This award was established and endowed in 1960 by the Engineering Mechanics Division(now Engineering Mechanics Institute) of the Society, with gifts presented by the many friends and admirers of Theodore von Karman. The award recognizes distinguished achievement in engineering mechanics, applicable to any branch of civil engineering. Age, nationality, and Society membership shall not be a consideration in making the award. The award is normally made every year on the basis of nominations submitted to the Award Selection Committee no later than November 1. It may be omitted at the discretion of the Award Selection Committee. Subject to restrictions imposed by Society policy, more than one award may be made in any given year. The award consists of a bronze medal.

Professor JN Reddy received the Theodore von Karman Medal in May 2018 at the Annual Conference of the Engineering Mechanics Institute, MIT, Boston.