National awards recognize Los Alamos leadership in nuclear safeguards

Nicholas was recognized with the Edway R. Johnson Meritorious Service award and Swinhoe received the Vincent J. DeVito Distinguished Service award.

July 17, 2017

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Nancy Jo Nicholas, Los Alamos National Laboratory’s associate director for threat identification and response, was recognized with the Edway R. Johnson Meritorious Service award by the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management. Martyn Swinhoe, a physicist in the safeguards science and technology group at Los Alamos National Laboratory, received the Vincent J. DeVito Distinguished Service award. Here he holds a neutron-sensitive detector.

Two Los Alamos National Laboratory employees were recognized today by the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management for their contributions to the nuclear safeguards profession. Nancy Jo Nicholas, the Laboratory’s associate director for threat identification and response, was recognized with the Edway R. Johnson Meritorious Service award. Martyn Swinhoe, a physicist in the safeguards science and technology group, received the Vincent J. DeVito Distinguished Service award.

Nuclear safeguards is the field devoted to keeping nuclear materials secure and ensuring they are used for peaceful purposes—such as for medicine and energy—and not for the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Los Alamos National Laboratory is currently celebrating 50 years of work and world leadership in nuclear safeguards.


 

“Both Nancy Jo and Martyn have been leaders in nuclear safeguards for decades,” said Terry C. Wallace, head of the global security directorate at Los Alamos. “Nancy Jo has been a passionate advocate for nuclear safeguards for more than 20 years and, as a manager at the Laboratory, grown the workforce’s expertise in this area—enabling success in important nuclear-related national security missions. Martyn has brought to bear his considerable capabilities as a leader and technical expert in nuclear materials management to solve important global safeguards and nonproliferation challenges.”

Nicholas first joined Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1990 and established herself as a technical leader in the fields of nonproliferation, arms control and treaty verification technology prior to moving into leadership positions. Today, she oversees an organization of 800 people dedicated to nuclear nonproliferation and other global security missions.

Swinhoe joined Los Alamos in 2002 as a much-sought-after technical resource for the Laboratory’s long-standing international safeguards mission. Much of his work at Los Alamos has focused on the development, implementation and assurance of technical success for nuclear measurement systems in civilian nuclear fuel cycle facilities worldwide.

The Edway R. Johnson Meritorious Service Award given to Nicholas was named for a former INMM president and technical division chair and recognizes individuals who have provided long-term, outstanding service to the Institute, as well as made noteworthy contributions to the nuclear materials management profession. Swinhoe’s Vincent J. DeVito Distinguished Service award is named for the INMM’s long-time secretary and recognizes individuals who have made long-term, noteworthy contributions to the nuclear materials management profession.

Both Nicholas and Swinhoe were recognized with their awards at a ceremony today at the INMM’s 58th annual meeting in Indian Wells, Calif.