Department of Commerce

Developed the first ever comprehensive suite of emergency response robot test methods and data collection tools to evaluate and improve bomb-disposal robots and operators. These efforts led to the enhanced testing and use of advanced robot capabilities in challenging environments and the adoption of standard operator measures.

Agency Award

Department of Commerce

Maximized Pacific Coast groundfish commercial and recreational fishing opportunities by streamlining restrictive rules and regulations. These rulemaking actions ensure the productivity and sustainability of West Coast groundfish fisheries and fishing communities through science-based decision-making, saving operators between $50,000 - $100,000 per vessel and creating up to 2,600 jobs.

Agency Award

Department of Commerce

Established a communications network across multiple federal law enforcement agencies to identify illegal scrap metal export transactions and procure evidence against violators. Thanks to this team’s diligent work, they dismantled a conspiracy network that was defrauding U.S. and foreign companies.

Agency Award

Department of Commerce

Identified 4,190 shell companies owned by Iran and North Korea, illuminating new illegal procurement pathways and providing a repository for the law enforcement and intelligence community to identify and mitigate future threats.

Agency Award

Department of Commerce

Detected a complex illegal mail repackaging export scheme, resulting in civil penalties of $44 million. This successful conviction will act as a deterrent in the future and increase compliance with export control laws.

Agency Award

Department of Commerce

Developed innovative encasement technologies to preserve, protect, and provide public access to seven historical documents dating back to before the founding of the United States. Since the re-encasement was completed, over one million people have visited the preserved documents at several public facilities.

Agency Award

Department of Commerce

Restored the functionality of NOAA’s new weather satellite following a visibility defect. The team’s innovative techniques and coordinated approach restored the satellite’s ability to observe critical weather conditions across the Western Hemisphere, such as hurricanes, fires, and volcanic activity, with minimal data loss. This team’s response to the crisis restored the value of the nation’s $1 billion investment.

Agency Award

NTIS Team

Created a common data platform and analytic tools to help address one of the deadliest diseases facing the world today, malaria. This improvement allowed the President’s Malaria Initiative team to draw insight and make evidence-based policy decisions.

Agency Award

Department of Commerce

Combined technical, organizational, and standards expertise from more than 125 U.S. biotechnology stakeholders to develop unified biotechnology standards. This team’s leadership and strategic thinking informed the development of international biotechnology standards and helped promote biotechnology innovation, manufacturing, and trade.

Agency Award

Department of Commerce

Revolutionized the ability to identify emerging chemical compounds in complex liquid mixtures through the use of powerful analytical tools and methods. This team’s work is a critical resource for federal, industrial, and academic scientists across the country.

Agency Award