U.S. ARMY ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Awards Ceremony
ERDC HQ AUDITORIUM AUGUST 26, 2026 1300 CST
Program WELCOME AND OCCASION Dr. Lucy Priddy Deputy Director (A), ERDC
NATIONAL ANTHEM OPENING REMARKS Dr. Beth Fleming Director, ERDC
MERITORIOUS AWARDS Kevin D. Winters Vernessa F. Noye Molly S. McManus Jennifer P. Taylor Leslie C. Grammer
VOGEL AWARDS Administrative Specialist - Melissa Nelson Engineer - Amanda Tritinger Scientist - Travis Thornell Technician - Charles Ellis Craftsman - Jason Ables General Support - Courtney Towne
ERDC AWARDS Researcher of the Year - Nathan G. Peterson Administrative Specialist of the Year - Jennifer B. Prudhomme General Support Professional of the Year - Benjamin R. Wiechmann Supervisor of the Year - Michael F. Mailloux Technician of the Year - Thomas Carriveau
R&D Achievement Awards ZACHARY J. TYLER for leading a multi-year effort starting in FY24 utilizing the USACE Large Modular Tilting Flume Facility to successfully demonstrate that injection dredging can regain reservoir storage capacity by remobilizing deposited sediments
STEVEN R. PRICE for his exceptional leadership and technical innovation by developing and transitioning critical technology to U.S. security partners and the Intelligence Community. LAKENYA K. WALKER for advancing the Army's operational effectiveness through her outstanding contributions to AI and data management ERIC KREIGER, LEE PRESTO, DILLON UKEN, CHRISTIAN NEGRON-MCFARLANE for conducting the first comprehensive study of flexural behavior in reinforced additively constructed concrete walls, providing critical data and validated models to optimize design, enhance operational capabilities, and promote efficient construction. JACOB M. LALLEY, SCOTT A. WAISNER, CONNOR C. CLARK for remediating an explosives-contaminated aquifer source area at an active military installation and EPA Superfund site, demonstrating outstanding technical achievement in research and development. JOHN Q. EHRGOTT, DENIS D. RICKMAN, STEPHEN D. TURNER, GEORGE H. VANKIRK
for their outstanding technical achievement in developing dual explosive slurry line charges (SLiCE), establishing the technical basis for advanced autonomous breaching systems to enhance maneuver capabilities, improve Soldier safety, and reduce expenditures. NAWA R. PRADHAN, IAN E. FLOYD, GRACE CARRAVONE, GENE KLOSS, AARON R. BYRD, ROSE M. SHILLITO, STEPHEN W. BROWN, TRAVIS A. DAHL, JODI L. RYDER
for pioneering and transitioning the Army’s first satellite-enabled, physics-based capability for distributed post-wildfire flood risk prediction, enabling rapid assessments to strengthen emergency response, force protection, and infrastructure resilience
R&D Achievement Awards HALEY P. BELL, APRIL BOWMAN, YEE ROO L. EDWARDS, BRADLEY S. HANSEN, JOHN F. RUSHING for notable contributions in developing and demonstrating highly effective hasty road repair techniques, providing the Army with a vital capability to restore key lines of communication and enhance overall logistical readiness. KYOO D. JO, SUNGMIN HONG, GABRIELA PADILLA-RIVERA, HYUNJUNG A. KIM
for pioneering the world's first virtual nanofluidic channels achieving recordbreaking energy conversion efficiency and developing an ultra-sensitive, selfpowered sensing platform to enable autonomous, battery-free sensor networks for Multi-Domain Operations JING-RU C. CHENG, WESTON P. MONCEAUX, HAN S. JEONG, WARREN WILLIAMS, STEVEN R. GLANDON, W. GABE KATZENMEYER, ABBY R. CISKO for pioneering AI-based threat detection for military rail security using synthetic training datasets, significantly enhancing cargo inspection efficiency and fortifying Army defenses to advance national security capabilities. GENEVIEVE L. PEZZOLA, JOHN M. HOEMANN, WILLIAM F. HEARD, DONALD H. NELSON, THOMAS CARRIVEAU, BENJAMIN S. PARSONS, FRANCES C. HILL
for significant contributions to the protective posture of the Theater Engineer Brigade at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, utilizing exceptional teamwork, professionalism, and technical skill to successfully answer a critical survivability gap in the CENTCOM AOR BRIAN C. HODGIN, KADEN P. ROWELL, DAVID M. DUMAS, CHRISTOPHER B. BORCHERT, AVERY J. SCHEMMEL, NATHAN C. PREWITT, JEFFREY B. ALLEN, JUSTIN W. FOSTER, GLOVER E. GEORGE, KEVIN WINTERS, CODY M. SHELTON
for exceptional contributions to the Liberty Lifter program through technical expertise and high-performance computing resources, directly informing critical design decisions and reducing risks to advance groundbreaking capabilities for national defense.
ALISSA E. AUTRY-GUIDER
Outstanding Achievement in Human Capital Development
for exceptional service and extraordinary leadership in ensuring the seamless continuity of critical Human Capital functions, expertly navigating a complex hiring freeze to onboard essential personnel and safeguard mission readiness.
Outstanding Achievement in Project Management
TERRY D. MELENDY for exceptional initiative and leadership in establishing a $23.4 million partnership with the National Science Foundation to modernize firefighting capabilities at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, significantly expanding ERDC’s program portfolio and strengthening national polar research missions.
MADELINE M. SHUNK, JOSEPH BUSH, EMMA R. MARTIN for exceptional contributions in providing technical support as a leader in facilityrelated control system (FRCS) testing and validation, securing $2.7M in their first year to completely validate technologies prior to service-wide field deployment. THAD C. PRATT for exceptional efforts in developing the program, leading to critical mission requests from NAVFAC and other DoW partners to address their respective security and operational needs. CHARLES K. CRANE, LUCAS A. WALSHIRE, STEPHANIE G. WOOD, NICHOLAS I. ARNOLD, JESSE A. SHERBURN, THOMAS N. WILLIAMS, WILLIAM B. LAWRIMORE, STEPHANIE E. ROBERT, CHRISTOPHER G. PRICE, JOSEPH B. JORDAN, ZORAN NADZAKOVIC
for expert technical engagement with the U.S. Air Force Sentinel Program to create new research initiatives in survivability and construction, significantly expanding ERDC's role in a vital national defense system. IAN D. DETTWILLER, HALEY R. DOZIER, ROBERT M. WALLACE, VICTORIA D. MOORE, MARK D. LUGAR, GLOVER E. GEORGE, MARVIN S. BROWN, SAMUEL C. WILLIAMS
for exemplary program growth and development in delivering impactful contributions to the Army's electromagnetic warfare capabilities through innovative approaches and collaboration on the High-Performance Digital Engineering for Electronic Warfare project
Outstanding Team Effort LUIS D. ALCARAZ NIEVES, ROBERT D. EDWARDS, DOUGLAS L. JONES, ISRAEL LOPEZ-TOLEDO, DUSTIN S. NOTTAGE, MARIBEL DELATORRE, KATHERINE R. PANE, AHMET SOYLEMEZOGLU, THEODORE M. BELMONT, RICHARD D. BROWN, STEVEN L. BUNKLEY, CHARLES C. ELLISON, JOHN CAMERON FUREY, SAMUEL P. GREER, JORDAN D. KLEIN, ANTON NETCHAEV, ANDREW R. FOLSE
for outstanding interlaboratory research and development to enable unmanned obstacle intelligence, breaching, lane proofing, and vehicle fighting position construction, advanced combat capabilities were successfully validated by the 1st Armored Division during Project Convergence, reflecting great credit upon the ERDC and the U.S. Army. ETHAN VROMAN, BENJAMIN R. BRELAND, REBEKAH LEE, JOHN DEREK ABLES, JEFFREY D. ELLIS, LUCAS A. WALSHIRE, MICHAEL K. TAYLOR, SAMANTHA L. LUCKER, CHRISTOPHER HARDY, ZACHARY WEBER, NATHAN MADSEN, JOHN M. KIRKLIN, CHANDLER ENGEL, STEVEN L. LARSON
for outstanding team effort in demonstrating biopolymer technology for the remediation of levee embankments, interlaboratory scientists and researchers collaborated cohesively to deliver a successful and highly professional demonstration of this critical technology. DUSTIN T. BROWN, AARON R. BYRD, CHRISTOPHER E. FRENCH, GENE E. KLOSS, MARIN M. KRESS, EMILY S. ONDICH, TYLER K. ROBERTS, KIARA I. SAVANT, PERRY A. WOLFE, IFEZUE V. OBIAKO, MARK A. COWAN, JAMES A. RICHARDS, JAMES E. RICHARDS, CHRISTINA H. RINAUDO, WILLIAM A. ANDERSON, STEPHANIE E. ROBERT, R. DANIELLE WHITLOW, ERNEST S. BERNEY, BRADLEY S. HANSEN, JOE A. FOSTER, PHILLIP L. PRICE, CHRISTINE M. YOUNG, J. GREG GREEN, JEREMIAH M. STACHE, JEREMY BEASLEY, JONATHAN W. OLDENBURG, ABBY R. CISKO, W. GABE KATZENMEYER, KATHERINE E. WINTERS, BARRETT T. BALDWIN, GARY E. JOHNSTON, GENTRY N. BERRY, COLTON S. RODGERS, JOHANNA R. ARREDONDO, SEAN GRIFFIN
for coordinating five specialized subject matter expert teams across multiple laboratories, a disciplined team-of-teams approach and strong project leadership were utilized to successfully develop a robust, multi-modal, distributed routing decision support system for military movement, sustainment, and logistics planners operating in contested conditions.
JARED S. COBB, CAITLIN G. BRESNAHAN, JAYLEN A. DAVIS, ZANE H. TURNER, HARLEY R. MCALEXANDER, ASHLEY M. KOVAL, ASHLEY N. KIMBLE, SULYMAR AROCHO, ANTHONY J. BEDNAR, EDITH L. MARTINEZ-GUERRA, TRAVIS L. THORNELL, KYLE L. KLAUS for successfully designing, synthesizing, and scaling tunable metal-centered porous polymers (MCPPs)
SARAH L. MCCOMAS, LORIN J. HENDRICKS, KENNETH M. MCLAUGHLIN, WEBSTER C. FLOYD, TRENT C. MAY, SAMUEL WILLIAMS, JOHN W. MILLER, AARON WEBBER, WARREN WILLIAMS, MATTHEW G. BLEVINS, BENJAMIN RACELIS, MORRIS P. FIELDS, ANDREW STEEN
for the successful completion of a TRL 6 demonstration that achieved a breakthrough in military technology, a critical capability was delivered to the Warfighter by providing automated alerts to decision-makers at the point of need, reflecting great credit on the ERDC and USACE.
KYLIE R. BURKETT, ARIANE O. PINSON, SUSANNAH C. DAVIDSON, DANIEL R. GAMBILL, MELANIE M. PANE, MICHAEL P. DUCZYNSKI, MATT MALEJ, THOMAS C. MASSEY, ALI ABDOLALI, DR. MICHAEL-ANGELO LAM, MARGARET H. KURTH for outstanding team effort in leveraging dual-use installation operations technology to enable forensic analysis, innovative research was conducted to repurpose existing technologies to enhance installation resilience, planning, response, and recovery from extreme weather events at minimal cost
HEIDI R. HOWARD, MICHAEL G. JUST, WADE WALL, JODI L. RYDER, HEATHER M. KNOTEK-SMITH, IAN E. FLOYD for hosting the first ERDC Wildfire Workshop and producing the first unified ERDC Wildfire Science Strategic Plan, outstanding interdisciplinary collaboration and leadership were demonstrated to lay the foundation for a new research area, advancing DoD readiness against escalating wildfire threats.
RACHEL L. BAIN, SHANNON M. BROWN, BRITTANY L. BRUDER, CHARLES E. ELLIS, TANNER A. JERNIGAN, DOYLE L. JONES, DOUGLAS R. KRAFFT, SEAN P. MCGILL, MICHAEL T. RAMIREZ, NICHOLAS J. SPORE, RENEE M. STYLES, RICHARD B. STYLES, BINDU NUGGAHALLY SWAMYGOWDA for outstanding team effort during mission-critical vessel wake data collection supporting the USACE Savannah District and the City of Tybee Island, exceptional safety, communication, and collaboration were demonstrated to ensure smooth, incident-free project execution, reflecting great credit upon CHL and USACE
MICHAEL J. HAMMOND, RYAN G. DELTS, LEE E. SCREWS, JR., ABDULNASSER B. MOHAMED, BENJAMIN A. LUGO for exceptional interdisciplinary achievement in advancing Army Command and Control planning capabilities while sustaining the Joint Planning Services platform, innovative work across multiple security domains and leadership in developing Next Generation C2 capabilities were demonstrated to significantly support the Army’s highest-priority operations.
JOSHUA E. PAYNE, JEFFREY HOLMES, JOHN Q. EHRGOTT, THOMAS N. WILLIAMS, PAUL T. MEAD, MARVIN D. MARSHALL, WOODY WATTERS, FRERINSKI MITCHELL, RAY L. JEFFERS, MATTHEW S. HOECKER, CARL A. FLOWERS, WILLIAM F. GRIFFITHS, JAMES W. JOHNSON, JONATHAN POOLE DAHLEM, LAYTON C. BURKE
for outstanding contributions to the MERCURY Earth-Covered Magazine test, a complex explosives safety evaluation experiment was conducted, providing critical data to refine analytical models, validate computational tools, and inform Department of War explosives safety regulations to improve storage safety and installation siting recommendations.
Outstanding Achievement in Technology Transition to Federal Agencies SAMANTHA CARLEY, SAMANTHA J. BUTLER, STEVEN R. PRICE, HALEY HONIGFORT, BENJAMIN A. JONES, AARON M. SULLIVAN, CLAY B. BLOUNT, ASHLEY HANNA, CHRISTOPHER MILLIGAN For outstanding leadership in developing a successful partnership with Kenai Defense, a novel process was created to produce advanced nanocarbon materials from domestic coal feedstocks, securing critical access to advanced nanomaterials for protective warfighter applications. LYNDE L. DODD, ROBERT C. SCHERMERHORN, KYLIE V. WHEELER, CHRISTOPHER E. MANCHACK, AARON N. SCHAD for transitioning native vegetation establishment, monitoring, and adaptive management technologies to six USACE Districts for critical navigation and flood risk management projects. TIMOTHY K. PERKINS, LOUIS B. BARTELS, ALLISON M. LONG, CARRIE A. HEISHMAN, MATTHEW M. SWANSON, SUSAN R. WOLTERS for the landmark technology infusion and transition of the VTIME Integrated Installation Planning capability, providing proven benefits in infrastructure decision-making and transforming Army installation planning and facility investment optimization.
HEATHER M. KNOTEK-SMITH, JEFFREY A. GERALD for successfully transitioning the Environmental Quality Requirements Model (EQRM) into the Army Web Compliance Assessment and Sustainment SystemEnterprise (WEBCASS-E), enhancing environmental stewardship and validating over $600M in critical funding. DANIEL Z. FEIGENBAUM, JAMES B. SMITH, STEVEN D. SLOAN, COOPER S. CEARLEY for outstanding technical development of an expeditionary downhole seismic acquisition platform, significantly reducing data collection time and delivering a deployable subterranean threat detection solution to enhance U.S. Border Patrol security and mitigate risk for Law Enforcement Operators.
Outstanding Achievement in Technology Transfer to Non-Federal Parties NATHAN G. PETERSON
for outstanding technology transfer in identifying hidden electrical signatures along the electrical grid to recognize faults, perform diagnostics, and investigate cybersecurity issues to protect critical infrastructure and support the U.S. Army's energy and security objectives. A. SPICER BAK, NICOLAS M. DESIMONE, MATTHEW J. SAENZ
for exceptional technology transfer in developing a novel, low-cost bathymetric survey system enhancement for the JaiaBot micro ASV, transforming the platform into a high-speed survey asset that resulted in a new commercial product line and planned adoption by the Army Divers and U.S. Marine Corps. TRAVIS L. THORNELL, DANE WEDGEWORTH, MINE UCAK-ASTARLIOGLU, HAYDEN HANNA, ASHLEY HANNA, HALEY HONIGFORT
for leading a successful partnership with Kenai Defense to develop a novel process for producing advanced nanocarbon materials from domestic coal feedstocks, ensuring critical U.S. access to advanced nanomaterials for protective warfighter applications. JARED S. COBB, JAYLEN A. DAVIS
for transferring radio-frequency assisted carbon heating technology to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, enabling controlled subsurface adhesive heating and safer, faster restoration removal.
Outstanding Achievement in Knowledge Management DAVID L. YOUNG, ENRIQUE MENDEZ, MICHAEL A. HARTMAN, MARIN M. KRESS, KENNETH N. MITCHELL for outstanding knowledge management through the development and deployment of the Channel Utilization Tool and Hopper Dredge Scheduler, transforming real-time vessel data into actionable decision-making to optimize navigation and dredging knowledge across the USACE enterprise.
JEB S. TINGLE, JEREMIAH M. STACHE, GEORGE G. STUBBLEFIELD, TYLER HEBERT, COLTON RODGERS, QUINTIN S. MASON, WEBSTER C. FLOYD for exceptional creativity and collaboration in leading a multi-organizational team to successfully execute the Army’s 250th military parade, applying innovative tools and promoting critical knowledge sharing across the FHWA, National Park Service, and ERDC. JOYCELYNN G. BROOKS, MICHELLE A. BEANE, JENNEFER R. BEYL, MARRISSA A. ANDERSON, KENNETH A. FROST, SUMMER C. HAMMONDS, JERED H. LAMBIOTTE, JENNIFER A. SMITH, SHARHARA S. TYLER, RACHEL M. WALLACE, EMILY M. WEGRZYN, ALEXIS C. WILKINSON, MOLLY S. MCMANUS
for proactively partnering with Google Books—a first for the Department of Defense—to increase the visibility of ERDC research and knowledge, demonstrating outstanding achievement in knowledge management to bring great credit to the Information Technology Laboratory and the nation
Excellence in Operational Support BRENT H. HARGIS, KATHLEEN A. STAEBELL, EMILY S. ONDICH, JULIA B. ZIMMERMAN, THAD C. PRATT, WILLIAM C. BUTLER, ANTHONY R. JACKSON, MARY MARGARET EDNEY, GARY E. JOHNSTON, LESLEY F. MILLER, JEB S. TINGLE, LUCAS A. WALSHIRE, STEVEN D. SLOAN, YEE ROO L. EDWARDS, CHRISTOPHER G. PRICE, BENJAMIN R. BRELAND, BRADLEY S. HANSEN, BRENTTON W. TOWNE, JOHN G. GREEN, JUSTIN S. STRICKLER, NICHOLAS R. BOONE, DANIEL E. HARDER, JEFF F. POWELL, DONNA R. WILLIAMS, MATTHEW W. HORTON, STEVEN W. ANDREWS, AMANDA R. ERTLE, CAREY L. BAXTER, JOHN B. EYLANDER, SALLY A. SHOOP, SUSAN FRANKENSTEIN, MICHAEL W. PARKER, THEODORE W. LETCHER, JASON L. OLIVIER, EDITH L. MARTINEZ-GUERRA
for exceptional technical and operational support to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment during a critical vehicle recovery mission in Pabrade, Lithuania, directly contributing to mission success and solidifying ERDC's reputation as a vital partner to the Warfighter
BENJAMIN A. JONES, AARON M. SULLIVAN for exceptional operational support of a classified, time-critical mission, extraordinary ingenuity and perseverance were demonstrated to overcome harsh weather and faulty equipment, directly ensuring mission success TERRY D. MELENDY, KATIE L. DIDOMINIC, CHRESTIEN M. CHARLEBOIS for excellence in operational support as a Research Civil Engineer, Research Environmental Engineer, and Senior Technician at CRREL, ERDC during March 2025 BRUCE A. MACALLISTER
for exceptional dedication during a solo TDY to Okinawa, critical maintenance issues were successfully resolved, over 90 Marines were trained, and the seamless transition of the ACES printing system was ensured, significantly contributing to the success of exercise Resolute Dragon 2025 FRANKLIN H. HOLCOMB, DAVID K. DELANEY, BRIANNA K. MORTON, MATTHEW M. SWANSON, MELISA NALLAR, LORA L. JOHNSON, ILEA A. DIAZ LLUBERES, DAMARYS ACEVEDO-ACEVEDO, SUSAN R. WOLTERS, EDITH L. MARTINEZ-GUERRA
for exceptional operational support in developing the Installation Energy and Water Plan for Area Support Group Jordan, outstanding dedication was demonstrated in overcoming security challenges to enhance resource resilience and mission readiness for U.S. forces JARED S. COBB, JAYLEN A. DAVIS, CHRISTA M. WOODLEY, ANTON NETCHAEV, JASON D. RAY, JOHN CAMERON FUREY, THEODORE M. BELMONT, MADELINE LAUREN LAGARDE, KEITH CONLEY, JAMES A. SAMPLEY, GARRY P. GLASPELL, AMIR F. NASER, JESSE M. BARR for rapidly fielding a robotic navigation and sensing capability for SOCOM Operation Dragon Spear, delivering actionable detection and mapping in GPSdenied tunnels while overcoming severe communications and localization challenges.
NATHAN FRANTZ, KATLYN MITYGA
for excellence in operational support to the Joint Force under the TAK program, outstanding leadership and technical expertise were demonstrated in coordinating multi-partner efforts to establish TAK as a vital Joint, Multinational, and Multi-Agency asset. DONALD GUYNES,
MICHAEL J. ROTH,
ANDREAS O. FRANK, SHANNON L.
GARLINGTON, ALEX J. JACKSON, JOSHUA C. POPE, STACY L. WASHINGTON, RONNIE E. DART, WILLIAM N. STEPHENS, DAVID V. SENIOR, JAMES W. JOHNSON, KYLE T. MOSS, RICHARD R. ULIBARRI, CHRISTOPHER ABLES, COREY M. JONES
for significant contributions to the Advanced Weapons Effects research program, outstanding professionalism, technical skill, and responsiveness were demonstrated to solve major challenges in Survivability and Protective Structures, rapidly developing solutions to protect U.S. personnel worldwide
Outstanding Project Management JEREMY A. SHARP
for outstanding program management of Inland Waterways Projects during FY25, leadership in developing the WaterWays Light Weight Modeling System preserved the CHL physical model program, secured $35 million in civil funds, and established a $32 million reimbursable market. JENNA N. WILLIAMS
for outstanding project management of the Arctic Airfields Assessment, expert leadership created new funding opportunities with NORAD and NORTHCOM, spearheaded the development of a new expeditionary shelter for the warfighter, and resolved long-standing facility deficiencies at the AKRO site.
GEORGE C. MONCRIEF
for exemplary project management leading the TI-24 "Barfoot" supercomputer acceptance in 481 days—44% faster than the HPCMP average—a 20-person team was coordinated through a complex $20M integration to deliver a 212,000-core system, increasing ERDC computational capability by 60% and enabling critical defense research. CHRISTOPHER M. RIALS
for outstanding project management of the Advanced Threat Landscape and Simulations Team in fiscal year 2025, a diverse cybersecurity portfolio was expertly led to materially improve the security posture of ERDC, USACE, and the Department of Defense HEATHER M. KNOTEK-SMITH for outstanding project management in leading a complex, multi-year research program, an AI/ML-ready geospatial analysis platform was successfully developed, reflecting great credit upon the Environmental Laboratory and ERDC. NICOLE WAYANT for exemplary leadership and outstanding project management of the Geospatial Analytics and Prediction (GAP) and Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) initiatives, critical capabilities were delivered that significantly enhanced warfighter effectiveness and operational readiness during FY25
Excellence in ERDC Mentoring ANNIKA M. O’DEA for exceptional mentorship and team-building efforts across the branch, personalized coaching and career development guidance were provided to directly advance professional readiness and leadership capacity across GRL and partnering teams.
VINEET GUPTA for exceptional mentorship and team-building efforts across the branch, personalized coaching and career development guidance were provided to directly advance professional readiness and leadership capacity across GRL and partnering teams. RUDOLPH A. ANDREATTA for outstanding commitment to developing technical capability within the Concrete and Materials Research Team, multiple technicians were mentored, elevating the careers of developing professionals, strengthening organizational capabilities, and delivering lasting mission-focused impact JODI L. RYDER for exemplary commitment to mentoring researchers in technical proficiency, professional growth, and leadership, outstanding guidance was provided to develop the next generation of engineers and scientists, reflecting great credit upon the Environmental Laboratory and ERDC. LARRY N. LYNCH for exemplary dedication to mentorship within ERDC, guidance was provided that empowered numerous team members to navigate operational frameworks, develop professional skills, and pursue career advancement, fostering a culture of growth and collaboration.
Safety Award ANTHONY J. BEDNAR for proactively identifying and mitigating the safety hazard of improperly stored incompatible chemicals in the Environmental Laboratory, significantly enhancing employee safety and preventing potential catastrophic incidents in support of the ERDC mission
SCOTT A. SASSAMAN for outstanding safety leadership, unwavering commitment, and dedication to continuous improvement, a high standard of professional excellence was established, improving employee well-being and laying the foundation for a safer, more resilient organization ILEA DIAZ-LLUBERES for outstanding leadership in chemical safety, proactive initiatives and expert guidance were provided to enhance GRL’s safety culture, ensure personnel health, and establish a high standard for safety practices across ERDC in collaboration with the Environmental Laboratory. EMILY ASENATH-SMITH, MATTHEW A. FORT for outstanding safety leadership in developing and delivering comprehensive training on the safe handling and storage of compressed gases and cryogenic materials, CRREL’s safety culture was strengthened, reinforcing CE-SOHMS implementation and elevating safety practices across ERDC STEPHEN P. ROWELL, WILLIAM J. QUIMBY for outstanding leadership of the Building 5008 clean-up effort, a culture of safety and teamwork was fostered to successfully restore a premier research facility to a safe and operational state, reflecting great credit upon the ERDC and the U.S. Army.
Communications Award
S. KEITH MARTIN, MARY C. ALLISON, RICHARD W. HUNT, JACOB C. HODGES, SHANNON N. STEVER, ELIZABETH G. STAEBELL for exceptional and innovative communication in advancing critical maritime navigation projects, advanced simulation technology was masterfully utilized to foster unprecedented collaboration with key partners, enhancing stakeholder engagement and directly supporting the ERDC mission ALAN J. KENNEDY, CHRISTOPHER L. CUMMINGS for exceptional leadership in science communication, a pioneering stakeholder engagement strategy for harmful algal blooms was developed, enhancing interagency trust, aligning federal and state efforts, and establishing a new benchmark for ERDC's communication practices
MARY MARGARET EDNEY, SARA C. ROBINSON, CYNTHIA R. CARROLL, NORA A. KIRKLIN, SHELBY C. PURVIS, SARAH L. SOVERNS, AMANDA J. YOCUM, EMILY R. ANDREWS
for exceptional excellence in communication, a strategic, mission-aligned outreach program was developed and executed to strengthen public trust, expand community partnerships, and advance the ERDC mission through innovative, compliant, and coordinated efforts. SARAH E. ECKLEY
for outstanding communication initiatives that advanced the laboratory's mission with significant innovation and creativity, resource limitations were successfully overcome to implement scalable communication solutions, setting a new standard across GRL and the ERDC enterprise. EMILY B. MOYNIHAN, CAMBER N. AGRELIUS, SARAH A. DEUELL, JENIFER A. DILL, ANDREW C. KEATON, MARY M. KENT-WALSHIRE, DARRIN C. MEYERS, KATHLEEN L. MILES, JAMES M. O’DONOGHUE, MEGAN L. STRANG, KAREN J. TAYLOR, DANE E. TORBECK
for outstanding support in dramatically increasing technical publishing output, innovative solutions were implemented to streamline the publication process and provide exceptional editing support across all ERDC laboratories, reflecting great credit upon the Information Technology Laboratory.
International Research and Development CLARENCE O. COLLINS for exceptional achievement in advancing global research and development, a landmark synthesis in Reviews of Geophysics was published and critical scientific liaison efforts were led, successfully strengthening U.S.-Australia partnerships and expanding strategic collaborations with the University of Melbourne, CSIRO, the Bureau of Meteorology, and the Wave Hindcasting and Forecasting Group
NICHOLAS T. COHN for exceptional achievement in conducting impactful research and development, careful and deliberate international collaborations were successfully led to advance the strategic interests of ERDC, the Army, and the Nation CHARLOTTE L. ELLISON for exceptional contributions to advancing research and development through innovative collaboration with the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, natural language processing and geospatial analytics were successfully integrated to significantly enhance situational awareness for the warfighter, strengthening strategic international partnerships.
THOMAS BEASLEY, W. GABE KATZENMEYER, JONATHAN W. OLDENBURG, BARRETT BALDWIN, ERNEST ANDERTON, JOHN Q. EHRGOTT, STEPHEN D. TURNER, JEFFREY HOLMES, WILLIAM F. GRIFFITHS, RAY L. JEFFERS, ABBY R. CISKO for exceptional contributions during Exercise TURNOUT 25, the first NATO exercise hosted in the United States, military railroad construction capabilities were advanced and the Army's first explosives demolition testing on rail infrastructure since the 1940s was successfully executed, providing critical data to enhance predictive weapons effects and strengthen international research collaboration. DANIEL E. HARDER, STEVEN R. PRICE, BENJAMIN A. JONES, AARON M. SULLIVAN for outstanding commitment to international cooperation during the Saber Guardian 25 exercise, an innovative experiment with a rapidly deployable system of technical effects was successfully executed, significantly advancing research programs and strengthening key NATO partnerships
Outstanding Achievement in Student Outreach: K-12 EFRAIN RAMOS-SANTIAGO, KATHLEEN E. HARRIS, LAUREN M. DUNKIN, YAMIRETSY PAGAN-ALBELO, SYDNEY E. CARGILL, CODY M. BRYANT, CURTIS L. BLADES, J. COLE LANDERS, WILLIAM C. BUTLER, CASSANDRA L. EVERETT, ELIZABETH R. HOLZENTHAL, ELISABETH K. YOUNCE, KATHRYN J. SMITH, JACOB C. HODGES, BENJAMIN C. BURNHAM
for exemplary support of the GEMS I and GEMS II summer camps in FY25, interactive engineering learning stations were successfully delivered to inspire and educate the next generation of STEM professionals JESSE L. ROBERTS, LUKE A. GURTOWSKI, TAYLOR L. MASSEY
for pioneering an innovative K-12 STEM outreach model, Army research experiences were successfully transformed into classroom-ready science education through strategic mentorship of educators participating in the Army Educational Outreach Program RESET initiative. JENNERPHER R. BRYNER
for exceptional leadership and innovative mentorship in creating and leading the "Tech Titans" FIRST LEGO League community teams, critical, hands-on STEM opportunities were successfully provided to under-resourced young learners to inspire the next generation of innovators. EFRAIN RAMOS-SANTIAGO, KATHLEEN E. HARRIS, LAUREN M. DUNKIN, ABIGAIL R. GRANT, DANIEL A. GALLEGOS, JACOB D. MILLIKEN, CURTIS L. BLADES, J. COLE LANDERS, WILLIAM C. BUTLER, CASSANDRA L. EVERETT, SHANNON N. STEVER
for exemplary support of the SAME summer camps in FY25, students were provided with hands-on exposure to coastal and hydraulic engineering concepts through interactive learning stations, successfully inspiring the next generation of engineers and fostering a deeper understanding of real-world engineering careers. JOSHUA D. WATTIER
for outstanding leadership in K-12 STEM outreach, particularly within the Upward Bound TRIO program at Kansas State University, exceptional opportunities were successfully created to stimulate and maintain high levels of high school student participation in immersive STEM educational experiences.
Outstanding Achievement in Student Outreach: College & University DUNCAN B. BRYANT, LEIGH A. LANGLEY, CASSANDRA L. EVERETT, ELISABETH K. YOUNCE, CARLOS A. GONZALEZ, TYLER T. WINES, JESSAMIN A. STRAUB, SARA J. GAUL for outstanding efforts in bridging academic theory and real-world application, a student training week and laboratory experiments were expertly orchestrated to provide hands-on research experience for the next generation of coastal engineers. JOELLE A. WESTCOTT
for outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing STEM innovation and outreach, major university partnerships and research collaborations were successfully championed to expand academic pathways nationwide and significantly strengthen the future ERDC workforce. ROBERT B. CARLETON, CHRISTY M. LICK, CANDICE B. MITCHELL, RICHARD C. SALTER, CATHERINE J. WHITTINGTON, LORIE M. GARNER
for exceptional leadership and dedication in organizing the inaugural ITL Cybersecurity Academic Research and Education Summit, vital academicmilitary partnerships were successfully fostered to advance nationwide university STEM opportunities and establish a pipeline for critical cybersecurity talent.
Outstanding Innovation in Business Processes TIMOTHY AULTMAN for exceptional innovation in transforming operational capabilities through innovative business processes, integrated solutions were delivered to significantly enhance efficiency, streamline workflows, and foster a culture of organizational collaboration.
ALLYSON L. WINDHAM, COLIN W. LEACH, DAVID W. CICIORA for exceptional innovation in creating a secure, cloud-based framework for generative Artificial Intelligence research, integrated cloud and security solutions were delivered to reduce deployment timelines from months to weeks and empower 60 researchers DAVID W. CICIORA, ADAM M. AKRIDGE, CHRISTOPHER M. RIALS, ROBERT B. CARLETON, WILLIAM S. MEADOWS, FAHMI M. ATWAIN, ABDIRAHMAN S. ALI, DEAN E. PIDGEON, BARTLETT HARWOOD, JEREMY H. BEALL, MARCUS A. SPADE, JOSHUA E. ETHERIDGE, MICHAEL A. HARDING, MADELINE M. SHUNK, ADRIENNE M. ECKSTEIN for exceptional innovation in securing Operational Technology, new enterprise processes and cybersecurity improvements were implemented across all seven ERDC laboratories to mitigate high-risk vulnerabilities and enhance infrastructure resilience.
Outstanding Innovation in Research & Development
ASHVIN I. FERNANDO, EMILY ASENATH-SMITH
for outstanding innovation in research and development, two U.S. patents were successfully filed for the aqueous-based formation of caffeine-type fibril architectures to modulate ice behaviors APRIL BOWMAN, JOELLE WESTCOTT, CLINTON BARELA, JAMES B. SMITH for pioneering the integration of distributed fiber optic sensing technology into centrifuge experiments, unprecedented continuous strain measurement capabilities with sub-millimeter resolution were achieved to reduce testing costs, decrease installation time, and establish the ERDC as a global leader in advanced centrifuge instrumentation JARED S. COBB, TIMOTHY C. SCHUTT, JAYLEN A. DAVIS, SARAH GRACE ZETTERHOLM, CAITLIN G. BRESNAHAN
for developing stackable nano-polymer films that program sensor selectivity across multiple sensor platforms, low-cost, rapid fabrication and seamless, dropin integration capabilities were successfully delivered. ANDREW C. KEATON, ABDERAHIM SALHI, EMILY B. MOYNIHAN, EMILY M. WEGRZYN for developing the AI Targeted Language Assistance System (ATLAS), a novel generative AI framework was successfully created to deliver an accountable, precision-focused language editing service tailored for mission-specific requirements.
Congratulations to all of the Award Winners!
Please join us in the atrium for refreshments after the ceremony!