NNSA Defense Program Awards of Excellence
The Awards recognize significant achievements in quality, productivity, cost savings, safety, or creativity in support of NNSA’s Stockpile Stewardship Program.
2018
Marisa Gallegos
2014
John Becker
2013
Terry Taddeucci
2012
Jas Mercer-Smith
2011
Bob Weaver
2009
Karin Hendrickson
Analysis Methodology for Combined Hostile Environments Team
B61-12 PBX 9502 Production Team
Next Navy Feasibility Study (NFS) Team
Nuclear Counter Terrorism Analysis of Alternatives Team
Spectrally Encoded Imaging Team
W88 Alt 370 DJTA7S Flight Test and Evaluation Team
War Reserve Test Fire Data Collection and Analysis Team
B61 Auxiliary Detonator Down Select Team
Plasma Kinetic Physics Team
pRad Gun Team
Tri-Lab Tantalum Strength Team
Tri-Laboratory Project on Strength in Extreme Conditions
Vega Subcritical Experiment Team
World’s First Intense Warm Photoneutron Source Demonstration
4E10 Cable Manufacturing Team
Advanced Safety Physics Code Capability Team
B61-12 Life Extension Program (LEP) Design Team (LANL design team delivers the B61-12 baseline design on schedule)
Chamber 15 Modernization Program Team
CoLOSSIS DR Data Interpretation for B61 Team
High-Explosive Thermal and Mechanical Response Team
LANL B61 and W88 Weapon Response Summary/Basis Development Team
LANL Detection Standards Analysis and Revision Methodology (DSARM) Team
LANL FY18 L1 Milestone Team
LANL High Explosive Violent Reaction (HEVR) Definition Replacement Team
LANL System PDDR and System FDR Team
Large Volume Press Team
Large-Scale Calculation Initiative 3D Modeling Team
Large-Scale Code Linking and Data Mapping Team
LF7C Team (introduction of the LF7C into the W78 stockpile)
Nuclear Weapons Knowledge Management & Archiving Team
PETN Modeling Team
Pit Welding Team
TA-55 High Energy Computed Tomography Team
W76-2 Design and Process Optimization Team
W88 Alt 370 Hydros Team
X-Ray Graded Collimation Computed Tomographic Imaging of Weapon Components Team
B61-12 Baseline Design Team
Detonator-Cable-Assemblies Production Improvements
Loaded Sleeve Manufacturing Anomaly Resolution Team
Multi-frame X-ray Phase Contrast Imaging System
NPI-8 Pu Sustainment Equipment Installation Team
Phoenix Build Team
Plutonium Facility 4 Readiness Team
Preliminary Quality Assurance Survey-1 Assessment Team
Trinity High-Performance Computing Team
Trinity Integrated Product Team
Whisper Team
B61-12 LEP Environmental Specifications Team
B61-12 LEP Flight Test Team
Eolus Weapons Analysis Team
Eulerian Applications Project Modernization for Advanced Supercomputers
LANL Weapon Response to W76/W78 Isolator Issue
Neutron Imaging of Weapon Components
Weapons Experimental Device Assembly Production Team
Alternative Secondary Design Study Team
B61 Mod 12 Integral Experimental Team
B61-12 Thermal Team
Barrier Team
Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement (CMRR) Critical Decision (CD)
Preparation Team
Fundamentally Based Burn Formula Team
HE Cylinder Experiment Team
Hydro, Subcritical and Device Assembly Team
LANL Practicum 2 Team
Lithium Fluoride (LiF) Window Correction Team
Physical Uncertainty Bounds (PUB) Team
Primary Validation Team
Radiation Damage Mechanisms of Polymers Team
Secondaries and the Lagrangian Applications Project
W76-1/Mk4a Life Extension Program
Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) Setup Project
ARIES Waste Disposal Pathway to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)
B61 LEP Stress Cushion Development and Material Down Select Team
CNI Level 2 Milestone Team: Capabilities for Nuclear Intelligence (CNI) Program
Creation of a Comprehensive Understanding of Fission Neutron Spectrum Measurements
Detonator Cup Significant Finding Investigation (SFI) Team
Development of Next Generation Multiphase Plutonium Equation of State
DO-IIB Data Evaluation Team for Post-Detonation Technical Nuclear Forensics
Generation II Multiplexed Photonic Doppler Velocimeter
Global Security Validation Suite
Goblin Experiment Team
HE Thermal & Mechanical Response
High Strain Rate Compression using Diamond Anvil Cells
Joint Exercise Team
Joint Lab Centurion-Halite 90 Day Study Team
Los Alamos Long Range Stand-Off Conceptual Design Team
MCNP6 and ENDF/B-VII.1 Development Team
Multi-Point Safety Assessment of the W76 Neutron Generator Fragment Impact
Multi-shock Driver for Ejecta Experiments
Nuclear Explosive Safety Team
PF-4 Actinide Aqueous Recovery Capability Trade Study
Plutonium-238 Analytical Chemistry Transition Team
Reactive, Anomalous Compression in Shock Compressed Polymeric Foams Team
Shear Team
Software Innovation for Future Technologies (SWIFT)
Visualization Corridor Integration Team
120-Day Conceptual Design Study Team
A joint DSW and Advanced Certification Science Campaign (ACC) program executed to support the technical maturation of enhanced safety technologies for the B61 LEP
A Modern Equation of State Framework for Shocked Foams
B61 Modeling Team
Capabilities for Nuclear Intelligence
Cell Centered Hydro Team
Development and implementation of CNI Program Strategy
Extreme Fluids Team
First Shock Ejecta Team
Gemini Experimental Series Team
Hydro 3661 Team
JASON Surety Study (JSS) Tasker Team
Laser Driven Ion Acceleration, Neutron Generation and Applications Team for development of the most advanced laser-driven ion accelerator and its application to world-record laser-produced neutron-beam generation
Laser Parameter Development
Massive Ordnance Penetrator Fragment Weapons Response Analysis Team
Multiplexed Photonic Doppler Velocimetry (MPDV): Multiplexed Photonic Doppler Velocimetry Team
Novel Numerical Integration Technique
Predictive Capability Assessment Project Team: Level 1 Milestone
Produced, processed, and qualified for acceptance the first lot of War Reserve PETN detonator powder produced at Los Alamos
Secure Operations Management System Deployment Team
Shock Wave Compression of Argon Gas
Significantly invested DOE and DOD resources to reinvigorate a electromagnetic pulse (EMP) simulation capability, resulting in revolutionary improvements
TA-55 40-mm Gun Modifications Team
Theoretical Analyses of Reaction-in-Flight PINEX Team
1E38 Powder Production Team
Anomalous Unit Weapon Response Team
CONRAD
Double Shock Experiments and Modeling to Improve the Reactant Equation of State for PBX 9502
Ensuring Pantex operational safety when new hazards were encountered with detonator cable assemblies
Eulerian Applications Project Team
Failure Cone Test Development Team
Furrow Project
Gemini Blast Pipe and Advanced Optical Test H4080 at DARHT Design Team
High Pressure Equation of State (EOS) of Insert Materials
IMPULSE Project
LANSCE Operations Team: After forest fire, for outstanding LANSCE beam reliability after forest fire, dedication of the LANSCE operations team in maximizing beam enabled the users to execute their experiments
National Security Science Magazine
NIF Neutron Imaging System Team
Non-Destructive Laser Gas Sampling Team
Nuclear Experiments Threat Assessment
PREDICT
Predictive Capability Assessment Project Team
Primary Implosion Metrics Development
Stockpile Stewardship: Heritage of Science at Los Alamos documentary
TA-55 Seismic Risk Mitigation
Underground Nuclear Test Prompt Diagnostics
V&V Common Modeling Team
Barolo Subcritical Experiment Series
Lagrangian Hydrodynamics Integrated Product Team
Magnetohydrodynamic capability for the Eulerian ASC codes
Significant contribution to the stockpile stewardship program related to advances in understanding device initiation
Successful execution of the first plutonium experiments on the refurbished Z machine
4.4/TA Verification & Validation Milestone Team (Verification and Validation Milestone Team)
ABAQUS-MCNP Unstructured Mesh Team created and tested a new unstructured mesh capability that saved several man-years worth of effort, improved accuracy of stockpile stewardship simulations, and created and tested the next generation of code interconnectivity between neutron transport and thermomechanical codes
CMR Consolidation/Risk Mitigation: 30 team members
Complex Transformation: 9 team members
DARHT 2nd Axis Refurbishment and Commissioning Project: 75 team members
Detonator Fabrication Process Engineering: 8 team members
Facility Operations Cost Recovery: 12 team members
First DARHT Team
Fission Basis Team collaborated with Livermore documenting LANL system calibration experiments from the 1970s and as a bi-laboratory evaluation of literature data associated with fission product production
High Explosive Violent Response (HEVR) Team
Hydro 3560 Large-scale Hydrodynamic Experiment: 36 team members
Integrated Nuclear Planning: 12 members
LANL Homemade Explosives (HME) Training Team
LANSCE Operations Team delivered a record number of hours delivered to pRAD and outstanding LANSCE beam reliability
National Ignition Facility Advance: 3 team members
Neutron Generators Team: Fundamental Materials Science of PZT Voltage Bars
Primary Setup Suite Team
Probability Distributions for Neutron Multiplying Systems with Delayed Neutrons
Quantification of Margins and Uncertainty (QMU): 2 team members
W76-1 Alternate Material Certification Team modeled the W76-1 with several different modern legacy and Advanced Simulation and Computing codes at LANL and compared specific results to models run by LLNL and the AWE
W76-1 Alternate Material Design Hydrotest: 58 members
W76-1 LEP Canned Subassembly Code Blue: 29 team members
Weapon Analysis Team
For outstanding support of the DoD/DOE Joint Munitions Program (to the The DOE project teams)
Pit Certification Project
W76 Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Code Blue: 10 team members (Mundt, Butner, Rob Bishop, etc.)
Measurement and analysis of the 6Li(n,t)4He cross section
Multiple Time Radiographs of Plutonium Experiments at LANSCE
Physics Certification
Pit Manufacturing
Roadrunner System Integration & Technical Assessment Team
Target Characterization Team
W88 Pit Engineering Certification
Analysis, Documentation & Recommendations (SFIS)
Cold PBX Experimental Team
Core Surveillance Transformation
Development of Advanced Hydrodynamic Radiographic Capability
ESA-MEE Polytechs
ESA-TSE Tritium Processing Team
High Explosives Processing Consolidation Team
High Fidelity Nuclear Data Team
LANL Code Verification Team
LANL Complex of the Future Team
LANL Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) Engineering Team
Offsite Transport Safety Basis Team
Proton Radiography
Proton Radiography Powder Gun Team
Search for Magnetism in Plutonium using Neutron Scattering & Magnetic Fields
Significant contribution to the stockpile stewardship program related to advances in diagnostic simulations
TA-18 Early Move Project
Ultrafast Dynamic Ellipsometry
VPIC Kinetic Plasma Simulations Applications
W76 HE Mechanical Response Team
W76 Life Extension Program Transportation Container Safety Certification Team
2005 Secondary Verification & Validation Milestone Team
4T Terrazzo Gas Transfer System Concept Development Team
Capsaicin Project
CCN-1 SMS Team
Classified Media Library (CML) Project Team
Complex Implosion Team
DETECTOR FOR ADVANCED NEUTRON CAPTURE EXPERIMENTS (DANCE)
ESD Technical Basis Development Team
Estane Study Team
FIGARO Team
For Outstanding contributions in Weapons Surety at Los Alamos
Full-Scale Test Facility Team
Germanium Array for Neutron-Induced Excitations (GEANIE) Team
High Energy Radiography of Assembled Pits Team
High Explosives Processing Consolidation Team
High Fidelity Nuclear Data Team
High Performance Computing Support Team
High-Explosive Radio Telemetry (HERT) Team
Hot CMM Upgrade Project Team
In-Situ Measurement of Crystalline Lattice Strains in Polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) Team
Integration and Control System (ICS) Upgrade Team
Isentropic Compression of Metals Team; Isentropic Compression of Metals Using High Explosive Pulsed Power Techniques
LA Earned Value Reporting Team
LANL Nuclear Weapons Program Decision Analysis Team
LANL Weapons Output and Vulnerability
LANL Weapons Output and Vulnerability Team
Lead slowing-down spectrometer
Linear Deterministic Transport Applications Team
Los Alamos Earned Value Reporting Team
Los Alamos High Explosives Study Team
Los Alamos Radiography Study Team
Model Based Engineering W76 JTA Behavior Modeling Team
MSAD Re-Qualification Team
Neutron Tube Target Loading Team
Nevada Test Site Device Assembly Down Draft Table Team
NMT Cygnus Radiograph Standard Fabrication Team
NTS Device Assembly Facility (DAF) Downdraft Table (DDT) Team
Pit Lifetime Study Underground Test Analysis Team
Plutonium Casting Team
Plutonium Magnetism Study Team
Process Engineering, Implementation, & Maintenance Group
Proton Radiography Propellant Gun (pRAD Gun) Project Team
Proton Radiography Team
Proton Radiography Team for Dynamic Studies of Materials
Proton Radiography Team for Temperature Dependence of Insensitive High Explosives
Qual 2 Metallography Team
Reliable Replacement Warhead
RTBF Program Management Improvements Team
Sandia Packaging Transfer Team
Secondary V&V and W76-1 LEP
Spearheaded Effort to Enhance Program/Project in RTBF
Technical Oversite of PIT Surveillance
TEPLA Team: development and implementation of TEPLA damage model
Threaded Assembly Team
THREX Process Development Team
Understanding Neutron Tube Target Lifetime
Use Control Analysis Team
W76 Life Extension Program Primary Certification Team
W76 Potting SFI Closure Team
W76 Recovery Team
W76-1 2X Acorn Subcomponent Development Team
W78 Recovery Team
W80-0/1 Detonator Transfer Team
Weapons Manufacturing Procedures Task Team
Armando SCE Team
Engineering Index and Methodology for Certification/Qualification
For closing three critical investigations using the best science and engineering
Proton Radiography of a Dynamic Test with U6Nb Team
Screening and Reliability Determination
Stockpile Stewardship Program
B61 Alt 357 Team
Excellent technical work in support of accelerated schedule B61 Phase 6.2/2A
For professional achievement and commitment to re-establishing our nation’s ability to manufacture pits for use in our strategic nuclear deterrent
For successful execution of the Mario and Rocco Subcritical Experiments at the NTS
High Explosive Thermal Response and Behavior Team
Reliability Assessment Team
W76 6.3 Life Extension Program
Significant contributions to the Stockpile Stewardship Program
W76 Team Dual Revalidation Effort
Component Fabrication Team
W76 Study Team
NNSA Pollution Prevention (P2) Awards
2014
High Performance Sustainable Buildings Core Team
2011
A Master of Minimization
Outfall Reduction Program at LANL
Reducing Sulfur Hexafluoride Use in Ion Sources
2010
Sigma Electroplating Discharge Reduction Project
Sustainable Projects for a Sustainable Future
2009
Radiological Laboratory/Utility/Office Building (RLUOB) Integrated Planning, Design,
Procurement and Construction
RCRA-less Oxidation
2008
MRAD: Pollution Prevention Plan Avoids Waste and Disposal Costs
Muon Radiography Project
Sever Virtualization Results in Continual Cost & Energy Savings
Ultrapure Carbon and Carbon-Nitride Nanomaterials
Using a Mature Environmental Management System for Meaningful Institutional Improvements
Wastewater Recycling Saves More Than $1 Million Annually
2007
Green Primaries–Environmentally Friendly Primary Explosives
Slip Top Can Reduction Project
2006
Innovative Tools and Approaches for Environment Management Systems (EMS) Implementation at LANL
LANL Green Engineering Standards
Metal Molds for Plutonium Aliquot Production
2016
Sustainable Communications
2014
Five x-ray pulsers were converted to use air as the dielectric medium instead of sulfur hexafluoride, which is one of the most damaging of the greenhouse gases.
Storm Water Team
2011
Biodiesel Waste Improves LANL Sewage Plant Performance
Insensitive High Explosive TATB Synthesis
Thorium is Now Green
2010
Alternative Fuel Use at LANL
Integration of SSP (Site Sustainability Plan) Goals and the EMS (Environmental Management System)
Living Laboratory: Algal Biofuels Consortium Development
New Plutonium Removal Technique Means Less Waste
Video Teleconferencing Cuts Travel Costs and Reduces Green House Gas Emissions
2009
A Green Synthesis Path to Explosive DAAF (diaminoazoxyfurazan)
Downsizing and Right-sizing the Laboratory’s Vehicle Fleet
Extending Reuse Period of Anti-C Lab coats at CMR
LANL's Electronic Recycling Program
LED Replacement Lights for Glove Boxes are Safe and Cost Effective - LED lights for Gloveboxes Reduce Waste & Enhance Operations
Remediation Project Minimizes Waste & Saves $2 Million
2008
Integrating Safety and Security into the Environment Management System Life-cycle: A Body-contact Sport
Mixed Office Paper Recycle Program
More than $900,000 Saved with Steam Generator Optimization
Perchloric Acid Exhaust System Saves $750,000 Annually
Recycling of Soil, Asphalt and Mulch Saves $1.7 Million
The Uninterruptible Power Supply Project
2007
Improvements to the Plutonium Electrorefining Process
Institutional Improvement Projects Developed from Environ. Mgmt. System
Low-Level Waste Minimization at DARHT
Power Grid Infrastructure Upgrades Transmission Line
Removal & Asset Recovery of Copper-lined Faraday Cage
2006
Replacement Furnace Elements
Statistical Analysis of Glovebox Glove Failure
Recognizes projects that exemplify NNSA’s commitment to environmental excellence through responsible stewardship.
Awardees have found innovative ways to reduce the environmental impact, improve the efficiency, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our work.
2005
Job Hazard Analysis Tool Development
Oil-free Vacuum Pumps
Oversized Transuranic Waste Volume Reductions at the Decontamination and Volume
Reduction System
Radioactive Liquid Waste Generator Set-Aside Fee Program
Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility (RLWTF) Effluent Reuse/Recycle
Redesigning a Weapons Component to Eliminate Beryllium Use
Reusable Containment Structures
2014
Jean Dewart: Created the Great Garbage Grab and an environmental film festival, arranged sustainability symposia, started Carpool-to-Work day, and has directed Earth Day preparations at the Laboratory since 1995.
2017
Dissolving uranium oxide with ammonium bifluoride
Other NNSA Awards
2015
Provided scientific support to the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CBT) Organization
Aviva Sussman
Elizabeth Miller
Emily S. Schultz-Fellenz
Kenneth Wohletz
Rick Kelley
2013
Robert Bishop
30 Pit Per Year Plan Team (30 PPY Plan) Team
B61 Alt 372 Design Team
Lagrangian Applications ALE-AMR Team
National Security Research Center Creation Team
2018
Terry C. Wallace Jr.: his leadership and commitment to the NNSA mission and his ability to accomplish so much during his 10-month tenure.
The Standoff Disablement Team at LANL was honored by joint NNSA/DOD Program for Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation (2019).
2019
Randall Randolph - Co-recipient for his substantive contributions toward innovation and excellence in target fabrication for inertial confinement fusion (ICF).
2017
Medium Resolution Gamma Spectrometry Intercomparison Exercise
Jacob Stinnett
Duc Ta Vo
Field Trial of KM200 Electronics in the JRCISPRA Pulsed Neutron Interrogation Test Assembly Facility Comparing Measurement Results
Kiril Ianakiev
Metodi Iliev
Medium Resolution Gamma Spectrometry Intercomparison Exercise
Michael Yoho
Acquisition Path Analysis Tool
Rian Bahran
Karen Miller
Kevin M. Schaffer
2009
Lloyd Gordon: Outstanding leadership in electrical safety both at Laboratory and across the Department of Energy
2006
Scott Havemann
2016
Iain May: For work toward ensuring the reliability and domestic supply of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), a medical isotope used for diagnostic imaging
2020
Deborah A. (Deb) Martinez: Instrumental in the development and implementation of the queue management system that streamlined Badge Office processes and customer service, reducing the time necessary to grant a clearance and Human Reliability Program certification at LANL from an average of 736 days to 115 days.
2016
Dena J. Edwards: Her contributions to NNSA security programs represent excellence and dedication to nuclear security.
2015
Valorie A. Livesay: Significantly improved security at LANL, across the enterprise, and the United States through risk assessment and vulnerability analysis.
2005
Noah Pope & Robert Larsen: Materials Protection, Control and Accounting
2019
Marina Armijo: In recognition of Armijo’s outstanding strategic savings for LANL and other sites throughout the Department of Energy (DOE) Complex
2011
Bartolo "Bart" Torres: Dedication to protection of USA's most vital strategic assets
2009
David Telles: Protecting some of the nation's most vital strategic assets
2020
Advancing NNSA Area Planning Team
CHAMP Protective Measures Against COVID-19 Transmission Team
Crystal Lab Revitalization Team
DARHT Weather Enclosure Construction Team
Driven by Teamwork – Fleet Operations Navigating through COVID-19 Team
GIS COVID-19 Application Development and Deployment Team
Green Building Training Across NNSA Team
JOWOG 30-04-01 Applied Delivery Technology Team
JOWOG 30-05-02/30-03-06 Planning and Business Continuity in the Face of COVID-19 Team
Los Alamos Blanket Request for Proposal Team
New SCIF Building - Modular Construction Team
NNSA Subcontracting Working Group – Cs-137 Accident Investigation Follow-up Team
PF-4 Capital Column Testing Team
RAMP: FY20 Roof Replacement and Maintenance Projects Team
RANT Operational Readiness and Expanded Shipping Capability Team
Retrieve and Disposition the Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute Actinide Materials Team
SM-39 Classified Machine Shop Electrical Upgrade Team
TEX HEU Experiment During COVID-19 Team
2016
Builder Condition Assessment Advanced Team
NNSA Maintenance Managers Working Group
TA-18 D&D Project
2015
Ward Hawkins - Provided scientific support to the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CBT) Organization.
Awards recognize individuals, groups, and organizations for their outstanding contributions in the areas of maintaining the stockpile, nonproliferation, and counterterrorism and counterproliferation.
2011
“Stockpile Stewardship: Heritage of Science at Los Alamos" documentary
John Bass
Linda T. Deck
David Funk
Tim Goorley
Robert K. Greene
Michael Haertling
Deniece Korzekwa
Kenneth E. Laintz
Joseph C. Martz
Frank Merrill
Nathaniel R. Morgan
Miles O'Brien
Kevin Roark
John M. Scott
Kimberly Scott
Patrice A. Stevens
Jon Ventura