Clayton J. Thomas Award

About the MORS Clayton J. Thomas Award

Established in 1999, the Thomas Award recognizes outstanding individuals for their contributions to the analytical foundations of the operations research profession. Recipients are recognized as exceptional individuals who have consistently pursued sharing knowledge and talents with others in the field, delivering technically sound evidence to national security decision makers, and providing sustained technical achievements and contributions that have improved the analytical underpinnings and tools of the military operations research profession.

The call for nominations is released annually in the spring.

Purpose

  • To set up a tribute to Clayton J. Thomas, one of the original 28 directors of MORS, 9th MORS President from 1973-1974, and a respected colleague who gave so much enduring value to the national security operations research community.
  • To give evidence to the belief of MORS that operations research represents a symbiosis of people and systems applying the scientific method to build quantitative models, manipulate data, and evaluate results.
  • To emphasize that progress in national security research includes continuous improvement to a kit of analytic tools. We therefore seek to identify and recognize members of our profession who have excelled in individual achievement and have expanded the application of national security operations research techniques and improved its set of analytical tools.
  • To consider the development of the analytical underpinnings of national security research and to inspire members of the community to continue participating in the advancement of the profession by emphasizing its analytical foundations.

Criteria

Nominees should exhibit the following:

  • Distinguished service over time as a practitioner in national security operations research, resulting in important improvements to our tools and to the application of our analytical capabilities.
  • Enhancement of the image and substance of national security operations research as a unique scientific discipline and as a means for providing technically sound alternatives to decision makers.
  • Extension of individual knowledge and talents to others in the profession, leading to improvement of our analytic capabilities.

Note: Current MORS Sponsors and members of the MORS Board of Directors are not eligible for this award.

Past Award Winners


2023 - Dr. Sheldon Jacobson

2022 - Dr. Dean S. Hartley, III

2021 - Ms. Pamela I. Blechinger

2020 - Dr. Janet A. McLeavey

2019 - Brig Gen Andrew P. Armacost, USAF

2018 - Mr. Harrison Schramm

2017 - Mr. Dennis R. Baer

2016 - Dr. Timothy Hope

2015 - Dr. Harry J. Thie, FS

2014 - Mr. Kirk A. Michealson, FS

2013 - Dr. Mark A. Gallagher

2012 - Dr. William Forrest Crain

2011 - Dr. Robert S. Sheldon, FS

2010 - Dr. Gerald G. Brown

2009 - Mr. Richard F. Deckro

2008 - Mr. Richard E. Rosenthal

2007 - Mr. Jerome J. Bracken

2006 - Mr. Stephen J. Balut

2005 - Alan R. Washburn

2004 - Mr. Stuart H. Starr, FS

2003 - Mr. Joseph J. Bolmarcich

2002 - Mr. Gregory S. Parnell, FS

2001 - Mr. Edward P. Kerlin

2000 - Mr. Alfred G. Brandstein

1999 - Mr. Robert L. Helmbold