The SPEC Achievement Awards
SPEC relies on a large number of volunteers to accomplish its goals. They come from vendors,
universities, research labs and other member organizations. While most of these volunteers
are paid by their organizations to work with SPEC, many of them go above and beyond what
they are required to do.
It's for these types of contributors that SPEC initiated its annual awards program. There
are three types of awards based on nominations by fellow SPEC member representatives and
the Kaivalya Dixit Distinguished Dissertation Award selected by a special SPEC Research
Group (SPEC/RG) committee.
The SPEC Presidential Award
This is SPEC's highest honor, recognizing one person annually who has provided outstanding
service and leadership to SPEC over a significant period of time.
This year's award recognizes the contributions of a long-time board member who oversaw the
operation of the SPEC office and led the development of multiple benchmarks over more than
two decades of industry service.
The Kaivalya Dixit Distinguished Dissertation Award
The Kaivalya Dixit Distinguished Dissertation Award, named in
memory of SPEC's long-time president Kaivalya Dixit, honors outstanding dissertations within
the scope of the SPEC Research Group. The award encompasses a diverse range of entries, including
the design of metrics for system evaluation as well as the development of methodologies, techniques
and tools for measurement, load testing, profiling, workload characterization, dependability, and
efficiency evaluation of computing systems.
The SPECtacular Award
This is for individuals who have significantly exceeded expectations
in their contributions to SPEC during the course of the year or over several years. It's typically
given to someone who has led development of a new benchmark or tool, or has made extraordinary
contributions to a SPEC committee.
The SPEC Contributor Award
This award is given to an individual or a team that made significant
contributions to bringing a new benchmark, tool, project or event to a successful conclusion.
Special Recognition
Jeff Reilly was given special recognition for his multi-decade
contributions as SPEC CPU chair, board member, and secretary to the board.
Reilly, who guided multiple releases of the industry-standard
SPEC CPU benchmark, has retired from his position as SPEC CPU chair. According to SPEC president
David Reiner, "the SPEC family will always be grateful for Jeff Reilly's significant impact
on making SPEC what it is today."
The 2019 SPEC Achievement Awards