Distinguished Contributor Awards for OpenSSL 3.5

The OpenSSL Corporation and the OpenSSL Foundation are launching the Distinguished Contributor Awards, a new program formally recognizing exceptional technical contributions to each OpenSSL Library release. These awards highlight individuals who drive critical advancements and demonstrate technical leadership in the evolution of the OpenSSL Library.

For OpenSSL 3.5, released on April 8, we recognise four contributors whose work enabled the rapid integration of post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) algorithms following the finalisation of FIPS 203, FIPS 204, and FIPS 205 by NIST in August 2024. Their work ensured OpenSSL 3.5 delivered immediate support for these standards, within months of their publication, setting a benchmark for responsiveness and rigor.

OpenSSL 3.5 Distinguished Contributors

• Michael Baentsch (OpenSSL Corporation)
• Shane Lontis (Oracle)
• Dr. Paul Dale (Oracle)
• Viktor Dukhovni (OpenSSL Corporation)

Acknowledgement to Oracle

We thank Oracle for its essential role in this achievement. The contributions of Dr.Paul Dale and Shane Lontis combined with Viktor Dukhovni and Michael Baentsch were decisive in enabling the OpenSSL Library to meet the post-quantum cryptography standards of FIPS 203, FIPS 204, and FIPS 205 just months after their release. Their expertise and dedication were vital to the success of OpenSSL 3.5.

Looking Forward

The Distinguished Contributor Awards set a new precedent for recognizing the engineers who make the OpenSSL Library’s technical excellence possible. We will continue to award this distinction in each release, reinforcing our commitment to secure, standards-driven, and high-performance cryptography.