Katherine Hall (Fed)

Katherine Hall joined the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2022, supporting both the Sensing and Perception Group and the Manipulation and Mobility Group within the Engineering Laboratory’s Intelligent Systems Division (ISD). In her work with the Mobility Performance of Robotic Systems project, she evaluates the safety and performance characteristics of mobile and wearable robots (exoskeletons) designed for emergency response environments. She also contributes to the Emergency Response Robots project by developing standardized robot test methods, facilitating collaboration between first responders and technology developers, and constructing challenge courses for field exercises. 

Ms. Hall serves as a technical staff member on the National Construction Safety Team, supporting evidence preservation, remote sensing, and data visualization for the Champlain Towers South partial collapse investigation in Surfside, Florida.

In 2025, she expanded her role within NIST's Engineering Laboratory by joining the Disaster Impact Reduction Office (DIRO). In this capacity, she advances strategic resilience and safety initiatives across several major national frameworks, including the National Construction Safety Team (NCST), the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), and the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP).

Ms. Hall specializes in mental health crisis management and holds credentials as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor (LCMHC-S) and a member of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Her academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Catawba College in North Carolina and a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Chatham University in Pennsylvania.

2025 Engineering Lab: Support Award

2025 Engineering Lab: Special Service Award 

2025 Engineering Lab: Support Service Award

2023 Engineering Lab: Support Award