Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

The Medal of Commendation is awarded by the Academy Board of Governors upon the recommendation of the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee. It is given “in appreciation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy.”

The first Medal of Commendation was awarded in 1977. It is not necessarily given every year.

In 1997, the Board of Governors voted to name the medal in honor of sound engineer John A. Bonner, who had been director of special projects at Warner Hollywood Studios until his death in 1996. In 1994, Bonner himself was the last person to receive the Medal of Commendation before his name was attached.

“No one better represents the concept of service and dedication to the Academy than John Bonner,” said then-Academy President Arthur Hiller. “John was dedicated to the Academy for more than 30 years. His devotion to the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater was legendary and his commitment to the Academy was simply extraordinary.”

Bonner served as an Academy Governor representing the Sound Branch and as chair of the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee and the Theater Sound Inspection Committee for many years.

David Inglish

2007 John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation Recipient

Known throughout the film industry as a superior behind-the-scenes technologist, David Inglish is the most recent recipient of the John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation. The award was presented to Inglish at the Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards Dinner held February 9, 2008.

Inglish began his career in the 1960s at Walt Disney Imagineering. In 1985 he served as project manager for Disney’s Computerized Animation Production System (CAPS), and in 1987 he produced Disney’s first all-computer-animated short film, “Oilspot and Lipstick.“ CAPS received a Scientific and Engineering Award from the Academy in 1991.

Inglish’s feature credits include “Tron,“ “The Rescuers Down Under,“ “Beauty and the Beast,“ “The Lion King,“ “Aladdin“ and “Pocahontas.“ During his nearly 30 years at Disney, he held a variety of positions with responsibility for technical facilities and operations. In 1996 he moved to Universal Studios, where he is currently the director of audio and video technology.

Inglish has been an Academy member since 1992 and has served in the Visual Effects Branch since its inception. He is a longtime member of the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee. In 2003 he became one of the founding members of the Science and Technology Council.