Secretary of Energy Achievement Awards
Sandians were members of several teams honored in November by then Energy Secretary Rick Perry in a ceremony at DOE headquarters. The teams received Secretary of Energy Achievement Awards, which recognize significant achievements by DOE employees and contractors.
SunPower partnership sparks new solar module
Representatives from SunPower Corp., a leading U.S. solar manufacturer and global competitor, recently visited the New Mexico Regional Test Center, co-located with Sandia’s Photovoltaic Systems Evaluation Laboratory, to inspect their company’s experimental PV system.
Father, son bond over record-smashing roadster
For the past eight years, Sandia manager Joel Wirth has been working after hours in his home garage with his crew chief — his father, Jack Wirth, a retired Sandia electrical engineer. Together, they’ve built one of the fastest 1927 Model T roadsters in the world.
Legacy of learning, leading
Marvin Kelley spent 32 years of his career as a materials scientist, business specialist and technologist at Sandia/California. Now his daughter, Krystal Kelley, is building her own legacy at the Livermore campus.
Four Sandia scientists elected AIAA associate fellows
Sandia scientists Jacqueline Chen, Tucker Lavin, Humberto Silva III and Justin Smith have been elected associate fellows of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. To be selected as an associate fellow, an AIAA senior member must be in good standing, with at least 12 years’ professional experience, and be recommended by a minimum of three other associate fellows.
Tracy Vogler named APS Fellow
Tracy Vogler has been elected Fellow of the American Physical Society by the organization’s Topical Group on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter. He was recognized for “landmark contributions to the basic understanding of shock propagation in metals, ceramics and granular materials; for sustained service to the APS Topical Group on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter; and for leadership in the science community.”
Two Sandians honored at annual SWE awards
Sandia scientists Blythe Clark and Karen Devine were honored at the 2019 Society of Women Engineers awards ceremony in Anaheim, California. The annual event recognizes “the successes of individuals who enhance the engineering profession and advocate for women in engineering through contributions to industry, education and the community.”
New wind technology breathes life into turbine siting
Sandia researchers Chris Kelley and David Maniaci and former Sandian Brian R. Resor have developed a wind turbine blade design that would allow for the closer placement of turbines, thanks to a faster dissipating wake.
State of the Labs
Labs Director Steve Younger gave his annual State of the Labs address on Oct. 30, encouraging Sandians to pause and think about what we’ve accomplished and where Sandia is headed. He described numerous accomplishments and praised Labs employees for taking intellectual leadership in defining the future of nuclear deterrence.
Power plants get watered down
Electricity production is one of the industries that uses the most water in the country each day. Sandia researchers are helping the largest power plant in the U.S. identify the most efficient and cost-effective strategies to reduce water use. They have developed a first-of-its-kind comprehensive system dynamics analysis that can show power plants which wet cooling systems can save them money.