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 |
| 2023 | Kelly Senecal - Medal | Convergent Science, Inc. |
| 2023 |
Mansour Masoudi (Lead) - Paper Nick Poliakov Sahm Noorfeshan |
Emissol LLC Emissol LLC Admedes Inc. |
| 2022 | Pat Szymkowicz - Medal | General Motors Global Research and Development |
| 2022 | Anand Alembath - Paper | Missouri University of Science and Technology |
| Brian Mooney | Missouri University of Science and Technology | |
| Shashidhara Mannepalya Rajashekharaiah | Faurecia Clean Mobility-Columbus IN, USA | |
| Atul Shinde | Faurecia Clean Mobility-Columbus IN, USA | |
| Joseph Smith | Missouri University of Science and Technology | |
| 2021 | Dr. Athanasios Konstandopoulos - Medal | Aristotle University of Thessaloniki |
| 2021 | Christopher Sharp - Paper | Southwest Research Institute |
| Gary Neely | Southwest Research Institute | |
| Sandesh Rao | Southwest Research Institute | |
| Bryan Zavala | Southwest Research Institute | |
| 2020 | Donald W. Stanton - Medal | Cummins |
| 2020 | David Kovacs - Paper | IAV GmbH |
| Christoph Bertram | IAV GmbH | |
| Marian Mennig | IAV GmbH | |
| Reza Rezaei | IAV GmbH | |
| 2019 | Stefan Pischinger - Medal | FEV Group GmbH |
| 2019 | Jan Eismark - Paper | Chalmers University of Technology |
| Mats Andersson | Chalmers University of Technology | |
| Magnus Christensen | AB Volvo | |
| Ingemar Denbratt | Chalmers University of Technology | |
| Anders Karlsson | Chalmers University of Technology | |
| 2018 | Aleksey Yezerets - Medal | Cummins Inc. |
| 2018 | Mrunal Joshi - Paper | Purdue University-West Lafayette |
| Cody Allen | Purdue University-West Lafayette | |
| Lisa Farrell | Cummins Inc. | |
| Dheeraj Gosala | Purdue University-West Lafayette | |
| Edward D. Joeberlein | Cummins Inc. | |
| James McCarthy Jr | Eaton Corp | |
| Aswin Ramesh | Purdue University- West Lafayette | |
| Gregory Shaver | Purdue University- West Lafayette | |
| Sirish Srinivasan | Indian Institute of Technology | |
| Alexander Taylor | Purdue University- West Lafayette | |
| Matthew VanVoorhis | Purdue University- West Lafayette | |
| Kalen Vos | Purdue University- West Lafayette | |
| 2017 | David E. Foster, PhD - Medal | University of Wisconsin – Madison, Retired |
| 2017 | Christopher Sharp - Paper | Southwest Research Institute |
| Michael Carter | California Air Resources Board | |
| Cary Henry | Southwest Research Institute | |
| Cynthia Webb | PACCAR | |
| Seungju Yoon | California Air Resources Board | |
| 2016 | Dr. Dennis Siebers - Medal | Sandia National Laboratories, Retired |
| 2016 | Noud Maes MSc - Paper | Technische Universiteit Eindhoven |
| Nico Dam | Eindhoven University Of Technology | |
| Gianluca D'Errico | Politecnico di Milano | |
| Gilles Hardy | FPT Industrial | |
| Tommaso Lucchini | Politecnico di Milano | |
| Bart Somers | Eindhoven University of Technology | |
| 2015 | Dr Rolf D Reitz - Medal | Univ of Wisconsin |
| 2014 | Randy Hessel - Paper | Univ of Wisconsin Madison |
| Dr Daniel Flowers PhD | Lawrence Livermore National Lab | |
| Mark P. B. Musculus | Sandia National Laboratories | |
| Jacqueline O'Connor PhD | Pennsylvania State University | |
| Dr Rolf D Reitz | Univ of Wisconsin | |
| 2013 | Arvind Suresh - Paper | Cummins Inc. |
| Clay Arnett | Cummins Inc. | |
| David Langenderfer | Cummins Inc. | |
| Michael Ruth | Cummins Inc. | |
| 2012 | Friedemann Schrade - Paper | IAV GmbH |
| Miles Brammer | IAV GmbH | |
| Dr Lutz Kraemer PhD | IAV GmbH | |
| Dr-Ing Kay Langeheinecke PE | IAV GmbH | |
| Jochen Schaeffner | IAV GmbH | |
| 2011 | Lyle M Pickett - Paper | Sandia National Laboratories |
| Caroline Genzale | Georgia Institute of Technology | |
| Cherian Idicheria | General Motors Global R & D | |
| Julien Manin PhD | Sandia National Laboratories | |
| Mark P.B. Musculus | Sandia National Laboratories | |
| Dr Dennis L Siebers | Sandia National Laboratories | |
| 2010 | Takaaki Kitamura - Paper | Japan Automobile Research Institute |
| Takayuki lto PhD | Japan Automobile Research Institute | |
| 2009 | Charles Mueller - Paper | Sandia National Laboratories |
| Dr Andre Boehman | Pennsylvania State Univ | |
| Glen C Martin | Caterpillar Inc. | |
| 2008 | Alexander Sappok - Paper | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 2008 | Victor W Wong | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Nominations August 12 - September 30