The National Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI) is the nation’s highest honor for technological achievement, bestowed by the president of the United States on America's leading innovators. There were 5 laureates in the 1997 class.
Norman R. Augustine
Lockheed Martin Corporation
For visionary leadership of the aerospace industry, for championing technical and managerial solutions to the many challenges in civil and defense systems, and for contributions to the United States world preeminence in aerospace
Ray M. Dolby
Dolby Laboratories Inc.
For inventing technologies that have dramatically improved sound recording and reproduction, fostering their adoption worldwide, and maintaining a vision that for more than 30 years has kept the world listening.
Robert S. Ledley
Georgetown University Medical Center
For pioneering contributions to biomedical computing and engineering, including inventing the whole-body CT scanner which revolutionized the practice of radiology, and for his role in developing automated chromosome analysis for prenatal diagnosis of birth defects.
Vinton Gray Cerf, MCI and Robert E. Kahn
Corporation for National Research Initiatives
For creating and sustaining development of Internet Protocols and continuing to provide leadership in the emerging industry of internetworking.