Georgia L. Harris (Fed)

Georgia Harris currently works part-time in the Office of Weights and Measures OWM), Laboratory Metrology program. She contributes to metrology training activities and publication and standards development efforts through NIST and ASTM.  She also provides ongoing knowledge transfer to current OWM laboratory metrology program members, State laboratory staff, and metrology instructors. 

From 1990 to 2019, Georgia was the Leader for the Laboratory Metrology Program, where she led the recognition [accreditation] for weights and measures laboratories, effectively ensuring traceability and quality measurement results for nearly 400,000 annual calibrations, supporting the foundation for the U. S. legal metrology system. She designed and conducted training for over 1700 participants in 65 unique seminars and webinars, led the accreditation effort of the Office of Weights and Measures training program according to the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Ms. Harris's training efforts have included technical topics on measurement, calibration, laboratory accreditation, ISO/IEC 17025, as well as training trainers. She also led the development of the quality system for proficiency testing program and analysis of measurement proficiency results for over 150 State and industry metrologists through regional measurement assurance programs. In addition, she ensured the research, development, and publication of numerous documentary standards in support of weights and measures field enforcement and laboratory metrology. As a part of her leadership and communication efforts, she has written or co-authored more than 50 technical publications and papers presented at conferences, including topics on metrology, weights and measures, and education and training.

While in the Minnesota laboratory from 1984 to 1990, Georgia maintained a NIST-certified metrology laboratory in compliance with NIST Handbook 143 (ISO Guide 25 at that time) to provide calibration services with traceable measurement results and valid uncertainties in mass, length, volume, and temperature.  She also maintained a petroleum quality testing and regulatory program to ASTM standards as a key component of weights and measures regulatory enforcement and supervised staff in the metrology and petroleum laboratories. She also oversaw the training and testing of industry service agents in the voluntary placing in service program for weights and measures field instruments to ensure compliance with NIST Handbook 44.

Professional Affiliations (past and current)

• ASTM International, formerly American Society for Testing and Materials, Committee E41 (1990 to present).
• US Pharmacopeia, Volume Measurements, Committee (2019 to present)
• National Conference on Weights and Measures, Technical Advisor, 1990 to 2019.
• Coordinate Metrology Society Conference, Certification Committee, 2010 to 2018.
• Measurement Science Conference, NIST Tutorial Liaison, 2000 to 2012.
• NCSL International - Member, Ex Officio Board Member, Past President, volunteer leadership, 1984 to 2015.
• ASQ, formerly American Society for Quality, Measurement Quality Division, member, past Secretary, current contributor for The Metrology Handbook, (current membership).
• Association for Talent Development (formerly American Society for Training and Development) – past member.
• American Society for Engineering Education - Member, Past Director at Large for Division of Experimental and Laboratory Oriented Studies.

• NCSL International, William A. Wildhack Award, 2019.
• National Conference on Weights and Measures, Distinguished Service Award, 2018.
• Fulbright Specialist Grant; teaching university engineering professors in Mexico: Fundamentals of Metrology, Adult Learning Methodologies, 2016.
• NCSL International, Education and Training Award, 2015.
• American Society for Engineering Education, ASEE, Division of Experimental and Laboratory Oriented Studies, Best Paper Award, Incorporating Adult Learning Methods and Project Based Learning in Laboratory Metrology Courses, 2013.
• Max J. Unis Award, ASQ Measurement Quality Division, 2011.
• NIST Bronze Medal Awards, 2008.
• NCSL International, Best Paper Award, Learning and Development, Comparing and Contrasting Studies of Metrology Education and Training in Europe and the USA, Leslie Pendrill co-author (Sweden), 2007.
• Arthur S. Flemming Award, 2004.
• Algie Lance “Best Paper” Award, Measurement Science Conference. Development of a CD-ROM Metrology Course, 2003.
• Andrew J. Woodington Award, Measurement Science Conference, 1997.
• NIST Bronze Medal Award, 1992.