NM Capstone Challenge
Three university teams from New Mexico experienced firsthand what it might be like to tackle a national security project at Sandia through the NM Capstone Challenge. The teams had six months to develop an integrated sensing device capable of monitoring multiple environmental conditions during ground transportation of an asset or payload.
Chuck Loeber’s legacy
Chuck Loeber spent 50 years working in the nuclear weapons complex, with the last 20 as an employee and consultant at Sandia. He helped stand up neutron generator manufacturing in the 1990s and oriented a generation of new hires to Sandia and its responsibilities, teaching the popular History of the Nuclear Weapons Complex courses at the Labs and writing a well-known book on the subject. He died on May 10.
Mission forward
Sandia is using a phased approach to return to normal operations over the coming months, while continuing maximum telework as much as possible.
Ken Gillen earns lifetime achievement award
Sandia chemist Ken Gillen (retired) recently received the prestigious 2020 Melvin Mooney Distinguished Technology Award, in part for his contributions to Sandia’s polymer aging project. The award honors recipients for their “exceptional technical competence by making significant and repeated contributions to rubber technology.”
American Indian Outreach Committee delivers
Between May 2-9, more than 200 pounds of beans, 150 pounds of rice and nearly 300 rolls of toilet paper were delivered to Zuni Pueblo by Sandia’s American Indian Outreach Committee. The group also delivered canned goods, facemasks, cases of water and prayers.
Sew many masks
In between Skype meetings and other daily work, many employees at Sandia’s Albuquerque campus are helping the community with homemade masks at a time when personal protective equipment is in short supply and reserved primarily for medical staff.
Protecting those who protect the community
Sandia/California mechanical engineer Helena Jin and other members of the Tri-Valley Chinese American Community volunteer group have launched an initiative to provide local hospitals and essential businesses with donated masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, disinfectants and other essential products.
A day in the life at 70 + 1 — Sandia copes with COVID-19
Last year, we celebrated Sandia’s 70th birthday with pride, honoring the Labs’ response to seven decades of challenges. At the time, we had no idea of the dramatic world events that would be in store for us in year 71. Labs photojournalist Randy Montoya captures Sandians at work under the restrictions imposed by COVID-19.
EMS Environmental Excellence Awards
This April 22 marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Though Sandians were unable to celebrate onsite, the Labs’ annual Environmental Management System Environmental Excellence Awards honored those who help to reduce ecological impacts, in the spirit of resource conservation and environmental protection.
Sandia collects $250K for Native American neighbors
When COVID-19 began ravaging Native American communities in the southwest in April, a sense of urgency started to mount for Sandia tribal government relations program manager Laurence Brown. He and other volunteers sparked a grassroots effort that led to a Labs-wide fundraising drive, resulting in donations of more than $250,000 for the Native American Relief Fund.