| Henrikki Pantsar | TRUMPF, Inc. | 2022 |
| Gilbert Haas | Haas Laser Technologies, Inc. | 2021 |
| Gilbert Haas | Haas Laser Technologies, Inc. | 2020 |
| Minlin Zhong | Tsinghua University | 2019 |
| Milan Brandt | RMIT | 2018 |
| Paul Denney | IPG Photonics | 2017 |
| Lin Li | The University of Manchester | 2016 |
| Robert Thomas | US Air Force Research Laboratory | 2015 |
| Yongfeng Lu | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 2014 |
| Klaus Loeffler | TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik GmbH | 2013 |
| Reinhart Poprawe | Fraunhofer ILT | 2012 |
| Stephen Capp | LTC Holdings, Inc. | 2011 |
| Nathaniel Quick | AppliCote Associates LLC | 2010 |
| Rajesh Patel | Spectra Physics | 2009 |
| Andreas Ostendorf | Ruhr-University Bochum | 2008 |
| Bill Shiner | IPG Photonics | 2007 |
| Joe O'Brien | | 2006 |
| William Clark | Clark-MXR, Inc. | 2005 |
| Edward Metzbower | eamweld LLC | 2004 |
| William Lawson | New Tech Development | 2003 |
| Eckhard Beyer | Fraunhofer IWS | 2002 |
| Dana Marshall | | 2001 |
| Jyoti Mazumder | CLAIM, The University of Michigan | 2000 |
| Terry Feeley | RINS | 1999 |
| Sarah Christensen | | 1998 |
| David Sliney | Ohio State University | 1997 |
| Dave Farson | Ohio State University | 1996 |
| William Schwartz | | 1995 |
| Wendy Laurin | Photonics Spectra | 1994 |
| Robert Handren | Handren Associates, Inc. | 1993 |
| Larry Cramer | Continuum | 1992 |
| Leon Radziemski | Research Corporation | 1991 |
| C.M. Penney, Dr. | Purdue University | 1990 |
| Warren Stevenson | | 1989 |
| Michael Bass | University of Central Florida College of Optics and Photonics/ CREOL and FPCE | 1988 |
| Peter Baker | Laser Institute of America | 1987 |
| James Luxon | Kettering University | 1986 |
| Milton Chang | INCUBIC | 1985 |
| Bob Goldstein | | 1984 |
| Myron Wolbarsht | Duke University-Dept of Psychology | 1983 |
| Jack Aldridge | | 1982 |
| David Whitehouse | Whitehouse Assoc. | 1981 |
| Sidney Charschan | | 1980 |
| Robert Godwin | | 1979 |
| David Belforte | Industrial Laser Solutions | 1978 |
| Arthur Guenther | Univeristy of New Mexico/CHTM | 1977 |
| Bill Tiffany | | 1976 |
| Dave Edmunds | | 1975 |
| R. James Rockwell | | 1974 |
| Burton Bernard | | 1973 |
| James Smith | | 1972 |
| Gordon Gould | | 1971 |
| Mason Cox | | 1970 |
| Art Lubin | | 1969 |
| Art Lubin | | 1968 |
