On June 6, four NIST researchers were among 12 honorees who received the Arthur S. Flemming Award at a ceremony held at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Established by the Downtown Jaycees in 1948, the Flemming Awards honor outstanding federal employees. Recognized by the President of the United States, agency heads, and the private sector, the winners are selected from all areas of the federal service. The awards are made in three categories—scientific, program management and applied science.
In the scientific category, Daniel Fischer was cited for his pioneering work in developing a critical facility for soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy that has enabled key scientific and technological advances in cutting-edge technology and for his groundbreaking work on self-assembled nanoparticles, nanotubes, biomaterials, and high-temperature superconductors. Jun Ye was honored in the same category for his contributions to the fields of precision measurement, quantum optics, ultrasensitive detection, and cold molecules as well as his demonstration of a unified time and frequency spectroscopy of atoms using phase-stabilized femtosecond lasers.
Steven Jefferts was recognized in the applied science category for his outstanding efforts in both the technical and managerial leadership of the world's most accurate atomic clock (NIST-F1), which is the first U.S. laser-cooled atomic frequency standard, serving as the U.S. national standard for the second. Keith Lykke also was honored in the applied science category for developing a novel laser technology from the infrared to the ultraviolet spectral regions, for the accurate characterization and calibration of optical instruments used in ground and satellite-based remote sensing, missile defense and targeting, reconnaissance and surveillance, and optical standards research, development, and dissemination.
For further information, see GWU's Flemming Awards website.