He was honored for "outstanding contributions to his profession, sustained contributions to the public welfare and service to humankind."
Wrenn has served in his present capacity since 1992. Previously, he worked in development and program management at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant. He was named TSPE Young Engineer of the Year in 1989. Wrenn is also a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the American Ceramic Society and the Society for the Advancement of Materials and Processes Engineering. In 1987, he earned an R&D 100 Award from R&D magazine for developing one of the nation's top 100 new technologies that year. Prior to coming to Oak Ridge, Wrenn worked for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.
He earned a B.S. degree in ceramic engineering and an M.S. degree in materials engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Wrenn and his wife, Mary, are residents of West Knoxville.
ORNL, one of DOE's multiprogram national research and development facilities, is managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp.