Rodney A. McKee of the ORNL Metals and Ceramics Division received a technical excellence award for his contributions to a revolutionary change in transistor design. The invention may increase read-and-write access speed for the computer industry a millionfold. McKee was named ORNL's Inventor of the Year for his innovative design.
Connie P. Hall, a department superintendent for the Environmental Management and Enrichment Facilities Surveillance and Maintenance Program at the East Tennessee Technology Park, received a leadership award for her role in an ongoing operation that saved the corporation $8 million for fiscal year 1996. Her efforts led to shutting down more than 1.5 million square feet of floor space, including radiological controlled space.
Don M. Kroeger of ORNL Metals and Ceramics represented a team of researchers that received the teamwork award for its achievements in the development of the next generation of superconducting wire. The superconducting wire conducts high currents at greater temperatures and magnetic fields than others in existence. This breakthrough will help improve energy efficiency and lower operating costs of today's electric power equipment.
The team combined the strengths of many scientists from a variety of fields. Other team members are David B. Beach, John D. Budai, David K. Christen, Ron Feenstra, Amit Goyal, Edward C. Hatfield, Robert A. Hawsey, Fred A. List, Patrick M. Martin, David P. Norton, Mariappan Paranthaman, Brian C. Sales, Vinod K. Sikka and Eliot D. Specht.
ORNL, one of DOE's multiprogram national research and development facilities, is managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation. The East Tennessee Technology Park and the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant are managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Systems.