June 29, 2016

It is the greatest of honors and such a pleasure for me to announce the inaugural Sigma Xi Gold Key Award, Sigma Xi's highest accolade. Selected by the Executive Committee and approved by the full Board of Directors, this award recognizes truly extraordinary achievement and contribution by a member to the world of research professions encompassed by our Society.


The official citation reads:

The Gold Key Award is presented to a member who has made extraordinary contributions to his or her profession and has fostered critical innovations to enhance the health of the research enterprise, to cultivate integrity in research, or to promote the public understanding of science for the purpose of improving the human condition.

First Recipient

The first member to be so honored is Norman R. Augustine. He is the retired chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation. He also served as undersecretary of the Army and had a special faculty affiliation in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton, his alma mater. Among the awards he has received previously is the National Medal of Technology, presented by the president of the United States. 

Mr. Augustine, a member since 1958, will accept the award and present a keynote lecture at the Sigma Xi Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference this November in Atlanta.

From aerospace engineering and executive leadership at Lockheed Martin, through sterling service to our country's defense, and inspired leadership in STEM education and other issues of critical national importance, he exemplifies the meaning of the word "researcher."

Sigma Xi congratulates Mr. Augustine on being the first to receive the Gold Key Award.

Sincerely, 

John C. Nemeth, 
Executive Director and CEO
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society