Sandia takes home six 2020 R&D 100 Awards
Sandia researchers have earned six R&D 100 Awards this year — three as sole winners and three with partner organizations — bringing the Labs’ total to 140 awards since 1976.
Flight test succeeds despite pandemic limitations
Overcoming COVID-19 pandemic challenges through virtual means, teams from Sandia and the U.S. Air Force under the guidance of NNSA performed a critical B61-12 flight test aboard the F-35A Lightning II jet fighter.
Benefits Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment is happening now. This is the annual opportunity for employees and retirees to review and update benefit elections, including medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending accounts, changes to covered dependents, vacation buy and more.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Sandia’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month went mostly virtual this year, with video presentations and other digital events, including youth art contests, honoring HENAAC winners, sharing a booklet of recipes, sayings and wisdom and more. The car show was the only live event, but not the only celebration.
Operation Backpack supports CA military families
Volunteers from Sandia’s California site donated 206 backpacks filled with needed supplies this year to children of local military families. This year’s virtual donation event offered participants options to donate electronically or make direct purchases from an Amazon wish list. The next donation event, One Warm Coat, is happening now through Oct. 31.
A distinguished journey
Sandia electrical engineer Harry Cincotta earned a special appointment to Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff this year. His Sandia career began 34 years ago, when he was hired as a custodian.
Nuclear Deterrence delivers on the mission
The annual Nuclear Deterrence all-hands meeting went virtual this year, with a pre-recorded video highlighting the numerous ND accomplishments Sandians were able to achieve despite the ongoing pandemic. The video also includes answers to questions submitted by employees in advance.
‘Magical’ mathematics unlocks engineering honor for Sandia scientist
Sandia mathematician Tamara Kolda has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering this year — one of a handful of mathematicians ever granted membership. She was selected for her groundbreaking work in tensor decomposition — calculations that improve automotive engine turbulence modeling and chemical composition sample extractions.
‘Iconic’ researcher wins Indigenous Excellence Award
Sandia engineer Sandra Begay has earned the AISES 2020 Indigenous Excellence Award in recognition of her substantial work to advance opportunities for Indigenous students and professionals in science, technology, engineering and math education and careers.
Safeguarding biological data
A partnership between Sandia and the Boston firm BioBright LLC to improve the security of synthetic biology equipment has become more relevant after the U.S. and others issued warnings that hackers were using the COVID-19 pandemic to increase their activities.