An IBM Fellow is an appointed position at IBM made by IBM’s CEO. Typically only 4 or 5 IBM Fellows are appointed each year, at the annual Corporate Technical Recognition Event (CTRE) event in June. It is considered to be the highest honor a technologist at IBM can achieve.

The IBM Fellows program was founded in 1962 by Thomas J. Watson, Jr., as a way to promote creativity among the company’s “most exceptional” technical professionals. The first appointments were made in 1963. The criteria for appointment are stringent and take into account only the most significant technical achievements. In addition to a history of extraordinary accomplishments, candidates must also be considered to have the potential to make continued contributions. IBM Fellows are given broad latitude to identify and pursue projects in their area of expertise.

Since 1963, 180 IBM Fellows have been appointed. Of these, 59 are active employees (in 2004). The IBM Technical Community numbers about 191,000 people, including 339 Distinguished Engineers.