Los Alamos National Laboratory has awarded its highest honor, the Los Alamos Medal, to two of its premier staff members for their contributions to science. Alan Bishop, cofounder of the Lab’s Center for Nonlinear Studies, was recognized for his broad impact on the Laboratory, and Brad Meyer, of the Gas Transfer Systems group, was recognized for enabling Los Alamos’ mission without nuclear testing.
“Alan and Brad are essential to our mission and have made breakthroughs that transformed science and profoundly impacted our national security mission,” said Laboratory Director Thom Mason. “I congratulate them both on winning the Los Alamos Medal and thank them for their life-long contributions to science.”
The Los Alamos Medal is the highest honor that can be awarded to a Laboratory employee. It recognizes those who have made a contribution that changed the course of science, made a major enhancement to the Laboratory’s ability to achieve its mission, made a significant impact on Laboratory sustainability, or established a major direction for the Laboratory and the nation.
Alan Bishop
Alan Bishop is an internationally recognized scientist of great distinction who has had an exceptional impact on Laboratory science and programs. His research and accomplishments in complexity, nonlinearity and multiscale materials have led researchers into new frontiers of condensed-matter physics and biophysics.
He has made major contributions in the areas of solitons, classical and quantum complexity, structural and magnetic transitions, collective excitations in low-dimensional organic and inorganic materials and complex electronic materials with strong spin-charge-lattice coupling. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society, fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, fellow of the Institute of Physics, a recipient of the Department of Energy's E.O. Lawrence Award, a Humboldt Senior Fellow, and a Laboratory Fellow.
Throughout his career, he has mentored countless outstanding students and postdocs at Los Alamos and helped to develop science leaders at the Lab and around the world. He is a widely sought adviser and has greatly influenced the international science community.
Brad Meyer
Brad Meyer is being honored for his pioneering work in the development of advanced Gas Transfer Systems technology, which has been critical to the safety, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. Meyer has had a distinguished career at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he has led several key initiatives that have shaped the future of U.S. national security. His work on the development of advanced gas transfer systems has been recognized as one of the top 10 weapons breakthroughs since the Manhattan Project. Additionally, he has contributed to pit surveillance and plutonium-tritium testing methodologies. His contributions extend beyond technical innovation, having played a crucial role in reestablishing the Annular Core Research Reactor (ACRR) for weapons research and advocating for increased tritium production.
His work has improved the performance and safety of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. His innovations are currently implemented across nearly the entire U.S. nuclear stockpile, including systems such as the W76-0, W76-1, W76-2, W78, W88 and B61-12. His contributions continue to influence the field and strengthen the nation’s defense capabilities. These systems have increased component lifetimes and reduced operational risks, enhancing the robustness and reliability of the stockpile.
Meyer’s leadership has been recognized with multiple awards, including Defense Programs Awards of Excellence and Distinguished Performance Awards. He was named a Laboratory Fellow in 2004, further solidifying his role as a key contributor to the Laboratory’s mission and the Nuclear Security Enterprise.
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