Cochran and Yücesan Receive 2026 Kimball Medal

James J. Cochran and Enver Yücesan have each been awarded the 2026 George E. Kimball Medal by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences, or INFORMS, for decades of volunteer service and transformative contributions to operations research and the management sciences. The announcement, dated October 19, 2026, recognizes their work in education, publishing, conference leadership, humanitarian analytics and international collaboration. The medals will be presented at the 2026 INFORMS Annual Meeting in San Francisco, scheduled for November 1–4.

Named in honor of George E. Kimball, a pioneer in operations research, the medal is one of INFORMS’ most distinguished service honors. According to the association, it recognizes individuals whose volunteer leadership and dedication have strengthened the profession, supported its community and advanced INFORMS’ mission. INFORMS describes itself as the world’s largest association for professionals and students in operations research, analytics, artificial intelligence and data science. Its network includes more than 12,000 members spanning academia, industry and government. The awards place Cochran and Yücesan alongside a service honor intended to recognize sustained contributions to the professional community rather than a single research result.

Cochran, a professor at the University of Alabama, has served INFORMS and the operations research and analytics profession for nearly three decades. A defining contribution in his record was his leadership as general chair of the 2005 INFORMS Annual Meeting, which had been scheduled for New Orleans. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the city, Cochran oversaw the meeting’s relocation to San Francisco in less than 10 weeks. He has also worked to develop educational programs, professional initiatives and collaborative communities that expand access to operations research, particularly in developing nations and underserved regions.

Cochran co-founded Statistics Without Borders and INFORMS Pro Bono Analytics, connecting analytics expertise with humanitarian, public-health and educational challenges. His service has included editing INFORMS Transactions on Education and leading development of the eight-volume Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Management Science. These efforts span teaching, scholarly communication, professional participation and the use of analytical methods in public-service settings. INFORMS said they have strengthened the profession and broadened public understanding of operations research, analytics and statistics. The medal citation therefore encompasses not only his professional leadership within INFORMS but also efforts to build collaborative networks and connect specialized expertise with wider social needs.

Yücesan, a professor at INSEAD, was recognized for sustained service through scholarly leadership, professional service and efforts to broaden the field’s reach. His editorial work at Management Science, the INFORMS Journal on Computing and IISE Transactions helped shape scholarship in simulation and stochastic modeling. He also contributed through leadership in the INFORMS Simulation Society and the Winter Simulation Conference, where his work helped extend the conference’s international reach into Asia. As program co-chair of the 2022 INFORMS Annual Meeting, he helped improve the meeting’s structure and accessibility. INFORMS CEO and Executive Director Elena Gerstmann said Cochran and Yücesan exemplify the extraordinary impact dedicated volunteers can have on a professional community. Their leadership, generosity and commitment to service, she said, created opportunities for others, strengthened professional connections and extended the reach of operations research around the world.

Subject of Research: Awards recognizing long-term service to the operations research profession

Article Title: INFORMS awards 2026 George E. Kimball Medal to James J. Cochran and Enver Yücesan

Article References: INFORMS awards 2026 George E. Kimball Medal to James J. Cochran and Enver Yücesan. Original publication (Bibliographic details unavailable.)

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Keywords: INFORMS, operations research, George E. Kimball Medal, James J. Cochran, Enver Yücesan, analytics, professional service, education, publishing, international collaboration, awards, George