The U.S. Department of Energy recently bestowed Office of Environmental Management employees and teams with seven Secretary’s Honor Awards, recognizing their exceptional leadership, innovation and commitment to restoring and revitalizing sites as DOE cleans the legacy of the past to power America’s future.
Office of Environmental Management
October 6, 2026
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright honors the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management and Portsmouth Paducah Project Office Reindustrialization Team with the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award during the Secretary’s Honor Awards ceremony. At right is John Patterson, president and CEO of Strata-G, a Knoxville, Tennessee-based company that provides services to government and commercial clients. Patterson accepted the award on behalf of the team.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently bestowed Office of Environmental Management (EM) employees and teams with seven Secretary’s Honor Awards, recognizing their exceptional leadership, innovation and commitment to restoring and revitalizing sites as DOE cleans the legacy of the past to power America’s future.
The awards recognize individuals and teams whose exceptional service and contributions have made a lasting impact on both DOE and the nation.
Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management and Portsmouth Paducah Project Office Reindustrialization Team
This team received the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award for its trailblazing work propelling new nuclear development at DOE sites, exemplifying the golden era of American energy dominance. The team’s efforts have transformed the Oak Ridge, Portsmouth and Paducah sites into major hubs of nuclear industry growth to meet America’s need for affordable energy. These American Energy Hubs are attracting billions in private investment, creating thousands of good-paying jobs and growing the economy in communities that served the nation for decades.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright honors members of the Hanford Site Waste Treatment and Immobilization Integrated Project Team with the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award.
Hanford Site Waste Treatment and Immobilization Integrated Project Team
DOE honored this team with the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award for startup of the Low-Activity Waste Facility, a key component of the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant. Their work enabled EM to begin solidifying Hanford tank waste in glass for the first time, meeting a legal commitment to the state of Washington.
Kelly A. Ebert, director of Hanford Field Office Project and Facilities Division, and Mat Irwin, assistant manager for Hanford Field Office Tank Waste Operations, are pictured with their Secretary of Energy Excellence Awards.
Mat Irwin, assistant manager for Hanford Field Office Tank Waste Operations
DOE awarded Irwin the Secretary of Energy Excellence Award for outstanding leadership in advancing the Hanford Site mission, including successful startup of the Low-Activity Waste Facility and development of the High-Level Waste Facility. His skills in project management, budgeting and facility operation have been pivotal to major progress at Hanford.
Kelly A. Ebert, director of Hanford Field Office Project and Facilities Division
Ebert received the Secretary of Energy Excellence Award in recognition of her exceptional leadership and accomplishments, which have set new benchmarks for operational excellence for the Hanford Site’s transuranic waste program. Ebert spearheaded an initiative that addressed operational gaps, and will save American taxpayers $20 million in waste repackaging costs. She improved waste shipment planning, avoided the need for a $600 million facility and streamlined waste certification.
Members of the Savannah River Site Waste Tank Closure Team accept the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award from Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
Savannah River Site Waste Tank Closure Team
Setting a powerful example for tackling complex challenges, the Savannah River Site Waste Tank Closure Team received the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award for exceptional progress in accelerating the high-level waste mission at the Savannah River Site. Since 2022, the team has removed more than 48 million curies of radiation and processed more than 15 million gallons of salt waste. Their forward-thinking strategies, including drone inspections, offsite laboratory partnerships and a 3D printed sampling tool, accelerated tank closures, saved American taxpayers millions in costs and set new standards for safety and efficiency.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright honors Savannah River Mission Completion Drone Team members with the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award.
Savannah River Mission Completion Drone Team
This team received the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award for accelerating the liquid waste mission by deploying drones inside radioactive waste tanks for the first time. The technology expands inspection coverage, speeds assessments and generates precise 3D scans. Along with advanced sampling tools, these innovations supported the removal of waste from eight high-level waste tanks in under two years, achieving regulatory milestones ahead of schedule.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright recognizes the Japan High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium Removal Team with the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award. Team member Rosa R. Elmetti, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management federal program manager, is pictured front row, third from right.
Rosa R. Elmetti, EM federal program manager, supporting the Japan High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium Removal Team
DOE recognized the Japan High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) Removal Team with the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award. Team member Elmetti worked with the National Nuclear Security Administration on an agreement that brought $20 million worth of much-needed Japanese HALEU into the United States to strengthen the domestic fuel supply chain for advanced nuclear and showcases DOE’s leadership in enabling America’s nuclear future.
-Contributors: Jordan Anderson, Hayley Long
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