AIKEN, S.C. – As editors and judges from International Business Magazine searched the globe for the world’s best managers and leaders, one executive from the DOE complex stood out: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) Chief Information Officer Jeff Krohn, who is being recognized as a Government Hero of the Year in an award program’s COVID-19 response category.

Krohn will be honored with a Bronze Stevie Award for his accomplishments at the Savannah River Site (SRS) during the 18th annual International Business Awards celebration in December.

He re-prioritized and rallied for funds, equipment, and other resources required to adequately transition the SRNS workforce during the pandemic, while negotiating licensing terms, lease agreements, and other critical services. SRNS is an EM contractor at SRS.

Krohn also tracked management and user concerns and prioritized them in comprehensive teleworking reports that documented issues and resolutions. During these efforts, he enforced strict security and kept SRS compliant with cybersecurity protocols.

"His steadfast leadership and perseverance resulted in a successful digital transformation of the SRS infrastructure and workforce," said Tonya Tran, SRNS principal systems engineer, who submitted the nomination. "His determination, support, and guidance were integral to the success of this critical endeavor."

The Stevie Awards recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories.

From June through early August, more than 260 executives worldwide participated in a judging process to determine award winners.

Krohn is receiving accolades not only from the executives who judged him to be the top contender, but also from the SRS workforce.

“When COVID-19 began to impact the Savannah River Site, Jeff led IT teams through unprecedented challenges to manage explosive growth in teleworking,” said Tonya Tran, SRNS principal systems engineer, who submitted the nomination. “Given the stringent security regulations imposed upon the applications, infrastructure, and employees here at SRS, this was a monumental task that was managed professionally and successfully. He strongly advocated for teleworking to maximize protection for employees while minimizing the impact on SRS missions."

During the judging process, one executive wrote, “Mr. Krohn demonstrated extreme competence in his executive leadership skills,” while another wrote, “Mr. Krohn was adaptable towards the safety of the workforce and supported his team to work through changing needs. It was impressive.”

A virtual awards ceremony to celebrate the winners and their accomplishments is set for Dec. 8.