Forty-five Earn NIST Awards

Forty-five local employees of the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were honored with awards in ceremonies held Dec. 5, 2007. NIST Acting Director James Turner and Acting Deputy Director Richard Kayser presented the awards, assisted by other Institute officials.

Eugene Casson Crittenden Award 

The Crittenden Award, established in 1967, recognizes superior achievement by permanent employees who perform supporting services that have a significant impact on technical programs beyond their own offices. The award this year was presented to the following staff members: 

• Richard Beall, Construction Representative, Office of the Chief Facilities Management Officer

For outstanding contributions and professional, proactive approach to the successful contract management of construction projects at NIST.

• Sharon Hallman, Editorial Assistant, Technology Services

For outstanding customer service to NIST authors as part of the WERB Secretariat.

• Gale Miller, Maintenance Mechanic, Office of the Chief Facilities Management Officer

For indispensable knowledge and ingenuity in finding better and more efficient ways to accomplish the renovation and maintenance needs of NIST.

• Janice Moten, Purchasing Agent, Office of the Chief Financial Officer

For noteworthy customer service, productivity and efficiency in purchasing of goods and services.

• Steven A. Runkles, Instrument Maker, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory

For superior technical support in fostering a culture of high quality customer service within NIST.

• Jeffrey Smith, Supervisory Pipefitter, Office of the Chief Facilities Management Officer

For superior leadership, professionalism, total dedication and ingenuity in ensuring the integrity of the campus's aging utility systems.

Judson C. French Award

The French award, first presented in 2000, 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. The award went to:

• Peter K. Schenck, Physicist; and Terrell A. Vanderah, Research Chemist

Both the members of this group are from the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory. For outstanding leadership in significantly improving delivery of the NIST-ACerS Phase Equilibria Diagrams Database (SRD 31) as an interactive CD-ROM.

• Christopher J. Blackburn, Physical Science Technician; Bruce R. Borchardt, Physicist; W. Tyler Estler, Physicist; Steven D. Phillips, Group Leader; and Daniel S. Sawyer, Mechanical Engineer

All the members of this group are from the Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory. For significant improvements in accuracy and extensions of range in the calibration of long length standards.

Edward Bennett Rosa Award

The Rosa Award, established in 1964, is granted for outstanding achievement in or contributions to the development of meaningful and significant engineering, scientific or documentary standards either within NIST or in cooperation with other government agencies or private groups. The award went to:

• David J. Evans, Mechanical Engineer; Victor Nedzelnitsky, Electrical Engineer; and Randall P. Wagner, Physicist

All the members of this group are from the Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory.

For outstanding achievements in development of standards and measurement practices to assure the quality and performance of acoustical devices.

William P. Slichter Award

The Slichter Award, first presented in 1992, is granted for outstanding achievements by NIST staff in building or strengthening ties between NIST and industry. The award was presented to:

• Eric K. Lin, Division Chief; Vivek M. Prabhu, Chemical Engineer; and Wen-li Wu, NIST Fellow

All the members of this group are from the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory.

For close collaborative interactions with industry to identify materials-related limitations and potential solutions for next-generation photoresists.

• Steven Grantham, Physicist; Shannon Hill, Physicist; Thomas B. Lucatorto, Supervisory Physicist;
  Charles Tarrio, Physicist; and Robert E. Vest, Physicist

All the members of this group are from the Physics Laboratory.

For establishing a firm measurement foundation for EUV reflectometry, optics lifetime characterization, and pulsed radiometry for EUV lithography.

George A. Uriano Award

The Uriano Award, first presented in 1996, 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. The award was given to:

• Sandra M. Byrne, Social Scientist, Baldrige National Quality Program; Mary Eastman, Library Scientist, Baldrige National Quality Program; Robert G. Fangmeyer, General Business Specialist, Baldrige National Quality Program; Debra L. Ferrell, Social Scientist, Baldrige National Quality Program; Su Jen Kau, Supervisory Information Technology Specialist, Office of the Chief Information Officer; Wenjing Lee, Information Technology Specialist, Office of the Chief Information Officer; Mark J. Shapiro, General Business Specialist, Baldrige National Quality Program; Jeanne L. Springmann, Information Technology Specialist, Office of the Chief Information Officer; Barbara A. Uglik, IT Specialist, Baldrige National Quality Program; and Ronald B. Wilson, Computer Scientist, Office of the Chief Information Officer

For development of a Web-enabled solution allowing secure, customer-focused evaluation of award applications by the Baldrige Board of Examiners.

Colleagues Choice Award

The NIST Colleagues' Choice Award, first presented in 2006, recognizes 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. The recipients of this year's awards were:

• Lisa Fronczek, Electronics Engineer, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory

For exceptional initiative and collaborative spirit in creating the support system that has enabled the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program to flourish across all of NIST.

• Craig I. Schlenoff, Electronics Engineer, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory

For exemplary leadership and championship of the NIST mission in the management of independent evaluation for the DARPA Advanced Soldier Sensor Information System and Technology (ASSIST) and Spoken Language Communication and Translation System for Tactical Use (TRANSTAC) programs.

• Ann Virts, Engineer Technician, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory

For dedicated contributions that supported NIST's mission, promoted effective external interactions and enhanced division vitality.

Equal Employment Opportunity / Diversity Award

The Equal Employment Opportunity/Diversity Award, first presented in 1977, is granted for exceptionally significant accomplishments and contributions to Equal Employment Opportunity/Diversity goals. The award was given to:

• Magdalena Christina Benitez, Technical Information Specialist, Information Technology Laboratory; Frederick (Tim) Boland, Computer Scientist, Information Technology Laboratory; Lisa Bond, Communications Assistant, Office of the Chief Information Officer; Paul A. Boynton, Electrical Engineer, Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory; Lisa Fronczek, Electronics Engineer, Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory; Elizabeth B. Lennon, Writer/Editor, Information Technology Laboratory; Magdalena Navarro, Physical Scientist, Office of the Director; Darwin Reyes-Hernandez, Research Chemist, Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory; Mary B. Satterfield, Research Chemist, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory; and Michael A. Schen, Acting Director, Information Technology and Electronics Office, Advanced Technology Program

For outstanding service to NIST by organizing the first NIST Diversity Day.