Citation
In recognition of the breadth of career contributions of Professor Brooks within Computer Science and Engineering (CSE); and his interdisciplinary contributions to visualization methods for Biochemistry. Within CSE, he pioneered early computer development, then for IBM managed the development of the hardware and software for System/360, a landmark for its time that still influences the computer field today. He led the development of innovations in computer graphics and the application of computer graphics to the visualization and manipulation of biochemically important molecules.

The ACM Allen Newell Award was established to recognize both career interdisciplinary contributions and career breadth of contributions to Computer Science. Both were characteristics of the career of the great computer scientist after whom the award is named.

It is fitting that the first ACM Allen Newell Award be made to another great computer scientist, Professor Fred Brooks of the University of North Carolina. His career has included major contributions to the hardware and software most used in the computer world for two decades: the System/360 hardware and software. Working for IBM, he was the manager for the development of this hardware and software. He also made important architectural contributions to the pioneering Harvest and Stretch computers.

In Computer Science, he led the invention and engineering many of the methods and tools of computer graphics. This work on computer graphics was done in the context of displaying and manipulating visual models of complex molecules of importance to Biochemistry. The visualization tools he helped to develop are now standard tools in Biochemistry.

He is the author of the extremely influential book, The Mythical Man Month: Essays in Software Engineering, and the equally influential essay "No Silver Bullet."

Professor Brooks is a winner of the National Medal of Technology, the IEEE John von Neumann Medal, and many other high honors in Computer Science and Engineering. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has served the national with the distinction on the National Science Board and the Defense Science Board.