November 08 Issue - Employee Monthly Magazine

Kudos

Koller appointed Journal of Geoscientific Model Development editor

Josef Koller of Space Science and Applications has been appointed topical editor of solar-terrestrial sciences for the Journal of Geoscientific Model Development. This international scientific journal, published by the European Geosciences Union, is dedicated to the description, development, and benchmarking of numerical models of the Earth system and its components.

The journal follows an innovative two-phase publication process. In phase one, papers are rapidly peer reviewed, published on the journal Web site, and subjected to a public discussion by members of the scientific community. In phase two, the peer review process is completed, and if accepted, the final revised papers are published in the main journal. For more information on the journal, go to http://www.geoscientific-model-development.net.

LANSCE's Hurd receives ESGR Patriot Award

Ralph Damiani, right, publisher of the Los Alamos Monitor newspaper and chairman of the Los Alamos Chapter of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, presents the ESGR Patriot Award to Alan Hurd of the Lujan Neutron Scattering Center for support of Laboratory employee Melvin Borrego's recent tour of military duty in Iraq. The ESGR is a Department of Defense organization that strives to develop and promote a culture in which all American employers support and value the military service of their employees.

"It is appropriate for the Lab to look after its employees who are citizen-soldiers who have served their country," Deputy Laboratory Director Jan Van Prooyen told Los Alamos Neutron Science Center employees.

Chalmers recognized for local business support

Acquisition Services Management Division Leader Kevin Chalmers recently was recognized for his contributions to minority entrepreneurs, corporations, and advocates in Northern New Mexico by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency.

Chalmers was named the regional award winner in the Business Advocate Award category.

Herrera gets top coach honor at Santa Fe High

A.J. Herrera of the Chief Financial Officer Division recently was named coach of the year at Santa Fe High School. Herrera is a financial business analyst in CFO Division. He also is the boy's soccer coach at Santa Fe High, a position he has held since 2007.

Herrera came to the Laboratory as a graduate research assistant in 2004, becoming a staff member in 2006 after earning a master's degree in business administration from the College of Santa Fe. Herrera previously coached junior varsity soccer at Los Alamos High School.

Bracken elected deputy chair for DOE technical support group

David Bracken of Safeguards Science and Technology has been named deputy chair of the newly formed Department of Energy Nondestructive Assay Technical Support Group. The group will provide operational and technical advice to the DOE's chief of nuclear safety and help the department meet the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's Recommendation 2007-1 for Safety-Related In Situ Nondestructive Assay of Radioactive Materials. It also will provide programmatic advice on the development of nondestructive assay holdup measurement programs at National Nuclear Security Administration and emergency management sites and assess NDA holdup technology ("holdup" refers to the nuclear material deposited in the equipment, transfer lines, and ventilation systems of processing facilities). It also will identify major issues and act as a forum to share ideas and ensure that NDA advances are implemented.

Other Headlines

• Thinking inside the box
• Laboratory honors two with prestigious Los Alamos Medal
• Straighten up and smile right!
• LANL Star uses award as opportunity to mentor young staff members
• My View: Emergency operations at Los Alamos (Tony Stanford)
• Kudos
• Notebook
• Our Goals: 2009 supplemental disability and life insurance premiums lower for majority of enrollees
• Spotlight: Enabling Lab innovation into the marketplace