In a ceremony held on October 15 at the Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS), two teams were honored with the prestigious 2025 Defense Programs Awards of Excellence (DPAE) for their groundbreaking work. This recognition highlights the significant contributions made by these teams in advancing the field of diagnostic technology crucial for national security.
Honoring Breakthroughs in Diagnostic Technology
David Hoagland, the Executive Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), presented the DPAE to Robert Smalley, the Master Technologist at NNSS, who represented the Time-Resolved-Radiance Diagnostics Team. This team achieved a milestone with the “successful execution and measurement of the time-resolved radiance temperature diagnostic in the Nob Hill Experiment,” allowing the observation of physical phenomena previously unseen in subcritical experiments.
In addition to this achievement, the MEDUSA/CETO Platform Development team, comprising several NNSS employees, was also recognized. Their work in developing an innovative diagnostic capability now enhances the measurement and understanding of ejecta under conditions relevant to weaponry, marking a significant advancement in the field.
Leadership and Legacy in Advanced Diagnostics
“Advanced diagnostics is in our DNA,” stated NNSS President Roger Rocha. “Our support of the weapons laboratories and the work that we provide continues to be the foundation of the NNSS.”
Since its inception in 1982, the Defense Programs Award of Excellence has celebrated individuals and teams for their “significant achievements in increased quality, productivity, cost-savings, creativity, or enhanced security” in support of the NNSA’s Stockpile Stewardship Program. Hoagland praised the awardees’ “unique, extensive and extraordinary” contributions to the Defense Programs mission.
The experiment conducted by Smalley and the Time-Resolved-Radiance Diagnostics Team collected crucial temperature data, which informs computer models essential for stockpile certification. Hoagland emphasized the broader significance of these accomplishments, noting, “This new diagnostic is emblematic of the incredible work that happens at the NNSS as the thought leader of diagnostics across the board.” He further remarked on the symbolic nature of their achievements, stating that it represents the NNSS’s commitment to reliability, credibility, and effectiveness in national defense capabilities.
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