AIKEN, S.C. — Savannah River National Laboratory awarded Bruce J. Wiersma the 2025 Donald A. Orth Lifetime Award of Merit at a laboratory director’s award ceremony held October 28 at Newberry Hall in downtown Aiken. The Orth award recognizes technical excellence and leadership and is SRNL’s highest individual honor presented to an employee, who by character and leadership, best exemplifies Dr. Orth’s character and contributions.
Wiersma, who applies his knowledge of corrosion to provide solutions to extend the life of aging infrastructure at SRS and other DOE sites, has spent his entire career at SRNL — 30 years at different levels of engineering and five managing the corrosion and materials performance team.
“As I have reflected on receiving the award, I am very grateful. I have recalled the number of people who were instrumental in my career and presented me with opportunities to grow both professionally and personally,” said Wiersma. “I had the opportunity to be taught by the first generation of SRS workers, be a part of the second generation that has carried forth that legacy and see the arrival of the third generation that will take SRNL forward into the future.”
SRNL also recognized other high performing employees in other categories. Those awards and their recipients include:
Director’s Award for Exceptional Scientific and Engineering Achievement
- Utpal Roy, Environmental and Legacy Management
- Joseph Mannion, Global Security Directorate
- Ryan Shaw, Weapons Production Technology
- Jake Amoroso, Environmental and Legacy Management
Director’s Award for Safety, Security, & Operational Excellence
- Scott Brown, Environmental and Legacy Management
- Bradley Davidson, Operations
- Gerald Taylor, Radiological Protection, Safety and Health
Director’s Core Values Award: Innovation
- Thomas Danielson, Environmental and Legacy Management
- Drew Snelling, Weapons Production Technology
- Greg Staack, Weapons Production Technology
Director’s Core Values Award: Teamwork
- Cell 9 Team
- Chris Crawford, Alex Atkins, Gerald Taylor, Mike Potchebski, David DiPrete, Rana O’Bryant, Nathan Boyle and John Pareizs
- MAR Team
- Wayne Benson, Troy Barlow, Eugenia Robbins, Travis Deason, Mackenzie Williams, Emily Trudell, Brandon Jackson, and Destinie Brown
- Chiller Team
- Justin Martin, Sherolyn Bishop, Randal McJunkin, Dalton Hare, Ian Conant, Arelis Rivera-Giboyeaux, Tim Forehand, and Kerry Layton
- Casting Team
- Brian McElwain, Travis Sampson, Dan Mojica, Greg Henderson, Kevin Barta, Zac Grimes, Grayson Hammett, and Craig Hannan
Director’s Award for Program & Project Leadership
- Alfred Banks, Computing Operations
- Wendy Kuhne, Global Security Directorate
- Jacob Reagin, Global Security Directorate
- Will Jolin, Environmental and Legacy Management
- Brenda Garcia-Diaz, Weapons Production Technology
Director’s Award for Early Career Exceptional Achievement
- Nathan Boyle, Environmental and Legacy Management
- Colton Bond, Global Security Directorate
- Christopher Koch, Weapons Production Technology
- Henry Bonilla, Environmental and Legacy Management
- Vivian Turner, Global Security Directorate
- Caleb Koons, Computing Operations
- Camille Kudrna, Weapons Production Technology
Director’s Core Values Award: Integrity
- Tyler Chavous, Environmental and Legacy Management
- James Davis, Global Security Directorate
Director’s Core Values Award: Service
- Victoria Meyer, Weapons Production Technology
- Robert Lascola, Environmental and Legacy Management
- Mike Brisson, Global Security Directorate
- Megan Holley, Safeguards and Security
Director’s Award for Mentoring
- Sun Jae Kim, Engineering
- Chad Sweeney, Weapons Production Technology
- Louis McNamara, Global Security Directorate
- John Pareizs, Environmental and Legacy Management
Director’s Award for Change Champion
- Patricia Smith, Environmental and Legacy Management
Director’s Award for Workforce Development
- Karlie Burnette, Weapons Production Technology
Director’s Award for Community Service
- Holly VerMeulen, Environmental and Legacy Management
- Mike Restivo, Environmental and Legacy Management
- Ragina Dicks, Weapons Production Technology
- Ellen Hart, Employee Health, Safety and Quality
About Savannah River National Laboratory Savannah River National Laboratory is a multi-program federally funded research and development center managed and operated by Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC (BSRA), for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management. (www.srnl.gov)
Media contact: SRNL Media Relations