IEEE Medal of Honor
| IEEE Medal of Honor | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Exceptional contributions or extraordinary careers in technology, engineering, and science in the IEEE fields of interest |
| Presented by | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers |
| Reward | US$2,000,000 |
| First award | 1917 |
| Website | corporate-awards |
The IEEE Medal of Honor is the highest recognition of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). It has been awarded since 1917, and is presented to "an individual or team of up to three who have made exceptional contributions or had extraordinary careers in technology, engineering, and science in the IEEE fields of interest." The award consists of a gold medal, a bronze replica (of the medal), a certificate, and a US$2 million honorarium (increased from US$50,000 in 2025).
The medal was created by the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) as the IRE Medal of Honor. It became the IEEE Medal of Honor when the IRE merged with the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) to form the IEEE in 1963. It was decided that IRE's Medal of Honor would be presented as IEEE's highest award. Edward Field Sanford Jr., an American sculptor, designed the medal in 1917.
The first recipient was Edwin Howard Armstrong, in 1917. As of 2026, 106 people have been awarded the medal, with the latest recipient being Jensen Huang. Only one woman, Mildred Dresselhaus, has been awarded the medal, in 2015.