Thirteen Earn NIST Awards

Thirteen local employees of the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were honored with the Departmental Bronze Medal and other NIST 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.

Five staff members received the Bronze Medal Award, the highest honorary recognition given by the Institute. The award, initiated in 1966, is given for significant performance characterized by outstanding or significant contributions that have increased the efficiency and effectiveness of NIST. Receiving the award were:

• James L. Boyd, Supervisory Engineering Technician, Office of the Chief Facilities Management Officer

For commitment to improving work processes and customer service in the support of the EMSS Division mission to the Boulder Site.

• Anthony B. Kos, Electronics Engineer, Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Kos received this award as a member of a group. Other members of the group are with the Building Fire and Research Laboratory in Gaithersburg, Md.

For completing complex full-scale and live fire experiments to characterize performance of PPV and RFID systems for fire fighters.

• Donna C. Hurley, Physicist, Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory; and Anthony B. Kos, Electronics Engineer, Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory

For pioneering research in quantitative nanomechanical imaging, providing new tools for nanotechnology research and development.

• Michael A. Lombardi, Information Technology Specialist; and Andrew N. Novick, Electronics Engineer

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

For development and implementation of the SIM network for precision international time synchronization in North, Central and South America.

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:

• Raymond E. Farber, Engineering Technician, Office of the Chief Facilities Management Officer

For commitment to improve project management and customer service in support of the Engineering, Maintenance Safety and Support Services Division mission to the Boulder Site.

• Eyvon Petty, Division Secretary, Physics Laboratory

For outstanding support of NIST Boulder programs, including the Boulder Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, Boulder Labs Seminars and Colloquia, and training Boulder staff.

• Jack C. Schneider, Maintenance Scheduler, Office of the Chief Facilities Management Officer

For commitment to improve project management and customer service in support of the Engineering, Maintenance Safety and Support Services Division mission to the Boulder Site.

Allen V. Astin Measurement Science Award

The Allen V. Astin Measurement Science Award, first presented in 1984, is granted for outstanding achievement in the advancement of measurement science or in the delivery of measurement services. The award this year went to Igor Vayshenker, an electronics engineer at the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, for over 18 years of excellence in developing and providing optical fiber power measurement services and standards.

Edward Uhler Condon Award

The Condon Award recognizes distinguished achievements in written exposition in science and technology. The award was initiated in 1974. This year's award was presented to John W. Ekin, a physicist at the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, for distinguished exposition in writing Experimental Techniques for Low-Temperature Measurements, Oxford University Press, October 2006.

Jacob Rabinow Applied Research Award

The Jacob Rabinow Applied Research Award, first presented in 1975, is granted for outstanding achievements in the practical application of the results of scientific engineering research. Receiving the award this year was John Kitching, a physicist at the Physics Laboratory, for outstanding leadership of NIST's world-leading chip-scale atomic device program.

Samuel Wesley Stratton Award

The Samuel Wesley Stratton Award, first presented in 1962, is granted for outstanding scientific or engineering achievements in support of NIST objectives. Receiving the award was Kent D. Irwin, a physicist at the Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory, for intellectual leadership in developing world-leading superconducting quantum sensors, which are driving innovation in diverse technical areas.

Building Tomorrow's Workplace Award

The Building Tomorrow's Workplace Award, first presented in 1995, recognizes individuals or groups in Boulder for significant contributions in creating an inclusive workforce and working toward achieving affirmative employment and diversity goals. This year's award recipient was Arno Laesecke, a chemical engineer from the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, for effectively and tirelessly mentoring students and young NIST staff members. Laesecke will receive his award at a ceremony to be held on Dec. 13.