Robert Pierce Receives SRNL Donald A. Orth Lifetime Award of Merit
Savannah River National Laboratory Staff Scientist Robert Pierce is the recipient of the 2024 Donald A. Orth Lifetime Award of Merit for demonstrating technical excellence and leadership in his service to SRNL, the Savannah River Site, and the U.S. Department of Energy.
The Donald A. Orth Lifetime Award of Merit for technical excellence and leadership is one of the highest honors than can be given from SRNL, presented to an individual who by character and leadership best exemplifies Dr. Orth’s character and contributions.
Pierce has worked at SRNL for 36 years supporting separations facilities and providing his expertise in the dissolution and evaporation process. Within the last decade, he’s spent much of his time developing novel technology for processing spent nuclear fuel from advanced reactors. Pierce currently holds four patents related to his work at SRNL and he has authored 20 papers associated with his work.
Pierce was presented the award during a recognition event held Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Aiken Center for the Arts in Aiken, South Carolina. Other high-performing SRNL employees were recognized at the event through 10 Laboratory Director’s Award categories. Those awards and their recipients include:
2024 SRNL Don Orth Lifetime Achievement Award of Merit Winner Bob Pierce
Director’s Award for Exceptional Scientific and Engineering Achievement
- Davis Shull, Global Security
- Prabhu Ganesan, Environmental & Legacy Management
- Guru Dinda, Weapons Production Technology
- Dale Hitchcock, Weapons Production Technology
- Matthew Rollo, Operations & Facilities
- Thanh-Tam Truong, Environmental & Legacy Management
- Director’s Award for Safety/Operational Excellence
- Melissa Gibbs, Weapons Production Technology
- Jennifer Burkett, Global Security
Director’s Core Values Award: Innovation
- Stephanie Gamble, Global Security
- Khai Nguyen, Weapons Production Technology
- Christopher Sobecki, Global Security
Director’s Core Values Award: Teamwork
- Electrolytic Dissolver Testing Team: John Pareizs, Harold “Will” Baggett, Geoffrey (Goeff) Fravor, Michael Restivo, Tyler Ellis, Vernon Bush, David “Dave” Herman, Montenius Collins, and Tam Truong, Dylan Rodene, Erich Hansen, Tyler Chavous, (Jadrien Huell and Mark Hayes nominated, but not BSRA employees)
- Environmental Sampling for National Security Missions Team: Dylan Padgett, Russell “Kevin” Huffman, David Martinez, Anthony “Tony” Trevino, Mark Hudson, Charles “Chuck” Gardner, Brian Viner, Heather Brant, Haley Cole, Randy Achey, Jake Reagin, Ryne Paschall, Luke Johnson, and Michael “Mike” Maxwell
- Criticality Control Overpack Inspection Automation Team: Corey Hopper, Camille “Cami” Kudrna, Nicholas Spivey, Michael Tomlin, James “Tanner” Goins, Michael Brown, Kevin Harbula, Joel Jones, and Nick Issa
Director’s Award for Program/Project Leadership
- J. Connor Nicholson, Global Security
- Katie Heroux, Weapons Production Technology
Director’s Award for Early Career Exceptional Achievement
- Dillon Tauscher, Chief Information Office
- Sean Noble, Environmental & Legacy Management
- Jacob Reagin, Global Security
- Sean Thomas, Weapons Production Technology
- Michael Torcivia, Weapons Production Technology
- John Dekarske, Environmental & Legacy Management
Director’s Core Values Award: Integrity
- Kelsie Taylor, Communications
- Henry Bonilla, Environmental & Legacy Management
- Christopher Barrett, Global Security
Director’s Core Values Award: Service
- Heather Brant, Global Security
- Drew Fairchild, Environmental & Legacy Management
- Ambrose Wiering, Weapons Production Technology
Director’s Award for Mentoring
- Rachel Jones, Global Security
- Annamarie MacMurray, Weapons Production Technology
- Kellie Holland, Safeguards and Security
- Tom Shehee, Environmental & Legacy Management
Director’s Award for Change Champion
- Lindsay Trapp, Environmental, Safety, Heath & Quality Assurance
- William Helm, Global Security (formerly with SRNL)
Director’s Award for Inclusive Diversity
- Jason Payne, Global Security
- Samuel Uba, Global Security