2020

Bette Korber for her extremely innovative and insightful viral evolution and vaccine design efforts for pathogens such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2.

Fred Mortensen for his extraordinary efforts deriving certification methodology that became the cornerstone for the Stockpile Stewardship and Advanced Strategic Computing Programs.

 

2018

John M. Pedicini for his work over the last 38 years at the Laboratory as a weapons scientist and designer and a foreign threats assessor.

Geoffrey West for his contributions to scaling theory that have changed the course of science in the fields of particle physics, biosystems, economics, urban studies, and corporate organizations. West was named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of 2006.”

Paul Whalen for his role as a primary weapons designer, expert in weapons physics, and a developer and manager of the complex physics computational system that was developed to make a positive impact on national security and the Laboratory’s weapons program. Whalen came to the Laboratory during the Cold War in 1956 to perform weapons simulation on developing designs.

 

2017

Howard Menlove for his innovation and implementation of a series of key sensors and instruments that are still the backbone of the international safeguards systems used by the IAEA to determine nations’ compliance with various treaties and agreements.

Scott Cram (Foundations of Human Genome team) for distinct contributions enabling significant progress in the Human Genome Project.

Larry Deaven (Foundations of Human Genome team) for distinct contributions enabling significant progress in the Human Genome Project.

Robert Moyzis (Foundations of Human Genome team) for distinct contributions enabling significant progress in the Human Genome Project.

Walter Goad (Foundations of Human Genome team) for distinct contributions enabling significant progress in the Human Genome Project.

 

2014

Darleane Hoffman for her accomplishments and exceptionally distinguished career in nuclear science, actinide chemistry and separations, and her pioneering work at the frontier of the periodic table.

Wojciech Zurek for his pioneering and seminal contributions to the foundations of quantum mechanics and to quantum information science that have changed the course of this field internationally.

2008

Robert D. Cowan for his world-recognized contributions to the theory of atomic structure and spectra.

Sig Hecker for his many important and signature contributions to scientific research and national policy, promoting the importance of the study of terrorism as an emerging threat, and acting as a senior representative of the nuclear weapons complex in the North Korea nuclear weapons situation.

 

2006

Keith Boyer for being the intellectual force behind Los Alamos’s entry into magnetic fusion, nuclear rocketry, laser isotope separation, and inertial fusion.

Stirling Colgate for a wide array of outstanding contributions to astrophysics research (nuclear diagnostics, high-altitude nuclear tests, ignition, shock wave physics, supernovae, and gamma ray bursts) and for dedication to mentoring the next generation.

 

2004

Francis “Frank” Harlow for his role in spearheading the science field of computational fluid dynamics.

Conrad "Connie" Longmire for his key role in developing an understanding of some of the fundamental processes in weapons performance.

 

2003

Nerses “Krik” Krikorian for his lifelong contributions to national security, intelligence, and materials science.

 

2002

George Cowan for his pioneering work in radiochemical techniques, his measurements of fundamental physical properties of neutrons from nuclear explosions, and for scientific leadership in the Laboratory
and the community.

Louis Rosen for his vision, leadership, and sustained contributions to nuclear science and application.

 

2001

Harold Agnew for his leadership during the Laboratory’s formative years and its ascension to international stature.

Hans Bethe for his role as a scientific visionary and leader, mentor, and role model to the Laboratory from its inception.