In recognition of his drive, support, and empowerment of young professional (YP) members across SPE, the SPE Board of Directors renamed the Young Member Outstanding Service award in honor of Giovanni Paccaloni. Beginning with the 2021 presentations and in the future, the international award will be known as the “Giovanni Paccaloni Young Professional Service Award.”
The equivalent regional award is renamed the Regional Young Professional Outstanding Service Award, and recipients of the regional award will continue as candidates for the international award. The award is intended to encourage interests among SPE YP members that are broader than the profession, primarily recognizing excellence and leadership in service to the public and the community, as well as service to the SPE, the profession of petroleum engineering, or the petroleum industry.
Giovanni Paccaloni was the 2005 SPE President, an Honorary Member of SPE, a towering mentor, and a beloved inspirational figure for YPs around the world. He passed away in 2020 at the age of 75 years. Paccaloni inspired, guided, and helped launch many successful SPE YP programs. The Young Professionals Coordinating Committee, now known as the Young Member Engagement Committee, and the initial YP workshops he started between 2003 and 2007 were incubators for section YP activities. These programs changed the demographic of SPE and accelerated the professional membership growth. Other programs launched during his time as president are the e-Mentoring Program, the Ambassador Lecturer Program, The Way Ahead publication, and the SPE Certification program.