Description: The GRSS established the Outstanding Service Award to recognize an individual who has given outstanding service for the benefit and advancement of the Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society. The award shall be considered annually and presented if an out-standing candidate is identified.

Eligibility: GRSS membership is a requirement. Individuals who have received the GRSS Distinguished Achievement Award are not eligible within 5 years.

Award Item: Certificate.

Frequency: The award shall be presented annually to one recipient, provided a qualified candidate is nominated.

Nominee Solicitation: The nomination package has to be submitted by an IEEE GRSS member, consisting of the following:
- a nomination letter from a GRSS member (Nomination Form)
- nominee performance portfolio
- up to 3 recommendation letters from individuals familiar with the candidate’s technical contributions and achievements

Selection/Basis for Judging:
- leadership - innovation
- activity service - duration
- breadth of participation - cooperation

Presentation: The award shall be presented at an awards ceremony during the International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS, together with other IEEE GRS-S awards.

Publicity: A feature publication will be published in the IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing and/or in the GRSS Newsletter.
Schedule: The following schedule shall be the guideline:
Dec. 15.: nominations are due for awards in the following year
Dec. 20.: all nominations sent out to the Major Awards Cmte
Feb. 15.: evaluations received from the GRSS Major Awards Cmte
Spring AdCom: approval of the candidate by GRSS AdCom