From 1980 to 1985 he was President of the National Research Council of Canada and was the first president of the Canadian Space Agency and coined the term Canadarm.
In 1982 he received the Gold Medal from the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers.
In 1987 he was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada.
In 1989 he was president of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.
Kerwin also served at an international level, he was president of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) from 1987–1990.In 1976, he received an honorary doctorate from Concordia University.
In 1978 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Companion in 1980.
In 1988 he was made an Officer of the National Order of Quebec.
He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and was president from 1976 to 1977.