President Milanović Decorates Prof. John Matthew Martinis with the Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir with Sash and Star
The President of the Republic, Zoran Milanović, decorated Prof. John Matthew Martinis, PhD, an American physicist of Croatian descent and Nobel Prize laureate in Physics, with the Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir with Sash and Star. He was decorated for his exceptional contribution to the development and promotion of quantum physics and technology on a global scale, proudly highlighting and preserving his Croatian heritage, and for particular merits in transferring top-tier scientific knowledge to the Croatian academic community, thereby significantly contributing to the international reputation of the Republic of Croatia.
Prof. John Matthew Martinis, PhD, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2025 for his joint work with John Clarke and Michel Devoret on macroscopic quantum phenomena in superconductors.
“First of all, I wish you a happy birthday. Occasions like this one today are rare. We are a small nation, and like any nation, we rightfully hold ourselves in high regard. Few people of Croatian descent, Croatian lineage, and Croatian connections have received the Nobel Prize, especially in such exact fields as the Nobel Prize in Physics, where there is no politics or pressure. After many decades, you are the first person of full Croatian descent to receive this highest award. But what is even more important than the fact that your parents are from Croatia and the island of Vis is that you constantly and proudly emphasize this,” said President Milanović. Upon presenting the Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir, President Milanović pointed out that Prof. Martinis “promotes happy and positive news about Croatia” and wished him a warm welcome to Croatia once again.
Prof. Martinis thanked the President of the Republic for the decoration and the invitation, stating that as a scientist, one always brings something unique to science. “This week, when I arrived in Croatia, I truly felt like I was coming home. I miss the community we have in San Pedro, California, and here I simply felt very welcome. I have made many friends and I truly appreciate all the effort people have put in,” added Prof. John Matthew Martinis.
At the ceremony in the Office of the President of the Republic, Prof. Martinis was accompanied by: Siniša Grgić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Kingdom of Sweden; Nicole McGraw, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Croatia; and Ross Johnston, First Secretary of the U.S. Embassy in Croatia.
Accompanying President Milanović were: Bartol Šimunić, Head of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic; Neven Pelicarić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Foreign and European Policy; Melita Mulić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society; Jadranka Žarković, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education; Velibor Mačkić, Special Advisor to the President of the Republic for the Economy; Martina Ciglević, Assistant Advisor to the President of the Republic for the Economy; and Tomislav Paškvalin, Commissioner of the President of the Republic for Sports.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana-Marija Katić, Marko Beljan