Celebrating Excellence

Five individuals and two teams from MIT Lincoln Laboratory were honored with 2015 MIT Excellence Awards

On 11 March, more than 500 hundred people applauded, cheered, rang cowbells, and waved pompoms to celebrate friends, relatives, and colleagues who were honored with 2015 MIT Excellence Awards for their exceptional contributions to the MIT community and the Institute's research and educational missions. Twenty-eight Lincoln Laboratory employees were among the recipients congratulated during the afternoon ceremony held at the Kresge Auditorium on MIT's Cambridge campus.

The Lincoln Prime Contract Team receives their Excellence AwardThe Lincoln Laboratory Prime Contract Team accepted their MIT Excellence Awards from Eric Evans, Director of Lincoln Laboratory (far left). The team, from left to right, includes Steven Tran, David Shumsky, Frank Schimmoller, Patricia O'Riordan, Kristin Lorenze, Stephanie Leonardi, Stephen Kent, Daniel Kay, Michael Greenidge, and Susan Dawson. Absent from the photo is David Suski. Photo: Graham Gordon Ramsay

Two teams from the Laboratory received Innovative Solutions Awards. In negotiating the Laboratory's new contract with the government, the Lincoln Laboratory Prime Contract Team proactively resolved legal and financial reporting issues that could have disrupted the finalization of the contact agreement. Susan Dawson, Michael Greenidge, Daniel Kay, Stephen Kent, Stephanie Leonardi, Kristin Lorenze, Patricia O'Riordan, Frank Schimmoller, David Shumsky, David Suski, and Steven Tran make up this team from multiple service departments and administrative offices.

The Gulfstream Investigation Team receives their Excellence AwardDr. Evans also presented MIT Excellence Awards to the Gulfstream GII APU Root Cause Investigation Team, pictured here left to right: Dr. Evans, Melissa Nelson, Robert Murray, Todd Mower, Lance Michael, Robert Maynard, Robert Longton, Brandon Dilworth, Richard Coveno, and Kenneth Burkett. Absent from the photo are Todd Lardy, Kenneth McKenna, and Christopher McNeil. Photo: Graham Gordon Ramsay

The Gulfstream GII APU [auxiliary power unit] Root Cause Investigation Team earned their award for effectively troubleshooting the cause of a major fuel leak experienced by the Laboratory’s Gulfstream test aircraft and rapidly remediating the problem by installing a new mechanical system. The members of this multidisciplinary team are Kenneth Burkett, Richard Coveno, Brandon Dilworth, Todd Lardy, Robert Longton, Robert Maynard, Kenneth McKenna, Christopher McNeil, Lance Michael, Todd Mower, Robert Murray, and Melissa Nelson.

Individual awards in three categories recognized five staff members from the Laboratory. Robert Cunningham was presented with a Bringing Out the Best Award for creating within the technical group he leads a culture that supports team camaraderie and individuals' professional growth. Joseph Masello received a Serving the Client Award for skillfully and collaboratively managing Facility Services Department projects that support the Laboratory's research and prototype development.

Chiamaka Agbasi-Porter, Richard Gervin, and Marc Zissman were the recipients of Unsung Hero Awards. Agbasi-Porter was recognized for directing Lincoln Laboratory's educational outreach programs, which include a two-week summer workshop for high-school seniors and 20 other initiatives. Gervin, a senior logistics administrator in a technical group, received his award for providing proficient, dedicated support to his group's work on sensor systems. Zissman, who volunteered his expertise in data collection and analysis to help the U.S. military coordinate disaster relief efforts in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, was honored for his continuing advocacy for and leadership in exploring ways technology can facilitate humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Chiamaka Agbasi-Porter accepted her Unsung Hero Award from Lincoln Laboratory Director Eric Evans Joseph Masello was presented with a Serving the Client Award by MIT Chancellor Cynthia Barnhart
Marc Zissman accepted his Unsung Hero Award from MIT Vice President for Research Maria Zuber Richard Gervin accepted his Unsung Hero Award from Vice President Zuber
Robert Cunningham is congratulated on his Bringing Out the Best Award by MIT Vice President for Human Resources Lorraine Goffe-Rush  
Staff members from Lincoln Laboratory who received awards at the MIT Excellence Awards ceremony are, clockwise from top left, Chiamaka Agbasi-Porter, who accepted her Unsung Hero Award from Lincoln Laboratory Director Eric Evans; Joseph Masello, who was presented with a Serving the Client Award by MIT Chancellor Cynthia Barnhart; Marc Zissman, who accepted his Unsung Hero Award from MIT Vice President for Research Maria Zuber; Richard Gervin, who also accepted his Unsung Hero Award from Vice President Zuber; and Robert Cunningham, who is congratulated on his Bringing Out the Best Award by MIT Vice President for Human Resources Lorraine Goffe-Rush. Photos: Graham Gordon Ramsay

The 2015 MIT Excellence Awards recognized 51 people from departments, offices, divisions, and laboratories across the Institute. In addition, the second Collier Medal of Service was presented to Toni Robinson, an MIT Ombudsperson. The Collier Medal, given to a person or group that exhibits a dedication to community service, was established in memory of MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, who was killed in the line of duty in 2013. More about all the 2015 award recipients can be found at the MIT Excellence Awards website.

 

Posted March 2015

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