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2024 NIST Awards Ceremony
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 developing high-efficiency, low-noise, superconducting transition-edge sensors able to count single photons for photonic quantum computers.
- Adriana Lita
- Sae Woo Nam
- Thomas Gerrits
Group Award
For development of a framework to map, measure, and manage AI risk which is being adopted by major organizations and governments worldwide.
- Alicia Jayson
- Mark Przybocki
- Reva Schwartz
- Rachel Trello
- Elham Tabassi
- Mark Latonero
- Cherilyn Pascoe
Group Award
For development of a first-of-its-kind urine reference material to promote accuracy in kidney disease diagnosis and monitoring.
- Ashley Beasley Green
- Johanna Camara
- Nathanael Alan Heckert
Group Award
For the development of the world's best neutron reflectometer, providing unprecedented information on buried interfaces with sub-nanometer resolution.
- Charles Majkrzak
- Christoph Brocker
- Nicholas Maliszewskyj
- Brian Maranville
- David Hoogerheide
- Alexander Grutter
- Paul Kienzle
- Daniel Ogg
- Douglas Ogg
- Stephen Pheiffer
Group Award
For developing groundbreaking machine control solutions that allow U.S. manufacturers to make better products using additive manufacturing systems.
- Ho Yeung
- Brandon Lane
Group Award
For leveraging quantum physics to develop the world's best standards for the ampere and kilogram, two of the seven fundamental measurement units of science.
- Jason Underwood
- Albert Rigosi
- Alireza Panna
- Leon Chao
- Dean Jarrett
- Randolph Elmquist
- Stephan Schlamminger
- David Newell
- Darine El Haddad
Group Award
For developing the novel sensors that enable the most advanced cosmic microwave background observatory to unravel the mysteries of the early universe.
- Johannes Hubmayr
- James Beall
- Shannon Duff
- Leila Vale
- Michael Link
- Tammy Lucas
- Michael Vissers
- Jeffrey Van Lanen
- John Mates
- Jason Austermann
Individual Award
For extraordinary leadership in improving the quality and transparency of forensic science practice through development of process maps.
- Melissa Taylor
Group Award
For strengthening the security of the supply chain for software that delivers critical government services to the nation.
- Murugiah Souppaya
- Jon M. Boyens
- Amy Mahn
- Barbara Guttman
- Adam Sedgewick
- Matthew Scholl
- Paul E. Black
- Vadim Okun
Group Award
For extraordinary leadership and coordination of mutual recognition agreements for the conformity assessment of telecommunications equipment.
- Ramona Saar
- Nathalie Rioux
- Gerry Smith
Group Award
For development of a framework to accelerate the recovery of buildings, infrastructure, and communities after earthquakes.
- Siamak Sattar
- Katherine Johnson
- Steven McCabe
- Aspasia Nikolaou
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 the development, implementation, and integration of a more flexible replacement for the data integration layer of the Commerce implementation of the Department of Homeland Security's Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation Program.
- Andrew Davidow
- John Bonebreak
- Jacob Neal
- Crispin Bray Jr.
- Troy Thacker Jr.
- Peter Fosella
- R. Allen Wilkinson
- Edgar Garay
- Julie Petrousky
- Blair Heiserman
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.
Robin Materese, José García , Jennifer O'Connor, Natasha Hanacek, Leon Geršković , Brandon Hayes
Group Award
For creation of the original documentary film "The AD-X2 Controversy," which captures a pivotal moment in NBS/NIST history to share agency values.
- José Ricardo García
- Leon Geršković
- Robin Materese
- Brandon Hayes
- Natasha Hanacek
- Jenny Wang
- Jennifer O'Connor
Group Award
For the development of three-dimensional, high-resolution temperature measurement and imaging of materials using embedded magnetic nanoparticles.
- Adam Biacchi
- Thinh Bui
- Cindi Dennis
- Michael Donahue
- Angela Hight Walker
- Thomas Moffat
- Eric Rus
- Weston Tew
- Solomon Woods
Individual Award
For successfully establishing a Materials Management Group to streamline processes and enable NIST personnel to effectively fulfill their missions.
- Adrian Mitchell
Group Award
For development and distribution of generalized frameworks for autonomous experimentation targeted to a variety of materials science applications.
- Austin McDannald
- Brian DeCost
- Howie Joress
- Aaron Gilad Kusne
Individual Award
For advancing intelligent manufacturing through accurate characterization of laser-metal coupling during the additive manufacturing process.
- Brian Simonds
Group Award
For the purposeful redesign of the NIST Research Library and Museum providing dedicated areas for creativity, collaboration, study, and community.
- Briget Wynne
- Muriel Midon
- Rachel Glenn
- Laura Miliszauskas
- Sarah Reeves
- Alan Olson
- Keith Martin
Individual Award
For enabling newfound access to technical documents by those with visual impairments.
- Bruce Miller
Group Award
For enabling expedited conformance testing of cryptographic algorithm implementations, leading to more secure IT products worldwide.
- Christopher Celi
- Benjamin Livelsberger
- Robert Staples
- Harold Booth
- Apostol Vassilev
Group Award
For the realization of the first single-photon detector integrated with an ion trap for the high-fidelity state readout of a trapped-ion quantum bit.
- Daniel Slichter
- Varun Verma
- Dietrich Leibfried
- Richard Mirin
Group Award
For pioneering development of instrumentation and methods to precisely dispense and validate milligram quantities of radioactive liquid samples.
- Denis Bergeron
- Richard Essex
- Ryan Fitzgerald
- Jacqueline Mann
- Shin Muramoto
- Svetlana Nour
- Gordon Shaw
- R. Michael Verkouteren
Cremona Brooks, Rhoda Droneburg and Glenera Sisson
Group Award
For partnering with NIST Operating Units to dramatically improve their compliance and reduce purchase-card transaction error rates from 27.2% to 1.8%.
- Glenera Sisson
- Cremona Brooks
- Rhonda Droneburg
Individual Award
For leading development of the ASME B5.64 Single-Axis Linear Positioning Systems standard that improves performance of precision manufacturing systems.
- Gregory Vogl
Group Award
For developing an innovative process to fabricate superconducting interconnects for circuits with applications in astrophysics and quantum science.
- John Biesecker
- Peter Lowell
- Tammy Lucas
- John Nibarger
- Daniel Schmidt
- Joel Ullom
- Michael Vissers
Group Award
For developing critical improvements in seismic design criteria and evaluation of buildings in standards through an innovative research program.
- John Harris, III
- Matthew Speicher
- Siamak Sattar
Group Award
For the development of tests and metrics enabling the transition to the next generation of fingerprint acquisition devices.
- John Libert
- Shahram Orandi
- Bruce Bandini
- Kenneth Ko
- Matthew Staymates
- Christopher M. Stafford
Joseph Main, Fahim Sadek, Jonathan Weigand
Group Award
For developing the scientific basis for the first U.S. standard for prevention of catastrophic collapse of buildings.
- Joseph Main
- Fahim Sadek
- Jonathan Weigand
Group Award
For the development of a dictionary of standardized terms and metrics to enable a fair comparison of competing single-photon technologies.
- Joshua Bienfang
- Thomas Gerrits
- Paulina Kuo
- Alan Migdall
- Sergey Polyakov
- Oliver Slattery
Jacob Taylor, Justyna P. Zwolak
Group Award
For pioneering the application of machine learning to the control of systems at the frontiers of quantum science and technology.
- Justyna P. Zwolak
- Jacob Taylor
Group Award
For the development and deployment of laser-based test methods to quantify the mechanical properties of polymers at ballistic rates of deformation.
- Katherine Evans
- Christopher Soles
- Stephan Stranick
- Edwin Chan
- Polette Centellas
Individual Award
For exceptional administrative support and unusual effort to acquire and share new skills during an extended period of reduced staffing levels.
- Kimberly Keinath
Group Award
For the modernization of the Short Tandem Repeat DNA Internet Database, a key data resource for human identity DNA testing practitioners worldwide.
- Lisa Borsuk
- John Butler
- Katherine Gettings
- Kevin Kiesler
- Angela Lee
- Adam Morey
- Karen Ann Price
- Erica Romsos
- Arlin Stoltzfus
- Peter Vallone
Group Award
For outstanding technical achievement in the implementation and promotion of the NIST Library Search, a unified library services platform.
- Marilyn White
- Paula Deutsch
- Matthew Davis
- Katelynd Bucher
- Susan Makar
- Sarah Reeves
- Alan Olson
- Julie Jew
- Muriel Midon
Individual Award
For outstanding leadership and management of the FY23 NIST Safety Culture Survey and Safety Culture Action Planning Teams.
- Meghan Percy
Group Award
For developing an open-source manufacturing simulator that enables users to plan production and compare AI-based and traditional maintenance policies.
- Mehdi Dadfarnia
- Serghei Drozdov
- Michael Sharp
Gilberto Castillo, Michael Teske, Dean Iwasaki, Sue Ha, Lisa Ko (Not pictured: Muria Del Carmen Martinez, Scott McNichol, Jannet Cancino)
Group Award
For exceptional leadership in financial assistance management resulting in a transformative impact to NIST, NTIA and DOC.
- Michael Teske
- Nuria Del Carmen Martinez
- Dean Iwasaki
- Lisa Ko
- Sue Ha
- Scott McNichol
- Gilbert Castillo
- Jannet Cancino
Organizational Award
For exemplary adaptability and teamwork under unprecedented pressure to meet Department of Commerce priorities funding the NTIA Broadband Program.
- Organizational Representative: Jannet Cancino
Organizational Award
For the design, development, and implementation of Baldrige Reimagined, transforming the Baldrige Award and all associated processes.
- Organizational Representative: Robert Fangmeyer
Individual Award
For establishing NIST's comprehensive Historic Preservation Program and the tools for streamlining compliance activities.
- Phillip Neuberg
Richard Candell, Karl Montgomery
Group Award
For the advancement of transmission scheduling in wireless time-sensitive networks for industrial robotic control applications in manufacturing.
- Richard Candell
- Karl Montgomery
Individual Award
For leadership in establishing and managing an international team to develop a Beyond-5G testbed to advance global communication service and network federation.
- Robert Bohn
Megan Zimmerman, Jeremy Marvel (Not pictured: Shelly Bagchi)
Group Award
For developing innovative metrology tools, standards, and global community events to advance technologies for human-robot interaction.
- Shelly Bagchi
- Jeremy Marvel
- Megan Zimmerman
Individual Award
For outstanding performance in efficiently writing and processing successful patent applications with deep comprehension of the underlying science.
- Toby Hain
Kerrianne Buchanan, Mary Theofanos, Yee-Yin Choong
Group Award
For groundbreaking research on youth cybersecurity and privacy, transforming how we protect and educate the new generation of digital citizens.
- Yee-Yin Choong
- Mary Theofanos
- Kerrianne Buchanan
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 establishing a measurement infrastructure for the global assessment of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS).
- Jessica Reiner
- Benjamin Place
- Alix Rodowa
- Jennifer Lynch
- Jared Ragland
- Nikša Blonder
- Bruce Benner Jr.
- John Kucklick
- Catherine Rimmer
- Carlos Gonzalez
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
Recognized for technical and managerial leadership of the atomic clock ensemble that serves as the nation's source of official time.
- Jeffrey Sherman
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 leadership in establishing and managing an international team to develop a Beyond-5G testbed to advance global communication service and network federation.
- Robert Bohn
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 exemplary leadership and dedication to promoting a positive safety culture across NIST and for inspiring others to serve in the same manner.
- Kevin Bald
Individual Award
For excellence in the essential microfabrication work that has enabled multiple generations of chip-scale clocks and quantum sensors.
- Susan Schima
Individual Award
For generous giving of time, support, and expertise to many colleagues, resulting in highly productive outcomes for nanomaterial metrology efforts.
- Tae Joon Cho
Individual Award
For passionate mentorship to advance the communication skills and technical expertise of current and future NIST staff members.
- Tara Fortier
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 exemplary service, dedication, and commitment in supporting and enabling the timely, effective conduct of multiple NIST disaster investigations.
- Ami Reisinger
- Joyce Scott
- Gwynaeth Broome
- LeeAnn Ginsburg
- Ebonee Fitzgerald
- Taylor Avery
Group Award
For providing exceptional service to NIST remote sites, enabling uninterrupted supplies of high-purity gases and liquid helium.
- Christina Davis
- Adrian Mitchell
- Laurell Phillips
- Karen Smith
- Terraine Wiggins
- Richard Brogden
- Gustavo Moreno
- Jared Sawyer
- Jason Fellows
- Anthony Newman
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 leadership in the development of measurement services and legal metrology standards foundational to fair international trade.
- Charles Ehrlich
Individual Award
For contributions to the understanding of structural chemistry and phase stability of complex technological materials.
- Winnie Wong-Ng
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 outstanding mentorship and guidance of numerous postdoctoral associates and early-career staff.
- Christina Hacker
Individual Award
For his exceptional guidance, commitment to fostering career development, and dedication to the NIST community.
- David Wollman
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 leadership in the development and launch of a new conformity assessment program for the FDA's approval of medical devices for sale in the U.S.
- Amy Phelps
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 improving facilities and ensuring the continuation of NIST's vital missions through unparalleled commitment and expertise.
- Darrell Smothers
Individual Award
For providing exemplary customer service and operations in support of mission-critical conferences, tours, and events on the NIST Boulder campus.
- Terri Viezbicke
Individual Award
For excellence in maintenance and repair and commitment to customer service.
- Tony Pett
Individual Award
For outstanding customer service and operational support in promoting human resources programs for NIST.
- Vicki Jo Cox
Excellence in Tech Transfer
Group Award
For the successful transfer of dual-comb spectroscopy technology to energy, climate, and agricultural industries.
- Brian Washburn
- Kevin Cossel
- Laura Sinclair
- Esther Baumann
- Fabrizio Giorgetta
- Ian Coddington
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.
Group Award
For establishing strategic partnerships to drive meaningful impact and achieve transformative outcomes for manufacturers.
- Jyoti Malhotra
- Jennifer Rosa
- Jose Colucci
- Brian Lagas
- Doug Devereaux
- Michael Taylor
- Katie Rapp
- Marlon Walker
- Adelwiza Lequin
- Carol Shibley
Group Award
For creating and executing a business accelerator for communication innovations that enhance capabilities of first responders.
- Sarah Hughes
- Danni Leicht
- Terese Manley
- Ellen Ryan
Group Award
For partnering with NTIA on the $43 billion Broadband Program team to streamline and reduce NIST grants review and award process time by 40%.
- Scott McNichol
- Olivia McCasey
- Darren Olson
- Jannet Cancino
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 the development of compact Kibble balance technology for mass and torque and its deployment to primary standards laboratories and U.S. industry.
- Leon Chao
- Zane Comden
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 reducing the uncertainty in calibration of the world network of gravitational wave observatories.
- Matthew Spidell
Group Award
For development of complex microbial control materials that enable new technologies for detection and surveillance of emerging biological threats.
- Stephanie Servetas
- Samuel Forry
- Scott Jackson
- Monique Hunter
Presidential Rank Award
The Presidential Rank Award, created in 1978, recognizes members of the Senior Executive Service for exceptional performance over an extended period of time as well as other senior career employees with a sustained record of exceptional professional, technical, and/or scientific achievement recognized on a national or international level.
Individual Award
Recognized with a Distinguished Rank for sustained extraordinary accomplishments.
- John Kitching
Individual Award
Recognized with a Distinguished Rank for sustained extraordinary accomplishments.
- John Lehman
Individual Award
Recognized with a Distinguished Rank for sustained extraordinary accomplishments.
- Nada Golmie
Safety Award
The NIST Safety Award was established in 1979 and recognizes NIST employees and organizations for substantial contributions to improving safety at NIST.
Group Award
For creating and executing a safety plan for an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) competition, enabling safe indoor flight of UAS prototypes during the event.
- Donald Harriss
- Lisa Soucy
- Stephanie Layman
- Terese Manley
- Christopher Dennis
Group Award
For the development and evolution of a comprehensive safety program for NIST's Boulder Micro-Fabrication Facility cleanroom.
- Peter Lowell
- Alvin Flores
- John Nibarger
Individual Award
For leadership in developing safety protocols for emerging NIST biometrology research and timely, practical support in all matters of biosafety.
- Wing Wong
Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal
The Service to America Medals are presented annually by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service to celebrate excellence in the federal civil service.
Group Award
These awardees with the Tornado Winds Load Team created the world’s first tornado-resistant building codes, conducting groundbreaking research that will save lives and protect critical facilities like schools, hospitals and emergency centers from extensive property damage.
- Marc Levitan
- Long Phan
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 pioneering research in the development and applications of microresonator frequency combs and nonlinear nanophotonic systems.
- Scott Papp
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 development of internationally adopted industrial wireless guidelines and associated measurement protocols and datasets.
- Richard Candell