CONTACT: Tina Angelone
212-626-0532
angelone@acm.org

IMMEDIATE

New York, January 7, 1998...David H. Brandin, senior vice president for International Operations at ClariNet Communications Corporation, has been selected as the recipient of the 1997 Association for Computing Machinery's (ACM) Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented to an individual on the basis of value and degree of services to the computing community at large. Brandin will receive the award during the ACM awards banquet, on May 10,1998, which will be held in conjunction with ACM's Policy '98 Conference* in Washington, D.C.

Brandin is recognized for his contributions significantly to both the technical and organizational infrastructure of the international computing community. As stated in the awards citation "his technical contributions include seminal work in artificial intelligence, telecommunications, robotics and vision, computer science and applied systems engineering. His organizational contributions include over 30 years of dedicated service to the Association in multifarious positions and to furthering the international dissemination of emerging information network technology. In particular, he has distinguished himself through attainment of the most senior leadership roles thereby serving and impacting both the ACM and other computing organizations in significant ways."

Brandin has a distinguished career in computer science and communications and a strong background in research and networking. He has served as vice president and director of computer science at SRI International and as executive vice president and director of Interop Inc. In 1982, Brandin was elected president of the ACM and in 1995 became an ACM Fellow. He chaired the first US Department of Commerce JTECH study on Japanese computer science and co-authored The Technology War, J. Wiley & Sons, NY.

About the ACM
ACM is a major force in advancing the skills of information technology professionals and students. ACM serves its global membership by delivering cutting-edge information and transferring ideas from theory to practice. ACM, with its world-class journals and magazines, dynamic special interest groups, numerous conferences, workshops and forums, is a primary resource to the IT field. For additional information on ACM, visit the web site at http://www.acm.org.

*About Policy '98
The ACM Policy '98 Conference will be held in Washington, DC, May 9 - 12, 1998. Concerned with shaping the future applications of computing, the conference aims to increase the influence of computer professionals in policy decisions -- by establishing an intellectual foundation for discussion, and by reaching out to policy makers. The Conference is sponsored by USACM, the Association for Computing Machinery Public Policy Committee, and targets audiences from industry, government, academia, and journalism involved specifically with computing technology policy issues. For more information about Policy '98, please visit the web site at http://www.acm.org/usacm/events/policy98