Secretary Granholm Celebrates Secretary’s Honor Awards Recipients

Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm on Tuesday celebrated the 2022 Secretary’s Honor Awards recipients, a group of 44 teams and five individuals representing every corner of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The annual Secretary’s Honor Awards are among the highest forms of internal recognition DOE’s Federal and contractor employees can receive and recognize those who make go above and beyond in service to the country and making lasting impacts on the Department and the country.

“I hope that our awardees derive as much enjoyment from their work as the pride we draw from their contributions,” said Secretary Granholm. “But I suspect that what ultimately motivates them is service to their country and the members of their community.”

All nominations were endorsed by the applicable Head of Departmental Element and Under Secretary, reviewed and recommended by our Executive Resources Board, and approved by Secretary Granholm and Deputy Secretary David M. Turk.

Five individuals received the Excellence Award, marking a singular accomplishment that demonstrates a high level of performance and outstanding leadership in public service.

  • Lametia Browne, Operations Resource Manager in the Office of Policy, played an indispensable part in reorganizing and rebuilding the Office of Policy from the ground up.
  • Laura Hartman, Nuclear Engineer in the National Nuclear Security Administration, has been the engine behind multi-billion-dollar projects to recapitalize the Naval Reactors Program’s nuclear fuel life-cycle capabilities projects.
  • Michael Nifontoff, Director of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Information Technology Management Division, delivered a first-of-its-kind, unclassified network for use by the Naval Nuclear Laboratory.
  • Matthew Tarduogno, Management and Program Analyst in the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response, demonstrated extraordinary leadership in DOE’s energy sector monitoring and analysis efforts.
  • Dewayne Whitfield, Information Technology Specialist in the Office of the Chief Information Officer, displayed innovative thinking that helped the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization meet the Department’s ambitious small business goals.

The 44 teams, made up of hundreds of DOE staff, were recognized for everything from supporting the Government’s efforts to aid Ukraine to implementing programs included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

2022 Secretary’s Honor Awards Recipients

Secretary of Energy and Deputy Secretary of Energy Portfolio

  • Secretary of Energy Excellence Award
    • Dewayne Whitfield, Office of the Chief Information Officer
    • Lametia Browne, Office of Policy
  • Secretary of Energy Achievement Award
    • Accelerated Basin De-Inventory Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management 
    • Hanford Groundwater Pump and Treat Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management 
    • Hanford Tank Side Cesium Removal Demonstration Integrated Project Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management
    • Idaho Cleanup Project Buried Waste Retrieval Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management
    • Office of Business and Acquisition Management Idaho Cleanup Project Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management
    • Office of Environmental Management Minority Serving Institution Partnership Project Execution Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management
    • Savannah River Site Lower Three Runs Final Remedial Decision Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management 
    • Savannah River Site Phytoremediation Project Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management 
    • Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Policy Development Team, Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security
    • Streamlined Headquarters Security and Suitability Process Team, Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security 
    • EIA Energy Analysis Team, Energy Information Administration 
    • Congressional Justifications System Team, Office of the Chief Financial Officer
    • Data Center Migration Team, Office of the Chief Financial Officer
    • Health and Human Services (HHS) Unaccompanied Children Project Volunteers and Support Team (nominated by the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer)
    • Defense Related Uranium Mine (DRUM) Team, Office of Legacy Management

Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure Portfolio

  • Secretary of Energy Excellence Award
    • Matthew Tarduogno, Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response
  • Secretary of Energy Achievement Award
    • Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Standup Team (nominated by the Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure)
    • Clean Energy Corps Core Competency Interview Team (nominated by Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure) 
    • Strategic Petroleum Reserve Release Team, Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response (nominated by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management)
    • Advanced Clean Energy Storage (ACES) Loan Team, Loan Programs Office

Office of the Under Secretary for Science and Innovation 

  • Secretary of Energy Achievement Award
    • Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
    • Sustainable Aviation Fuels Grand Challenge Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
    • Civil Nuclear Credit Program Implementation Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy
    • Advanced Test Reactor Core Internals Change-Out VI Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy
    • Top Head Closure Plate (I-Loop) Project Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy
    • Versatile Test Reactor Environmental Impact Statement Team, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy
    • Driving U.S. Competitiveness and Innovations Team, Office of Science
    • Tritium Systems Demolition and Disposal Project Team, Office of Science
    • Ukraine Dear Colleague Letter Team, Office of Science

Office of the Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and National Nuclear Security Administration

  • Secretary of Energy Excellence Award
    • Laura Hartman, National Nuclear Security Administration
    • Michael Nifontoff, National Nuclear Security Administration
  • Secretary of Energy Achievement Award
    • Afghan Rescue Team
    • B61-12 Gravity Bomb Life Extension Program Team
    • Capsule Gain on the National Ignition Facility Team 
    • Electron Beam Cold Hearth Melting Realization Team
    • Exascale Computing Facility Modernization Project Team
    • Japan Highly Enriched Uranium Removal Team
    • Kazakhstan Reactor Conversion Team
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Emergency Operations Center Delivery Team
    • Molybdenum-99 Highly Enriched Uranium Ban Team
    • National Ignition Facility (NIF) Fused Silica Debris Shields Implementation Team 
    • Naval Reactors and Environmental Management Decontamination and Decommissioning Partnership Team
    • Rapid Thermal Protection Systems Team
    • STPSat-6 Satellite Payloads Early On-Orbit Test Team
    • Ukraine Detection Assistance Team
    • W88 Alteration 370 Sea-Launched Ballistic Missile Warhead Team
    • W93 Phase 1 Concept Assessment Study Team

Originally published at https://www.energy.gov/articles/secretary-granholm-celebrates-secretarys-honor-awards-recipients