Oak Ridge, TN – Parrish Staples, PhD and long-term consultant with Navarro Research and Engineering, was recently recognized at the Department of Energy Secretary’s Honor Awards Program in January. The Secretary’s Honor Awards Program is DOE’s highest form of employee recognition for excellence and achievements, recognizing individuals who go above and beyond in service to the country and are making lasting impacts on DOE and the nation.

Staples was honored by the Secretary of Energy, Deputy Secretary, and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Administrator Jill Hruby. The Secretary of Energy Achievement Award, presented by Hruby, was from the Office of the Under Secretary to Nuclear Security (S-5) and the National Nuclear Security Administration Portfolio. Dr. Staples earned the distinction as a member of the NNSA’s Kazakhstan Reactor Conversion Team, scope of which began roughly twenty years ago. At the time, Dr. Staples was Director of NA-212 within the Global Threat Reduction Program (NA-21), developing and managing priorities with federal staff and almost every national laboratory to implement nuclear and radiological threat reduction and physical protection activities in this geographic region.

According to DOE’s announcement, current and previous DOE staff were recognized for everything from supporting the government’s efforts to aid Ukraine to implementing programs included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. All nominations were endorsed by the applicable Head of Departmental Element and Under Secretary, reviewed and recommended by the Executive Resources Board, and approved by Secretary Granholm and Deputy Secretary David M. Turk.

This distinction from the Office of the Undersecretary for Nuclear Security and NNSA adds to several earned by Staples over his distinguished career:

· NNSA Career Appreciation Award

· Award of Excellence, NNSA Defense Programs

· NNSA Administrator’s Award of the NNSA Gold Medal

· Six DOE Secretary’s Achievement Awards

· NNSA Administrator Achievement Award

Dr. Staples has provided technical, programmatic, and strategic development services to NNSA on behalf of Navarro since joining the team in 2018.

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