Established in 2008, this award recognizes outstanding accomplishments and leadership in the area of diesel engines. Two awards are given each year, one for Best Paper and the other, the Diesel Engine Research Medal, given to an individual for outstanding leadership in research and development in the field of diesel engines through a singular accomplishment or lifetime achievement.
The Best Paper award recognizes the authors of an original and outstanding technical paper presented at an SAE meeting about diesel engines in the on- or off-road industries.
The Medal recognizes an outstanding leader whose professional career has focused on advancing the field of diesel engines.
This award is funded through generous contributions from Dr. John H. Johnson, his colleagues and former students. Dr. Johnson is a Presidential Professor Emeritus with the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics at Michigan Technological University (MTU), and he is a fellow of SAE International and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He is an expert in the field of diesel engines and his experience spans a wide range of analysis and experimental work related to advanced engine concepts, emissions studies, fuel systems, engine simulation and exhaust after treatment.
Paper Award:
The Medal:
Members of the Selection Committee are not eligible for this award while serving on the committee. Two years must pass before former members of the Selection Committee are eligible to receive the award.
| YEAR | RECIPIENT | COMPANY |
| 2022 | Pat Szymkowicz | General Motors Global Research and Development |
| 2022 | Anand Alembath | Missouri University of Science and Technology |
| 2022 | Joseph Smith | Missouri University of Science and Technology |
| 2022 | Brian Mooney | Missouri University of Science and Technology |
| 2022 | Atul Shinde | Faurecia Clean Mobility-Columbus IN, USA |
| 2022 | Shashidhara Mannepalya Rajashekharaiah | Faurecia Clean Mobility-Columbus IN, USA |
| 2021 | Dr. Athanasios Konstandopoulos | Aristotle University of Thessaloniki |
| 2021 | Gary Neely | Southwest Research Institute |
| 2021 | Sandesh Rao | Southwest Research Institute |
| 2021 | Christopher Sharp | Southwest Research Institute |
| 2021 | Bryan Zavala | Southwest Research Institute |
| 2020 | Donald W. Stanton | Cummins |
| 2020 | David Kovacs | IAV GmbH |
| 2020 | Marian Mennig | IAV GmbH |
| 2020 | Reza Rezaei | IAV GmbH |
| 2020 | Christoph Bertram | IAV GmbH |
| 2019 | Stefan Pischinger | FEV Group GmbH |
| 2019 | Mats Andersson | Chalmers University of Technology |
| 2019 | Ingemar Denbratt | Chalmers University of Technology |
| 2019 | Jan Eismark | Chalmers University of Technology |
| 2019 | Anders Karlsson | Chalmers University of Technology |
| 2019 | Magnus Christensen | AB Volvo |
| 2018 | David E. Foster, Ph.D. | University of Wisconsin – Madison, Retired |
| 2018 | Cynthia Webb | PACCAR |
| 2018 | Michael Carter | California Air Resources Board |
| 2018 | Cary Henry | Southwest Research Institute |
| 2018 | Christopher Sharp | Southwest Research Institute |
| 2018 | Seungju Yoon | California Air Resources Board |
| 2017 | Dennis Siebers | Sandia National Laboratories, Retired |
| 2017 | Noud Maes | Eindhoven University of Technology |
| 2017 | Nico Dam | Eindhoven University of Technology |
| 2017 | Bart Somers | Eindhoven University of Technology |
| 2017 | Tommaso Lucchini | Politecnico di Milano |
| 2017 | Gianluca D'Errico | Politecnico di Milano |
| 2017 | Gilles Hardy | FPT Industrial |
| 2016 | Prof Gianluca D'Errico | Politecnico di Milano |
| 2016 | Nico Dam | Eindhoven University Of Technology |
| 2016 | Gilles Hardy PE | FPT Motorenforschung AG |
| 2016 | Tommaso Lucchini | Politecnico di Milano |
| 2016 | Noud Maes MSc | Technische Universiteit Eindhoven |
| 2016 | Dr Dennis L Siebers | |
| 2016 | Bart Somers | Eindhoven University Of Technology |
| 2015 | Dr Rolf D Reitz | Univ of Wisconsin |
| 2014 | Dr Daniel Flowers PhD | Lawrence Livermore National Lab |
| 2014 | Randy Hessel | Univ of Wisconsin Madison |
| 2014 | Mark P. B. Musculus | Sandia National Laboratories |
| 2014 | Jacqueline O'Connor PhD | Pennsylvania State University |
| 2014 | Dr Rolf D Reitz | Univ of Wisconsin |
| 2013 | Clay Arnett | Cummins Inc. |
| 2013 | David Langenderfer | Cummins Inc. |
| 2013 | Michael Ruth | Cummins Inc. |
| 2013 | Arvind Suresh | Cummins Inc. |
| 2012 | Miles Brammer | IAV GmbH |
| 2012 | Dr Lutz Kraemer PhD | IAV GmbH |
| 2012 | Dr-Ing Kay Langeheinecke PE | IAV |
| 2012 | Jochen Schaeffner | IAV GmbH |
| 2012 | Friedemann Schrade | IAV GmbH |
| 2011 | Caroline Genzale | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| 2011 | Cherian Idicheria | General Motors Global R & D |
| 2011 | Julien Manin PhD | Sandia National Laboratories |
| 2011 | Mark P. B. Musculus | Sandia National Laboratories |
| 2011 | Lyle M Pickett | Sandia National Laboratories |
| 2011 | Dr Dennis L Siebers | Sandia National Laboratories |
| 2010 | Takayuki Ito PhD | Japan Automobile Research Institute |
| 2010 | Takaaki Kitamura | Japan Automobile Research Institute |
| 2009 | Dr Andre Boehman | Pennsylvania State Univ |
| 2009 | Glen C Martin | Caterpillar Inc. |
| 2009 | Charles Mueller | Sandia National Laboratories |
| 2008 | Alexander Sappok | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 2008 | Victor W Wong | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |