Jean E. Sammet receives 2009 IEEE Computer Society Computer Pioneer Award

The IEEE Computer Society presented its 2009 Computer Pioneer Award to Jean E. Sammet for pioneering work as one of the first developers and researchers in programming languages. The Computer Pioneer Award honors individuals whose contributions to the development of the computer field occur at least 15 years earlier. Ms. Sammet accepted her award at the Computer Society's 9 June 2010 awards ceremony in Denver, Colorado.

Jean E. Sammet supervised the first scientific programming group for Sperry Gyroscope Co. from 1955-1958. While working at Sylvania Electric Products (1958-1962), she served as a key member of the original COBOL committee. She joined IBM in 1961 to manage the Boston Programming Center. She initiated the concept, and directed the development, of the first FORmula MAnipulation Compiler (the first used general language and system for manipulating nonnumeric algebraic expressions.) Sammet authored Programming Languages: History and Fundamentals , which was called an instant computer classic when published in 1969.

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