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50th Annual NIST Awards
Gold Medal Award
The Gold Medal Award is the highest award given by the Department of Commerce for extraordinary, notable or prestigious contributions that impact the mission of the Department of Commerce and/or one operating unit, and which reflect favorably on the Department.
Group Award
For professional execution of the 100-day report on the risks in the semiconductor manufacturing and the information and communication technology supply chains.
- Anita Balachandra
- Karen Swasey
- David Boylan
- Erika Maynard
- Maura Weber
- Christopher Denbow
- Jason Bolton
- Luke Myers
- Kyle Johnson
- Dorothea Blouin
Individual Award
For advancing world-leading metrology solutions to enhance U.S. security and economic growth through leadership of the NIST-on-a-Chip program.
- Barbara Goldstein
Group Award
For developing and deploying a Public Safety Communications Lab Network that has enabled innovative research and influenced commercial products.
- John Beltz
- Wyatt Suess
- Donald Harriss
- Roger A. Blalock
- Lisa Soucy
- Scott Ledgerwood
- Ellen Ryan
- Jonathan Cook
Group Award
For pioneering experimental techniques to generate and precisely measure the quantum entanglement of two macroscopic mechanical resonators.
- John Teufel
- José Aumentado
- Katarina Cicak
- Raymond Simmonds
- Scott Glancy
- Emanuel Knill
Individual Award
For the most precise measurement of the gravitational redshift using optical atomic clocks, further confirming Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity.
- Jun Ye
Group Award
For creating the Phish Scale, a revolutionary tool to rate socially engineered email attacks, which can strengthen an organization’s security posture.
- Kristen Greene
- Shanée Dawkins
- Jody Jacobs
- Mary Theofanos
- Jennifer Kostick
Group Award
For conception, research, development, and standardization of first‐ever tornado hazard maps and tornado load methodology for U.S. building design.
- Marc Levitan
- Long Phan
Group Award
For enabling faster, more accurate, and lower-cost system implementations through automated assessment of security control effectiveness.
- Michaela Iorga
- David Waltermire
- Dmitry Cousin
- Alexander Stein
- Stephen Banghart
- Nikita Wootten
- Wendell Piez
Group Award
For leading the development of cell characterization standards and tools to improve manufacturing and quality assurance of life-saving therapies.
- Sumona Sarkar
- Sheng Lin-Gibson
- Laura Pierce
- Steven Lund
- David Newton
Silver Medal Award
The Silver Medal Award is the second highest honor conferred by the Department of Commerce. It recognizes exceptional performance characterized by noteworthy or superlative contributions that have a direct and lasting impact within the Department.
Group Award
For innovative research to measure and quantify effects of the alkali-silica reaction on the safety of nuclear power plants for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
- Jonathan Weigand
- Sorin Marcu
- Fahim Sadek
- Adam Pintar
- Long Phan
Group Award
For improving the accuracy of DNA sequencing using the first complete human genome sequence and advancing clinical diagnoses and precision medicine.
- Justin Zook
- Justin Wagner
- Jennifer McDaniel
- Nathanael Olson
- Lindsay Harris
Group Award
For strengthening the resilience of position, navigation, and timing infrastructure and services on which global commerce and national security rely.
- Michael Bartock
- Jonathan Hardis
- Ya-Shian Li-Baboud
- James McCarthy
- Suzanne Lightman
- Karen Reczek
- Jeffrey Sherman
- Roger Brown
- Michael Lombardi
- Judah Levine
Group Award
For development of an ultrathin neutron detector with unprecedented counting efficiency, yet exhibits an exceptionally high signal to noise ratio.
- Nicholas Maliszewskyj
- Kevin Pritchard
- Jeffrey Ziegler
- Charles Majkrzak
- Jean Philippe Chabot
- Louis Edward Binkley
Individual Award
For leadership and foundational contributions to the world’s leading analysis tool of small-angle-scattering data used by thousands of researchers.
- Paul Butler
Group Award
For measurements and standards to improve the reliability of cardiac devices, thus saving and improving lives.
- Timothy Quinn
- Enrico Lucon
Bronze Medal Award
The Bronze Medal Award is the highest recognition awarded by NIST. The award, approved by the Director, recognizes work that has resulted in more effective and efficient management systems as well as the demonstration of unusual initiative or creative ability in the development and improvement of methods and procedures. It is also given for significant contributions affecting major programs, scientific accomplishments, and superior performance of assigned tasks for at least five consecutive years.
Group Award
For making the NIST synchrotron a reliable, high-intensity, extreme ultraviolet source to support weather monitoring and semiconductor manufacturing.
- Alex Farrell
- Edward Hagley
Group Award
For exemplary leadership and technical contributions in modernizing NIST’s strategic vision for power systems communication and information exchange.
- Avi Gopstein
- Cuong Nguyen
- Nelson Hastings
- David Wollman
Group Award
For development of broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy for quantitative, comparable chemical imaging in complex samples.
- Charles H. Camp Jr.
- Young Jong Lee
Group Award
For development of a validated test methodology to measure the impact of newly deployed commercial cellular equipment on DoD Test Range systems.
- Duncan McGillivray
- Adam Wunderlich
- Keith Forsyth
- Jack Sklar
- Daniel Kuester
- Azizollah Kord
- Robert Horansky
- Eric Nelson
- Frank Sanders
Individual Award
For advancing the use of standards-based methods to enable quantitative, accurate, and repeatable measurements with atom probe tomography.
- Frederick Meisenkothen
Individual Award
For the development of an ISO standard that facilitates the implementation of digital twins in manufacturing to improve analysis and decision-making.
- Guodong Shao
Group Award
For the determination of high-pressure reference isotherms of nanoscale porous adsorbents.
- Huong Giang T. Nguyen
- Laura Espinal
- Blaza Toman
Group Award
For developing a software tool that supports prioritizing alternative solutions and investment decisions for improving community resilience.
- Jennifer Helgeson
- Priya Lavappa
- David Webb
Group Award
For development and implementation of the new ASK HR tool, which has transformed HR service delivery at NIST.
- Kellie Beall
- Danielle Blackwell
- David Bradford
- Stef Britton
- Kimberly A. McDonough
- Brenda Perry
- Debrah Reed
- Jasmine Ventura
- Cynthea Wines
Group Award
For developing analytical methods to characterize the safety and effectiveness of hand sanitizers used to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
- Mary Bedner
- Jacolin Murray
- Aaron Urbas
- Walter Wilson
Group Award
For excellence in editing and publication management of articles for the Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
- Ronald B. Goldfarb
- Dianne L. Poster
- John Henry J. Scott
- Kathryn Miller
- Karen J. Wick
Group Award
For development of innovative technology to probe simultaneously the structure and the rheology of complex fluids under extreme shear.
- Ryan Murphy
- Kathleen Weigandt
- Paul Salipante
- Steven Hudson
Group Award
For establishing a lending library service with the National Institutes of Health for the dissemination of magnetic resonance imaging standards.
- Stephen Russek
- Karl Stupic
- Kathryn Keenan
- Neal Zelarney
Group Award
For elevating the DEA’s public mass spectral reference library of seized drugs to a high level of reliability with new data quality assurance methods.
- Weihua Ji
- William E. Wallace
Allen V. Astin Measurement Science Award
Allen Astin came to NIST in 1925 and went on to do important work in electronics and in military research, including developing proximity fuses for bombs in support of the nation’s war effort during World War II. He became the fifth NIST director in 1952. The Astin Award, first presented in 1984, is granted for outstanding achievement in the advancement of measurement science or in the delivery of measurement services.
Group Award
For developing rigorous traceability with correlated uncertainties for microwave power and scattering parameters at 5G/6G communications frequencies.
- Dazhen Gu
- Aaron Hagerstrom
- Benjamin Jamroz
- Jeffrey Jargon
- Christian Long
- Ann F. Monke
- Eric Stanfield
- Angela Stelson
- John Stoup
- Dylan Williams
Arthur S. Flemming Award
The Arthur S. Flemming Award was established in 1948 by the Downtown Jaycees of Washington, D.C., to honor outstanding federal employees for unusually meritorious work. The award is supported by the Office of Personnel Management and is sponsored by the George Washington University and Government Executive magazine in conjunction with the Arthur S. Flemming Awards Commission.
Individual Award
Dr. Muralikrishnan’s seminal research in precision dimensional metrology is accelerating the adoption of next-generation coordinate scanning.
- Bala Muralikrishnan
Individual Award
Dr. Teufel is a world leader in the field of quantum optomechanics. His innovations over the last decade have tested fundamental physics and will help enable the future of quantum information.
- John Teufel
B. Stephen Carpenter Award
The B. Stephen Carpenter award, established in 2017, is granted for outstanding achievements or contributions in building ties between NIST and the international measurement community, including other national metrology institutes and international organizations who play a role in the global measurement system.
Individual Award
For fostering international cooperation between standards bodies, industry, and government, resulting in numerous standards for nanomaterials.
- Vincent A. Hackley
Colleagues' Choice Award
First established in 2006, the Colleague’s Choice Award is granted to non-supervisory employees at NIST who, in the eyes of their colleagues, have made significant contributions that broadly advance the NIST mission and strategic goals or broadly contribute to the overall health and effectiveness of NIST.
Individual Award
For leading research in EL that has advanced technologies for net-zero energy homes while also supporting priority efforts in OFPM, CTL, PML, and SPO.
- Brian Dougherty
Individual Award
For extraordinary service, dedication, initiative, and creativity in providing technical support for National Fire Research Laboratory experiments.
- Brian Story
Individual Award
For innovation in the Boulder Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) enhancing growth, stakeholder communication, and collaborative research.
- Linda Derr
Individual Award
For continuously demonstrating creativity, insightful innovation and forward-thinking vision.
- Stef Britton
Individual Award
For excellence in fabrication services resulting in great scientific impact in quantum nanoscience, national security, and cold atom research at NIST.
- Terry Raines
Dean of Staff Award
The Dean of Staff award honors the current employee with the longest tenure at NIST. The honoree receives a framed copy of an antique print of pioneering scientist Michael Faraday. A rare carbon print of this photo, now in NIST’s historical artifact collection, hung in the office of the first three NIST directors for four decades.
Individual Award
The Dean of Staff award honors the current employee with the longest tenure at NIST. The honoree receives a framed copy of an antique print of pioneering scientist Michael Faraday. A rare carbon print of this photo, now in NIST’s historical artifact collection, hung in the office of the first three NIST directors for four decades.
- Judah Levine
Director's Award for Excellence in Administration
The NIST Director’s Award for Excellence in Administration was first established in 2007. This award is granted to employees engaged in providing administrative service or carrying out administrative functions, who have made significant contributions that broadly advance the NIST mission and strategic goals through excellence in administrative services and functions.
Group Award
For the development of a research security program balancing protection of NIST activities from foreign interference with the values of open science.
- Gregory Strouse
- Claire Saundry
- Timothy Wood
Group Award
For exceptional contributions implementing a NIST pre-owned technology program through repurposing Dell computers received from other DoC bureaus.
- Kai Ng
- Jinming (Jimmy) Chen
- Gerard Ly
- Kyle Sullivan
- Aaron Vaughan
- Daniel Diamond
- Wanda Reed
- Brett Whitworth
- Eric Konig
Dr. Willie E. May Award for Distinguished Career at NIST
The Distinguished Career Award, established in 2017, is granted to employees who have made lasting, long-term contributions to NIST's mission and strategic goals throughout their career.
Individual Award
For a career of sustained excellence in the leadership of NIST’s mission-essential time and frequency distribution services.
- Michael Lombardi
Individual Award
For a career of sustained excellence in advancing measurement science for face recognition and biometrics.
- P. Jonathon Phillips
Distinguished Mentoring Award
Established in 2018, the Distinguished Mentoring Award recognizes the value of mentoring and the positive impact it has on the mission of NIST. The winners of the award have fostered excellence in others, through either a formal or informal mentoring relationship.
Individual Award
For exemplary service to NIST through selfless dedication to the mentoring of staff and users at the Center for Neutron Research.
- Dan Neumann
Individual Award
For an unparalleled record of mentorship and service to early-career scientists at every stage, from SHIP students to postdoctoral fellows.
- Julie Borchers
Diversity, Inclusivity and Equal Employment Opportunity Award
The Diversity, Inclusivity and Equal Employment Opportunity Award was first presented in 1977. Previously called the Equal Employment Opportunity/Diversity Award, the award recognizes exemplary contributions or leadership that ensure a more diverse and inclusive work environment for everyone at NIST.
Individual Award
For promoting inclusivity at NIST and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) community through in-depth research and external engagement.
- Mary Theofanos
Group Award
For developing the mission and vision and leading the establishment and direction of the EL’s Diversity, Inclusivity, and Belonging Council.
- Rodney Bryant
- Tania Ullah
- Serena Martinez
- Melissa Logan
- LaKesha Perry
- Jonathan Weigand
- Cynthia Rivas
- Natascha Milesi Ferretti
- Rachael Sexton
- Craig Schlenoff
Edward Bennett Rosa Award
Edward Rosa came to NIST in 1901 to start the new electricity research division. He eventually become the organization’s chief physicist and the right hand of NIST’s first director, Samuel Stratton. The Rosa Award, established in 1964, is granted for outstanding achievements or contributions in the development of meaningful and significant engineering, scientific, or documentary standards either within NIST or in cooperation with other government agencies or private groups.
Individual Award
For leading the implementation of consensus standards development and improving the quality and scientific foundation of forensic science standards.
- Karen Reczek
Edward Uhler Condon Award
The Edward Uhler Condon Award is named after the fourth director of NIST. A theoretical physicist and a prolific writer, Edward Condon produced a steady stream of articles for Scientific American, Popular Mechanics and other periodicals. First presented in 1974, the Condon Award is granted for distinguished achievement in effective written exposition in science or technology. Including, but not limited to, the demonstration of substantial scientific, technical, or technological merit, unusually effective exposition through organization and clarity of style, broad treatment of a specific subject area, or appeal to readers with a wide range of scientific or technical interests.
Individual Award
For explaining the physics of a crane operator’s trick of managing a swinging load and applying it to measure the universal gravitational constant G.
- Stephan Schlamminger
Eugene Casson Crittenden Award
Eugene Crittenden joined NIST in 1904 where he worked for more than 50 years. Among other accomplishments, he helped establish international standards for photometry. The Crittenden Award gives recognition to the accomplishments of NIST technical and administrative support staff who provide services that have significant impact in support of the NIST mission.
Individual Award
For providing exemplary customer service and operational support in promoting NIST-wide human resource programs.
- Amy Kolodin
Individual Award
For exemplary service and attention to customer satisfaction with the building utilities on the Boulder Laboratories site.
- Darron King
Individual Award
For exemplary Fleet Management site services support provided to the Gaithersburg campus during the COVID-19 shutdown and the Phase I campus reopening.
- Kevin Redman
Individual Award
For exceptional leadership and personal initiative in supporting safety and continuity of mission-critical OFPM operations during the COVID pandemic.
- Lionel Everfield
Individual Award
For the performance of consistently reliable and accurate liquid volume calibrations to support petroleum custody transfers.
- Sherry D. Sheckels
Excellence in Tech Transfer
Individual Award
For extensive outreach and collaborations to transfer a robot workcell positioning performance monitoring sensor and test method to manufacturers.
- Brian A. Weiss
George A. Uriano Award
The George A. Uriano Award was first presented in 1996. George Uriano was the driving force behind NIST’s Advanced Technology Program of the 1990s and early 2000s. The Uriano Award is granted for outstanding achievements by NIST staff in building or strengthening NIST extramural programs, with emphasis on fostering U.S. competitiveness and business excellence.
Individual Award
For exemplary leadership in the design, development and execution of BRIDGE, the new Baldrige-Award-application online evaluation tool.
- Elif Karakas
Group Award
For leadership in response to the CARES Act appropriations to enable advanced manufacturing to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the pandemic.
- Lisa Jean Fronczek
- Kelley Rogers
- Zack Valdez
- Zahraha Brunner
- Jessica Strickler
- Jannet Cancino
- Dean Iwasaki
- Nuria Del Carmen Martinez
- Michelle Liu
Group Award
For the development and implementation of the Merit Review Automation Program to streamline the State Competition review process for MEP.
- Sheena Simmons
- Diane Henderson
- Kimberly Coffman
- Michele Montgomery
Jacob Rabinow Applied Research Award
The Jacob Rabinow Applied Research Award is named after the legendary NIST inventor. Jacob Rabinow earned more than 200 U.S. patents for many different types of mechanical, optical, and electrical devices. First presented in 1975, the Rabinow Award is granted for outstanding achievements in the practical application of the results of scientific or engineering research.
Group Award
For providing critical expertise in trapped-ion quantum information processing to industry stakeholders in support of the emerging quantum economy.
- Dietrich Leibfried
- Daniel Slichter
- Andrew Wilson
Judson C. French Award
Judson French was the director of the former NIST Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, and he committed himself to the development and delivery of the very best products and services to the electronics and electrical industries. The French Award is granted for significant improvement in products delivered directly to industry, including new or improved NIST calibration services, Standard Reference Materials, and Standard Reference Databases.
Individual Award
For development of a Standard Reference Instrument and associated calibration services to improve the measurement of photovoltaic device performance.
- Behrang Hamadani
Group Award
For outstanding customer service by creating a digital verification program for Charpy impact test standards involving >1,900 customers per year in 60 countries.
- Enrico Lucon
- Raymond Santoyo
Ron Brown Excellence in Innovation Award
The Ron Brown Excellence in Innovation Award recognizes unusually significant accomplishments that resulted in the implementation of innovative and creative solutions to Commerce Department problems and challenges.
Group Award
For seminal and groundbreaking work in Rydberg atom-based sensing, with revolutionary applications in communications, imaging, and manufacturing.
- Christopher Holloway
- Joshua Gordon
- Matthew Simons
- Alexandra Artusio-Glimpse
- Nikunjkumar Prajapati
Safety Award
The NIST Safety Award was established in 1979 and recognizes NIST employees and organizations for substantial contributions to improving safety at NIST.
Individual Award
For outstanding support and initiative in maintaining and continuously improving the Office of Facilities Management Safety Program.
- Daniel Gilmore
Samuel Wesley Stratton Award
The Samuel Wesley Stratton Award was first presented in 1962. Samuel Stratton was the very first director of NIST, then known as the National Bureau of Standards. The Stratton Award recognizes an unusually significant research contribution to science or engineering that merits the acclaim of the scientific world and supports NIST’s mission objectives.
Individual Award
For contributions in integrated photonics to advance optical frequency standards, precision sensing, and quantum information science.
- Kartik Srinivasan
William P. Slichter Award
The William P. Slichter Award was first presented in 1992. As a member of the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology in the late 1980s, William Slichter was a strong advocate for NIST’s role in supporting U.S. industry. The Slichter Award is granted for outstanding achievements by NIST staff in building or strengthening ties between NIST and industry.
Individual Award
For leadership in metrology for advanced semiconductor manufacturing and strengthening cooperation with the microelectronics industry.
- Ndubuisi George Orji