Eleven Local Residents Receive High Honors From Commerce Department

Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor has presented 11 local residents and one organizational unit at the National Institute of Standards and Technology with Gold and Silver Medal Awards-- the two highest honor awards presented by the department.

Gold Medalists

The Gold Medal, presented for rare and distinguished contributions of major significance to the department, the nation, or the world was awarded to one local resident and one NIST organizational unit. The following were honored:

• Lyle H. Schwartz, CHEVY CHASE, Md., Director, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, "For leadership in the development and implementation of a coordinated government/industry national research program in materials science and technology."
• Technology Services Unit, "Honored with three other Commerce Department agencies for forming an interagency partnership to work with industry on amending and implementing an improved and cost-effective Fastener Quality Act."

Silver Medalists

Ten local residents were honored with the Silver Medal, given for meritorious contributions of unusual value to the department or the nation. The honorees are:

• Gary L. Gilliland, GAITHERSBURG, Md., Leader, Structural Biology Group, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, "For leadership of the unique joint program between NIST and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute at the Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology."
• Richard F. Kayser, GAITHERSBURG, Md., Chief, Physical and Chemical Properties Division, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, "For his technical and managerial leadership in developing one of the world's preeminent programs on the thermophysical and chemical properties of fluids and fluid mixtures."
• Paul D. Lett, GERMANTOWN, Md., Physicist, Physics Laboratory, and Steven L. Rolston, GAITHERSBURG, Md., Physicist, Physics Laboratory, "For discovering how to use lasers to cool a gas of atoms to unexpected and unprecedented low temperatures, less than a millionth of a degree above absolute zero."
• Jeremiah R. Lowney, GAITHERSBURG, Md., Leader, Materials Technology Group, Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, and Michael T. Postek, DERWOOD, Md., Physical Scientist, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, "For modeling and validation of the first-ever true scanning electron microscope linewidth measurements needed for special integrated-circuit devices now and in the future."
• John C. McGuffin, BUCKEYSTOWN, Md., Comptroller, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, "For leadership, guidance and overall management of accounting and financial management services for NIST, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and its client bureaus."
• William M. Pitts, ROCKVILLE, Md., Research Chemist, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, "For his groundbreaking research in predicting the yields of carbon monoxide from fire, propelling a new era in real-scale fire research."
• Judith K. Stalick, GAITHERSBURG, Md., Research Chemist, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, "For the commissioning of the NIST neutron high-resolution powder diffractometer, which has become the most versatile materials measurement instrument of its kind in the United States."
• Terri J. Talbott, FREDERICK, Md., Supervisory Senior Management Advisor, Advanced Technology Program, "For skill in revising the ATP's complex financial plans during a tumultuous period of unprecedented budget uncertainty." 

An agency of the Commerce Department's Technology Administration, NIST promotes economic growth by working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements and standards.