PDES, Inc. is pleased to announce that Tom Thurman has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Bryan K. Martin Technical Excellence Award. This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding technical contributions to the PDES, Inc. program and honors the legacy of Bryan K. Martin, a motivating leader dedicated to advancing product data standards.

Tom Thurman is widely regarded across the standards community as a leading expert in the development and implementation of the ISO 10303 (STEP) standard. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has made sustained and impactful contributions across multiple domains, including architecture, tooling, testing, standards development, and industry adoption.

Tom has played a pivotal role in advancing the technical foundation of product data standards. His early recognition of the importance of persistent identifiers (PID/UUID technologies) and his leadership in incorporating these concepts into standards have been instrumental in enabling modern interoperability capabilities.

Tom’s influence extends deeply into the ISO TC184/SC4 WG12 community, where he has contributed to both detailed technical development and broader architectural direction. His work has supported key advancements such as semantic PMI capabilities, improvements to core STEP resources, and the development of Isogeometric Analysis (IGA) within the standard. His ability to navigate complex technical challenges and provide practical, well-founded solutions has made him a trusted resource across numerous working groups and initiatives. Additionally, Tom’s role in the EXPRESS Language Foundation is indicative of his dedication to transferring knowledge to the next generation.

Tom has been a consistent advocate for bridging standards development with real-world implementation. His active participation in CAx-IF testing activities and his contributions to recommended practices have helped ensure that standards are successfully deployed across industry. These efforts have strengthened the connection between standards bodies, software vendors, and end users.

Tom’s career reflects a rare combination of deep technical expertise, long-term commitment, and collaborative leadership. Whether contributing as an individual expert or working across diverse teams, he has demonstrated an exceptional ability to advance complex initiatives while supporting the broader community.

PDES, Inc. congratulates Tom Thurman on this well-deserved recognition and thanks him for his enduring contributions to the advancement of product data standards and interoperability.