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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, SpaceX founder Elon Musk and four other technology leaders have received the United States’ highest honors for scientific achievement and technological innovation, as President Donald Trump highlighted their contributions to artificial intelligence, computing and space exploration.
The awards were presented at the New Golden Age Summit on Thursday, October 8, bringing together six prominent figures whose work has helped shape the global technology industry.
Nadella and Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, while Musk, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and AMD CEO Lisa Su were awarded the National Medal of Science.
Trump recognized Nadella for his more than three decades of leadership at Microsoft, including its transformation into a major cloud computing provider and its growing role in artificial intelligence. Under Nadella, the company expanded its cloud infrastructure and services for businesses, students and consumers worldwide, while investing heavily in advanced AI systems.
“Nadella transformed Microsoft into a global leader in cloud computing and SI, built hyperscale infrastructure that enabled the training and global deployment of American SI, and helped make Microsoft one of the most valuable and influential technology companies in the world,” an X post on the official handle of White House read.
The nation’s highest honors for scientific and technological achievement. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/LGa4s75SnU
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 8, 2026
Musk was recognized for his work in space exploration, electric vehicles and satellite communications. Trump highlighted SpaceX’s reusable rocket technology, the Starlink satellite network and the company’s efforts to advance space exploration.
“An industrial titan, Musk founded SpaceX, creating the first privately developed liquid fueled rocket to reach orbit. Musk’s achievements include Starlink, X, Neuralink, SI development, Tesla’s electric vehicle and self-driving technology, and much more,” it said.
Brin was honored for developing the algorithms behind Google’s search technology, which transformed how people access information. His recent return to a more active role at Google has also coincided with the company’s efforts to advance artificial intelligence.
Huang received recognition for his contributions to graphics processing technology, which has become a critical component of modern AI infrastructure. Nvidia’s processors are widely used to train and run advanced AI models.
Su was honored for her work in semiconductor engineering and high-performance computing. Under her leadership, AMD has expanded its presence in the processor and data center markets.
Dell received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for helping make personal computers widely accessible and building a global technology company.
The ceremony also provided an opportunity for Trump to outline his administration’s priorities in science and technology. These include artificial intelligence, quantum computing, nuclear energy and space exploration.
Trump said the United States was working toward developing a quantum computer for scientific discovery by 2028. He also referred to the Genesis mission and a White House accord on superintelligence, both linked to the administration’s broader efforts to maintain American technological leadership.
The awards come as the administration seeks to accelerate AI development and expand investment in the infrastructure needed to support it, including data centers and advanced computing systems.
Established in 1959, the National Medal of Science recognizes outstanding contributions to scientific knowledge. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation honors achievements that advance technology and strengthen innovation in the United States.
Photo courtesy: x.com/WhiteHouse