ACM Charles P. "Chuck" Thacker Breakthrough in Computing Award (nomination)

About this program

The ACM Charles P. "Chuck" Thacker Breakthrough in Computing Award, sponsored by Microsoft and presented biennially by ACM, recognizes individuals or groups who have made a surprising or disruptive leapfrog in computing and includes a $100,000 prize plus travel to the awards banquet and lecture; next nomination deadline is 15 December 2026 (AoE). Recipients are chosen for work that provides new capabilities or understanding with deep downstream influence and that reflects Thacker’s long-term research, service, and influence. Nominations are open to contributors at all career stages and must be submitted via ACM's online form, with required materials including nominator and nominee contact information (nominators ideally from a different organization), a 500–1,000 word nomination statement, a CV, a suggested 25‑word citation, and 3–5 endorsing letters whose authors must complete an ACM Code of Ethics attestation.