To recognize individuals who have provided long-standing, exceptional service to the simulation community, the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences; the INFORMS Simulation Society has established its Distinguished Service Award, which may be given to at most one person annually. Sustained service to the simulation community should extend over a period of 15 to 20 years or longer and be acquitted with distinction. The concept of service for this award does NOT include teaching or research contributions. Areas of volunteer service include but are not limited to:

1. elected offices in simulation societies;
2. editorial responsibilities for simulation such as department editor, area editor, and editor-in-chief;
3. conference responsibilities involving simulation such as program chair, proceedings editor, general chair, and being a member of the organizing or program committee;
4. appointed positions for simulation-related activities such as serving on committees and being a newsletter editor; and
5. undertakings and actions that promote simulation in the "larger community".