Three staff members of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were honored last week by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for their work in the field of standards development and standards conformity assessment. The awards were presented at the 2008 ANSI Awards Banquet on Oct. 22.
Belinda L. Collins, Director of NIST Technology Services (TS), was awarded the Howard Coonley Medal. This medal recognizes an executive that has benefited the national economy through voluntary standardization and conformity assessment and has given outstanding support to standardization as a management tool.
Ajit Jillavenkatesa, who manages TS programs that work to remove standards-related barriers to trade, was one of two winners of the ANSI Next Generation Award, which recognizes "individuals who have been engaged in standardization or conformity assessment activities for less than eight years and who have, during this time, demonstrated vision, leadership [and] dedication" and made significant contributions to the field.
Gordon Gillerman, an expert in conformity assessment for organizations implementing testing programs for homeland security, was one of six individuals to receive Meritorious Service Awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the U.S. voluntary standardization system.
One of the most visible faces of NIST, Technology Services provides access to NIST calibration services, standard reference materials, standard reference data and laboratory accreditation programs, and works with state weights and measures offices and national and international standards bodies and research institutions to promote understanding of standards and conformity assessment activities.
For more details of the awards, read "Notable Members of the Standardization Community Honored at the 2008 ANSI Awards Banquet and Ceremony" at the ANSI Web site.