination but they may only nominate or provide a letter of support for one (1) individual or team for Pioneer per year. The nominator shall prepare a nomination letter describing the nominator’s qualifications for making the nomination and the contributions made by the nominee that qualify them for consideration for this award. The nomination letter must be accompanied by a minimum of three (3) detailed letters of support. Of the three letters of support, at least two (2) shall be from INCOSE members in good standing. Each letter of support must be from an individual other than the nominator and shall state the supporter’s qualifications for supporting the nomination and why they believe the nominee is qualified for consideration for this award.

The nominator shall assemble the nomination letter and the letters of support into a nomination package and submit the nomination package to the Chair of the Honors and Awards Committee not later than 28 February for consideration. Nomination packages received after that date will not be considered.

The Honors and Awards Committee (see CMT-100: Committees) shall evaluate the Pioneer Award nomination packages and make a rank-ordered recommendation to the BOD of a maximum of three candidates for the award. The Board of Directors shall select the award recipient at the Second Calendar Quarter Board of Directors meeting by voted resolution.

Once the Board of Directors decision is made, the Chair of the Honors and Awards Committee shall prepare the citation for the Award and provide the Citation to the INCOSE Secretary within two (2) weeks following the Board of Directors decision.

Recognition

The Pioneer award will be made at the annual International Symposium with a reading of the citation and the presentation of an appropriate memento of recognition. Recipients of the Pioneer Award shall be granted for their personal use free registration for life to both the annual INCOSE symposium and the annual workshop. The recipient shall receive one additional free dinner ticket for the banquet at the annual INCOSE symposium.

Reference: INCOSE Policy REC 106: Pioneer Award

Pioneer Support Form

Pioneer Nomination Form

Fellows Award - Deadline 1 December 

 

Fellows are INCOSE members who have been recognized as having made significant sustained verifiable contributions to the field of Systems Engineering.

This recognition is awarded for life.

 

View Past Fellows Recipients

All award nomination packages should be sent electronically by their respective deadlines to [email protected]. An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent within one week. If you do not receive a confirmation, please resend your original submission.

Eligibility

Fellow awards are based upon significant verifiable contributions to the art and practice of Systems Engineering. Candidates must have been INCOSE Voting Members for a minimum of two (2) years. This eligibility requirement is not subject to waiver.

The individuals serving as (or having been elected or selected to serve as) President, President-Elect, or Executive Director of INCOSE as of the 1 December nomination deadline are not eligible to be nominated for Fellow awards.

Nomination

Candidates for INCOSE Fellow are nominated by INCOSE Voting Members. “INCOSE Voting Members” refers to Regular and Senior members as defined in the INCOSE Bylaws (this excludes Student, Corporate Advisory Board, and Associate members).

Self-nominations are not permitted. 

Criteria

 

Nominators shall select candidates who have distinguished themselves as systems engineers, who have a passion for systems engineering, and who have made significant sustained verifiable contributions to the field of systems engineering (including closely related areas such as systems theory, systems science and systems thinking). These contributions can be made by practitioners, researchers, and those who inspire and enable people to learn and put into effective practice systems principles and concepts.

Nominators shall ensure that every nominee meets the following specific criteria:

  • The nominee shall have provided significant impact through thought leadership which advanced the field of systems engineering.
  • The nominee shall be a current member with a 2-year membership minimum.
  • The nominee shall have developed and/or applied and/or promulgated approaches that enable the successful realization, use, and retirement of engineered systems.
  • The nominee shall have exhibited a significant influence on others resulting in noticeable improvement of the practice of systems engineering in industry or on major national or international efforts, and/or made significant advances in the theory/science of systems engineering, or specific innovations which have been widely adopted. This influence may be:
    • Direct (e.g., the practical application of systems engineering on challenging real-world problems)
    • Indirect (e.g., the development of a new framework, process, method, or tool adopted across multiple organizations)
    • Underpinning (e.g., a fundamental advance that advances the theoretical underpinnings of systems engineering)

Service to INCOSE is not required for a person to be nominated to be a Fellow.

Nominators are encouraged to highlight achievements that reflect the definition of systems engineering.

Nomination Process

The nominator will provide a package to the Fellows Selection Committee that will consist of a Fellow Nomination Form and Letters of Support. Forms and guidance are available at the following links:

 

Neither the Chair of the Fellows Committee, the Vice Chair of the Fellows Committee, members of the Fellows Selection Committee, the President of INCOSE, the President-Elect of INCOSE, nor the Executive Director of INCOSE (nor anyone having been elected or selected to serve an upcoming term in these positions) shall nominate or provide a letter of support.

At least four letters of support shall be provided by:

a) At least two senior decision-makers (e.g., managers or customers of the nominee’s organization(s), or academic peers at other organizations, or industry leaders, or top governmental officials), who have detailed insight into the specific contributions (to the criteria above) of the nominee.

b) At least two INCOSE Fellows who have insight into the nominee’s contributions and impact.

c) A colleague who has visibility into the wider impacts of the nominee’s contributions in the field of systems engineering beyond the nominee’s own organization if these wider impacts are not included in (a) and (b).

Nomination packages with the nomination form and the letters of support shall be emailed to [email protected] 

and shall be received by December 1st.

Presentation

The Fellow Awards will be recognized at the annual INCOSE Symposium.

Reference: INCOSE Policy REC 101: Fellows Award

Frequently Asked Questions

Please go to this link for FAQs for (1) INCOSE Fellows asked to nominate someone and (2) for people wanting to be nominated.

 

Founder's Award - Deadline 28 February

View Past Founders Award Recipients

One (1) Founder's Award will be presented annually at the International Symposium. The Founder's Award is a highly prestigious award intended to recognize an individual INCOSE member who has made major contributions to INCOSE.

All award nomination packages should be sent electronically by their respective deadlines to [email protected]. An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent within one week.  If you do not receive a confirmation, please resend.

Criteria

The Founder's Award is intended to recognize outstanding individual contributions to INCOSE, be they a single event or significant events over sustained period of service. Contributions should be of a highly significant nature and contribute positively to the advancement of INCOSE or an INCOSE Chapter. A few examples of such contributions would include, but not be limited to; extending INCOSE’s international growth, developing new Chapters, significantly advancing INCOSE’s professional status and making significant personal commitments to INCOSE such as long-term service in a leadership role.

Nomination Process

Any INCOSE member in good standing may initiate a Founder's Award nomination but they may only nominate or provide a letter of reference for one (1) Founder per year. The nominator shall prepare a nomination letter describing the nominator’s qualifications for making the nomination and the contributions made by the nominee that qualify them for consideration for this award. The nomination letter must be accompanied by a minimum of three (3) detailed letters of support, each letter from a different INCOSE member other than the nominator, who are also members in good standing. Each letter of support shall state the supporter’s qualifications for supporting the nomination and why they believe the nominee is qualified for consideration for this award.

The nominator shall assemble the nomination letter and letters of support into a nomination package and submit the nomination package electronically to the Chair of the Honors and Awards Committee not later than 28 February for consideration. Nomination packages received after that date may not be considered.

The Honors and Awards Committee (see CMT-100; Committees) shall evaluate the Founder's Award nomination packages and make a rank-ordered recommendation to the Board of Directors with a maximum of three (3) candidates for the Founders Award. The Board of Directors shall select the Founder's Award recipient at the Second Calendar Quarter Board of Directors Meeting by voted resolution.

Once the Board of Directors decision is made, the Chair of the Honors and Awards Committee shall prepare the citation for the Award and provide the Citation to the INCOSE Secretary within two (2) weeks following the Board of Directors decision. Nominators will be notified of the Board decision by the end of April.

Recognition

The Founder's award will be made at the annual International Symposium with a reading of the citation, the presentation of an appropriate memento of recognition and the presentation of a red sweater. Recipients of the Founder's Award shall be granted for their personal use free registration and one additional free dinner ticket for the banquet at the annual INCOSE symposium in the year of award.

Reference: INCOSE Policy REC 105: Founder's Award

Founders Nomination Sample

Founders Nomination Form

Outstanding Service Award - Deadline 1 December

View Past Outstanding Service Award Recipients

Purpose

Awards for outstanding service are presented to recognize INCOSE members who have contributed significant volunteer effort on behalf of INCOSE.

All award nomination packages should be sent electronically by their respective deadlines to [email protected]. An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent within one week.  If you do not receive a confirmation, please resend.

Eligibility

Nominees for the Outstanding Service Award must have been INCOSE members for a minimum of five (5) years. Under exceptional circumstances, the Board of Directors may waive this requirement. Candidates must have volunteered significant and arduous effort on behalf of INCOSE either in one act of outstanding service or through extended contributions in one (1) or more of the following three (3) areas:

  • Service at the international, national, or local level in an elected office as a chair, or as a leader of a task force, advisory group, or working group;
  • Service at the international level as an editorial, publication, or symposium leader; or
  • Service at the international level as an advocate or liaison with other professional, scientific, public, or humanitarian organizations.

Nomination

Nominators must be INCOSE members and may not self-nominate.

Posthumous nominations will not be accepted.

The nominator shall assemble the nomination package - that consists of the following:

Completed Nomination Package (MS Word or PDF):

  • Name of candidate
  • Accomplishments vs. Outstanding Service Award Criteria
  • Proposal for the citation
  • List of letters of support to match the criteria

Letters of Support provided by the nominator and at least two (2) other people. These letters are limited to two (2) typewritten pages, and should provide:

  • Name of Supporter,
  • Basis of knowledge about the candidate, which provides substantiation for the award,
  • Evaluation of the candidate against the Service Award Criteria.

Those writing letters of support should have the candidates information and qualifications available to them, but all letters of support should be independently written. 

The nominator shall assemble the nomination package and submit the complete nomination package electronically to the Chair of the Honors & Awards Committee not later than 1 December for consideration. Nomination packages received after that date may not be considered for this award. Nomination packages that are not awarded in the year they are submitted may be resubmitted for consideration the following year if the nominator so desires.

Reference: INCOSE Policy REC-102: Outstanding Service Award

Outstanding Service Nomination Form
Outstanding Service Support Form

Working Group Award

View Past Working Group Award Recipients

Eligibility

All Working Groups that have approved charters under Technical Operations are eligible to receive awards under the Working Group Awards and Recognition Program. Not all awards are awarded every year. The Awards recognise exemplary Working Group activities in specific areas: All Working Groups that have approved charters under Technical Operations are eligible to receive awards under the Working Group Awards and Recognition Program. Not all awards are awarded every year. The Awards recognise exemplary Working Group activities in specific areas:

  • Product of the Year award is presented to the Working Group that, either independently or working in collaboration with other Working Groups and/or other INCOSE stakeholders, has developed and published the product which is considered to provide the most significant value to INCOSE's stakeholders,. This award may be shared between two or more Working Groups.
  • Sustained Performance award is presented to an individual Working Group that has provided exemplary value to INCOSE stakeholders over a multi-year period.
  • Collaboration award is presented to the leadership of the Working Groups that have demonstrated the most exemplary collaboration in working with other Working Groups and/or other INCOSE stakeholders.
  • Outreach award is presented to the Working Group, or combination of Working Groups, that has made the most significant contribution to the development of INCOSE in a non-aerospace/defence domain, and/or outside of the USA.
  • Achieving the Systems Engineering Vision award is presented to the Working Group that has made the most significant contribution toward achieving the Systems Engineering Vision 2020.

Systems Engineering Influencer Award - Deadline 28 February 

View Past Systems Engineering Influencer Award Recipients

All award nomination packages should be sent electronically by their respective deadlines to [email protected]. An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent within one week.  If you do not receive a confirmation, please resend.

Purpose

INCOSE recognizes efforts and achievements of a person(s) who has been instrumental in influencing the acceptance, adoption, and implementation Systems Engineering.

Eligibility 

Candidates must have had a significant effect on influencing decision-makers, markets, industries and/or cultures to recognize the value of systems engineering and adopt or significantly increase the usage of Systems Engineering. The candidate does not need to be a systems engineer themselves, but must clearly see and communicate the value of systems engineering. They should have a demonstrated track record of successfully making the business case for the application of systems engineering in areas in which it is not currently being applied or areas in which it is not being as fully applied as would be appropriate.

Nomination Process

Any INCOSE member in good standing may initiate a nomination, but they may only nominate one (1) SE Influencer per year and provide letters of support for at most two (2) nominees per year. INCOSE members may not self-nominate. The nominator shall prepare a nomination letter describing the nominator’s qualifications for making the nomination and the contributions made by the nominee that qualify them for consideration for this award. The nomination letter must be accompanied by a minimum of three (3) detailed letters of support, each letter from a different INCOSE member other than the nominator, who are also members in good standing. At least one letter of support shall be from a member of the INCOSE Board of Directors, an INCOSE past President, an Associate or Assistant Director, an INCOSE Fellow, a working group Chair/Co-Chair, or a Chapter President or President-Elect. Each letter of support shall state the supporter’s qualifications for supporting the nomination and why they believe the nominee is qualified for consideration for this award. The letter of support should be limited to no more than two (2) pages.

Posthumous nominations shall not be accepted.

The nominator shall assemble the nomination letter and letters of support into a nomination package and submit the nomination package to the Chair of the Honors and Awards Committee no later than 28 February for consideration. Nomination packages received after that date will not be considered, unless an extension has been formally announced.

Recognition

One (1) SE Influencer Award shall be presented annually at the International Symposium. Under special circumstances, the Board of Directors’ may approve more than one award recipient in any one year.

This award shall be announced at the annual International Symposium. INCOSE shall prepare a press release to coincide with the ceremonial presentation of the SE Influencer Award. The recipient shall be asked to keep the information confidential until presentation.

Recipients of the SE Influencer Award shall be granted for their personal use, free registration to the annual International Symposium in the year of their award. If at this event a social evening is offered, two (2) complimentary tickets shall also be offered.

Reference: INCOSE Policy REC-113: Systems Engineering Influencer Award

Presidential Benefactor Award - Deadline 28 February 

View Past Presidential Benefactor Award Recipients

All award nomination packages should be sent electronically by their respective deadlines to [email protected]. An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent within one week.  If you do not receive a confirmation, please resend.

Purpose

The Presidential Benefactor Award is intended to recognize an individual member or group, who by their actions and personal generosity has contributed uniquely to the enhanced reputation and recognition of systems engineering in society-at-large, and directly to the advancement and betterment of INCOSE.

Eligibility 

Contributions should be of a highly significant nature in systems engineering and contribute positively to society at large and to the advancement and betterment of INCOSE. Some examples of such contributions include, but not be limited to: monetary contributions toward the education of students, or the emergence of a new chapter; use of systems engineering to the betterment of a humanitarian effort (such as community rebuilding); elevation of systems engineering to a national or international attention (such as publication of a Foresight Report).

Nomination Process

Any INCOSE member in good standing may initiate a Presidential Benefactor Award nomination but they may only nominate or provide a letter of support for one (1) individual or group for Presidential Benefactor per year. The nominator shall prepare a nomination letter describing the nominator’s qualifications for making the nomination and the contributions made by the nominee that qualify them for consideration for this award. The nomination letter must be accompanied by a minimum of three (3) detailed letters of support, each letter from a different INCOSE member other than the nominator, who are also members in good standing. At least one letter of support shall be from a member of the INCOSE Board of Directors, an INCOSE past President, an Associate or Assistant Director, an INCOSE Fellow, a working group Chair/Co-Chair, or a Chapter President or President-Elect. Each letter of support shall state the supporter’s qualifications for supporting the nomination and why they believe the nominee is qualified for consideration for this award.

Posthumous nominations shall not be accepted.

The nominator shall assemble the nomination letter and the letters of support into a nomination package and submit the nomination package to the INCOSE President not later than 28 February for consideration. Nomination packages received after that date will not be considered.

Recognition

The Presidential Benefactor Award shall be limited to a maximum of one (1) per year. It is anticipated that this award will not be granted annually.

This award shall be announced at the annual International Symposium. INCOSE shall prepare a press release to coincide with the ceremonial presentation of the Presidential Benefactor Award. The recipient shall be asked to keep the information confidential until presentation.

Recipients of the Presidential Benefactor Award shall be granted for their personal use, free registration to the annual International Symposium in the year of their award. If at this event a social evening is offered, two (2) complimentary tickets to this function shall also be offered.

Reference: INCOSE Policy REC-111: Presidential Benefactor Award

Joint ASEE SED/INCOSE Outstanding Systems Engineering Educator Award - Deadline 28 February

View Past Joint ASEE SED/INCOSE Outstanding Systems Engineering Educator Award Recipients

All award nomination packages should be sent electronically by their respective deadlines to [email protected]. An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent within one week.  If you do not receive a confirmation, please resend.

Purpose

The Joint ASEE SED/INCOSE Outstanding Systems Engineering Educator Award recognizes an individual, who provides/provided outstanding contributions in the field of systems engineering education and/or the education of systems engineering.

Eligibility 

This award is open to any individual that has contributed to the field of systems engineering education. The awardee must demonstrate outstanding contributions in one or more of the following criteria:

  1. Significant contribution to the creation/development of a SE academic program of long-lasting impact.
  2. Development/promotion of innovative SE instructional approaches that have long sustained effective learning and that others have potentially adopted widely.
  3. Research in SE education that others have widely adopted with effective results.
  4. Infusion of SE education in non-traditional settings (e.g., K12, systems engineering for non-engineers, systems engineering for all, etc.).
  5. Long-term sustained education of effective systems engineers.
  6. Outstanding service to promote research in systems engineering education and the outreach and adoption of SE education.

Nomination Process

Any ASEE SED or INCOSE member in good standing may initiate a Joint ASEE SED/INCOSE Outstanding Systems Engineering Educator Award nomination but they may only nominate or provide a letter of reference for one (1) Educator per year. The nominator shall prepare a nomination Policy_REC-114 Page 2 of 3 letter describing the nominator’s qualifications for making the nomination and the contributions made by the nominee that qualify them for consideration for this award, as well as a CV of the nominee highlighting their contributions to the field of systems engineering education and/or the education of systems engineers. The nomination letter must include a minimum of three (3) detailed letters of support, each letter from a different ASEE SED or INCOSE member other than the nominator, who are also members in good standing. At least one letter of support must be from a current or former ASEE SED officer and/or member of the INCOSE Academic Council. Each letter of support shall state the supporter’s qualifications for supporting the nomination and why they believe the nominee is qualified for consideration for this award. In addition, the letters of support shall include or point to evidence of fulfillment of one or more criteria defined in the Eligibility section.

Posthumous nominations are not eligible.

The nominator shall assemble the nomination letter, nominee’s CV, and letters of support into a nomination package and submit the nomination package to the Joint ASEE SED/INCOSE Award committee no later than January 1 for consideration. We will not consider nomination packages received after that date.

Recognition

The Joint ASEE SED/INCOSE committee will give one award per year. Under special circumstances, the Joint ASEE SED/INCOSE Committee may approve more than one award recipient in any one year. The Joint ASEE SED/INCOSE committee can declare the award for a given year canceled if no suitable candidates apply or receive nomination. The Joint ASEE SED/INCOSE committee will present the award at the ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition.

Recipients of the Joint ASEE SED/INCOSE Outstanding Systems Engineering Educator Award shall receive two (2) complimentary tickets for the SED Banquet at the ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition in the year of their award. 

Reference: INCOSE Policy REC-114: Joint ASEE - INCOSE Educators Award

 
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