News and Events
Charles M. Vest Receives National Medal of Technology
Kavli Board Director and President Emeritus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Will Receive National Award in White House Ceremony
July 18, 2007 Oxnard, Calif.
The White House has announced that Charles M. Vest, Kavli Board Director and President Emeritus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a recipient of the 2006 National Medal of Technology – an award given by the President of the United States as the nation's highest honor for technological innovation.
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| Charles M. Vest, Kavli Board Director and President Emeritus, MIT. |
Vest was one of five recipients of the prestigious award. President
George W. Bush will present the medal to Vest and the other recipients
on July 27 in Washington, during a joint White House ceremony honoring
the 2005 and 2006 Science and Technology Laureates.
Vest was selected "for his visionary leadership in advancing America's
technological workforce and capacity for innovation through
revitalizing the national partnership among academia, government and
industry." He served as president of MIT from 1990 to 2004, and during
his tenure was also dedicated to bringing issues concerning education
and research to broader public attention, as well as to strengthening
national policy on science, engineering and education.
"Technology plays a critical role in our nation's economic strength and
high standard of living," stated Secretary of Commerce Carlos M.
Gutierrez when the awards were announced earlier this week. "These
individuals are some of the most innovative minds in America... Not
only have they done everything from improving the health of our nation
to keeping our nation more secure; they have inspired future
generations of American inventors, discoverers, teachers and
innovators."
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| National Medal of Technology |
Established by an act of Congress in 1980, the medal was first awarded
in 1985. It is given annually to America's leading innovators "who have
made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness, standard of
living, and quality of life through technological innovation."
A distinguished and independent committee appointed by the Secretary of
Commerce evaluates the merits of candidates, which are nominated
through an open and competitive solicitation process. Committee
recommendations are then forwarded to the Secretary, who makes
recommendations to the President for a final decision. The Commerce
Department's Technology Administration administers the medal program.
James Cohen
The Kavli Foundation
Director of Communications
(805) 278-7495
