William T. Pecora Awards

By National Land Imaging Program

William T. Pecora award nominations are now being accepted. Nominations for the 2026 award will be accepted until May 29, 2026.

About the Pecora Award

Dr. William Pecora, USGS Director, 1965-71 — Dr. William Thomas Pecora, Director of the USGS. Served from 1965-1971. Later served as Under Secretary of the Interior.

The William T. Pecora Award is presented annually to individuals or teams using satellite or aerial remote sensing that make outstanding contributions toward understanding the Earth (land, oceans and air), educating the next generation of scientists, informing decision makers or supporting natural or human-induced disaster response. The award is sponsored jointly by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The award was established in 1974 to honor the memory of Dr. William T. Pecora, former Director of the U.S. Geological Survey and Under Secretary, Department of the Interior. Dr. Pecora was a motivating force behind the establishment of a program for civil remote sensing of the Earth from space. His early vision and support helped establish what we know today as the Landsat satellite program.

The award consists of a citation and plaque, which are presented to the recipient at an appropriate public forum by the Secretary of the Interior and the NASA Administrator or their representatives. The name of the recipient is also inscribed on permanent plaques, which are displayed by the sponsoring agencies.

Eligibility

Any individual or group working in the field of remote sensing of the Earth is eligible to receive the William T. Pecora Award. We accept nominations for public and private sector individuals, teams, organizations, and professional societies. Both national and international nominations are welcome. Previous nominees not selected as recipients may be re-nominated for future awards.

Visit the Eligibility webpage for the full nomination process.

William T. Pecora Award Recipients

Presented annually since 1974 the award was established to recognize outstanding individuals or teams working toward understanding the Earth (land, oceans and air), educating the next generation of scientists, informing decision makers or supporting natural or human-induced disaster response.

Visit the Recipient webpage for a full list of awardees.