ACM Charles P. “Chuck” Thacker Breakthrough In Computing Award

How to Nominate


The ACM Charles P. "Chuck" Thacker Breakthrough in Computing Award (the "ACM Breakthrough Award") is presented biennially to an individual or group of individuals who reflect Thacker's pioneering contributions in making a surprising or disruptive leapfrog in computing ideas or technologies, and his inspiration of generations of young computer scientists. The award is presented at the June ACM Awards Banquet and is accompanied by a prize of $100,000 plus travel expenses to the banquet and to the ACM Breakthrough Award Lecture. Financial support is provided by Microsoft.

Next Deadline

January 15, 2021  - End of Day, Anywhere on Earth (AoE), UTC -12 hrs.

Selection Criteria

The award is open to contributors at all stages of their careers. The recipient(s) of the award should have made a surprising or disruptive leapfrog in computing ideas or technologies that provides a new capability or understanding that influences the course of computing technologies in a deep and significant manner per its numerous downstream influences and outcomes. The award also celebrates Thacker's long-term research, service, and influence on generations of computer scientists. Successful nominations would include substantive letters of support from prominent individuals who are broadly representative of the nominee's or nominees' field or related fields, and that provide clear evidence of their impact.


Nominations for the ACM Breakthrough Award should be submitted using the online nomination form. Submitted materials should explain the contribution in terms understandable to a non-specialist. Each nomination involves several components:

  • Name, address, phone number, and email address of nominator (person making the nomination). The most appropriate person to submit a nomination would be a recognized member of the community who is not from the same organization as the nominee and who can address the nominee's impact on the broader community.
  • Name, address, and email address of the nominee(s) (person(s) being nominated). It is ACM's policy not to tell nominees who has nominated or endorsed them.
  • Suggested citation if the nominee(s) are selected. This should be a concise statement (maximum of 25 words) describing the key technical or professional accomplishment for which the nominee merits this award. Note that the final wording for awardees will be at the discretion of the Award Committee.
  • Nomination statement (500-1,000 words in length) addressing why the nominee(s) should receive this award. This may describe the nominee's or nominees' work in general, but should draw particular attention to the contributions that merit the award.
  • Copy of the nominee's or nominees' CV, listing publications, patents, honors, service contributions, etc.
  • Supporting letters from at least 3, and not more than 5, endorsers. Endorsers should be chosen to represent a range of perspectives and institutions and provide additional insights or evidence of the nominee's or nominees' impact. Each letter must include the name, address, and telephone number of the endorser, and should focus on the accomplishments which that endorser can attest to and place in context. The nominator should collect the letters and bundle them for submission.

For questions on the above, please contact us at, or Jade Morris, ACM Awards Committee Liaison. ACM's conflict-of-interest guidelines apply to all award nominations.