Our History

George Rathmann, James Vincent, David Paul, Steve Burrill, and Robert White, founding board members

The National Science & Technology Medals Foundation honors hundreds of men and women yet was begun by a small group of individuals and one man in particular.

In 1990, George Rathmann attended an awards ceremony at which President G.H.W. Bush presented the National Medal of Technology. George was disappointed by the lack of public recognition and honor bestowed on the recipients of the nation's highest award for technological achievement. He decided to do something about it.

He gathered a group of individuals who had either received the National Medal of Technology or were involved in its presentation. He then asked several business leaders, including James Vincent, former CEO of Biogen and Steven Burrill, to join them on the board.

A foundation was created with the mission of enhancing the prominence of the National Medal of Technology and its recipients. Shortly thereafter, the Foundation board extended the charter of the Foundation to include the National Medal of Science.

In 1995, the Foundation moved its home from San Francisco to Washington, DC where it continues its mission of supporting the National Medals and honoring the Laureates.

Watch the video:
The Story of the National Science & Medals Foundation

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