The SIGSIM Distinguished Contributions Award recognizes individuals based on their overall contributions to the field of modeling and simulation, including technical innovations, publications, leadership, teaching, mentoring, and service to the SIGSIM community. The selected awardees are recognized for their contributions in several of the following areas:
- Technical contributions through scholarly publications appearing in archival journals, conference proceedings, books or monographs that have had an impact on producing new knowledge or improving the practice of M&S.
- Editorial responsibilities for M&S publications, such as department editor, area editor, or editor-in-chief.
- Conference management responsibilities for M&S related conferences, including program chair, proceedings editor, general chair, or organizing committee.
- Significant contributions in M&S education, including teaching of M&S subjects and/or the development of students who have made notable contributions to the discipline of M&S themselves.
- Contributions in the mentoring of colleagues or co-workers to advance the practice and recognition of M&S within an organization or the public domain.
- Service via elected offices in SIGSIM and/or other M&S societies.
The award was first bestowed on Prof. David Nicol in 2007. If an awardee is selected, it is presented at the Winter Simulation Conference.