NIST Gaithersburg

June 9, 2020

NIST Update

Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology 

Walter G. Copan

Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology

and NIST Director 
2

Meeting Agenda

June 9, 2020

Session I: NIST Update

Session II: NIST Efforts in Response to COVID-19

Session III: NIST and COVID-19 Safety and Operations

Session IV: Discussion with VCAT
3

NIST Update • Agenda Review • NIST Leadership Changes • Budget Update • Programmatic Updates • ROI Initiative Update • Strategic Plan Update • Discussion
NIST Leadership Changes: Welcome

Director 

Under Secretary of Commerce for 

Standards and Technology 

Chief of Staff

Associate Director for 

Laboratory Programs / 

Principal Deputy

Material Measurement 

Laboratory

Communications Technology 

Laboratory

Physical Measurement 

Laboratory

Engineering Laboratory

Information Technology 

Laboratory

NIST Center for Neutron 

Research

Associate Director for 

Management Resources

Office of Advanced 

Manufacturing

Baldrige Performance 

Excellence Program

Hollings Manufacturing 

Extension Partnership

Technology Partnerships 

Office

Associate Director for Innovation 

and Industry Services

Office of Acquisition and 

Agreements Management

Office of Safety, Health and 

Environment

Office of Financial Resource 

Management

Office of Human Resources 

Management

Office of Information Systems 

Management

Office of Facilities and 

Property Management

Associate Director for 

Innovation and Industry 

Services

• Joins NIST from 

Department of 

Agriculture, Assistant 

Administrator for 

Technology Transfer.

• Leader in IP, marketing, 

licensing, public-private 

partnerships.

• Served in leadership 

roles in the Federal 

Laboratory Consortium 

for Technology Transfer 

(FLC)

Mojdeh Bahar

4
5

NIST Leadership Changes: Retirement

Director 

Under Secretary of Commerce for 

Standards and Technology 

Chief of Staff

Associate Director for 

Laboratory Programs / 

Principal Deputy

Material Measurement 

Laboratory

Communications Technology 

Laboratory

Physical Measurement 

Laboratory

Engineering Laboratory

Information Technology 

Laboratory

NIST Center for Neutron 

Research

Associate Director for 

Management Resources

Office of Advanced 

Manufacturing

Baldrige Performance 

Excellence Program

Hollings Manufacturing 

Extension Partnership

Technology Partnerships 

Office

Chief Cybersecurity Advisor, 

Director of NCCoE, 

NIST Fellow

• Retired May 2020 after 

33 years of federal 

service

• Leadership in many 

cyber areas, including 

AI, IoT, quantumresistant cryptography, 

and privacy engineering

• Presidential Rank 

Award in 2019, finalist 

for the 2020 Samuel J. 

Heyman Service to 

America Medal: Safety, 

Security and 

International Affairs 

category

Donna F. Dodson

Office of Acquisition and 

Agreements Management

Office of Safety, Health and 

Environment

Office of Financial Resource 

Management

Office of Human Resources 

Management

Office of Information Systems 

Management

Office of Facilities and 

Property Management

Associate Director for 

Innovation and Industry 

Services
6

NIST Leadership Changes: Retirement

Director 

Under Secretary of Commerce for 

Standards and Technology 

Chief of Staff

Associate Director for 

Laboratory Programs / 

Principal Deputy

Material Measurement 

Laboratory

Communications Technology 

Laboratory

Physical Measurement 

Laboratory

Engineering Laboratory

Information Technology 

Laboratory

NIST Center for Neutron 

Research

Associate Director for 

Management Resources

Office of Advanced 

Manufacturing

Baldrige Performance 

Excellence Program

Hollings Manufacturing 

Extension Partnership

Technology Partnerships 

Office

Director, Technology 

Partnerships Office

• Retired March 2020 

after 32 years of federal 

service

• National leadership 

roles in technology 

transfer, Federal 

Interagency

• Newly appointed as 

executive director, 

Federal Laboratory 

Consortium for 

Technology Transfer 

(FLC) now operated in 

partnership with AUTM

Paul Zielinski

Office of Acquisition and 

Agreements Management

Office of Safety, Health and 

Environment

Office of Financial Resource 

Management

Office of Human Resources 

Management

Office of Information Systems 

Management

Office of Facilities and 

Property Management

Associate Director for 

Innovation and Industry 

Services
7

NIST Leadership Changes

Director 

Under Secretary of Commerce for 

Standards and Technology 

Chief of Staff

Associate Director for 

Laboratory Programs / 

Principal Deputy

Material Measurement 

Laboratory

Communications Technology 

Laboratory

Physical Measurement 

Laboratory

Engineering Laboratory

Information Technology 

Laboratory

NIST Center for Neutron 

Research

Associate Director for 

Management Resources

Office of Advanced 

Manufacturing

Baldrige Performance 

Excellence Program

Hollings Manufacturing 

Extension Partnership

Technology Partnerships 

Office

Senior Policy Advisor for 

Standards and Digitalization

• Left NIST May 31, 2020 for 

position in industry

• Key policy advisor for NIST 

Standards Coordination 

Office (SCO) and Program 

Coordination Office (PCO)

• Leadership in many 

standards areas critical to 

NIST, such as 5G, IoT, etc.

• Shaped and informed 

USG’s standards positions 

and policies domestically 

and in multilateral 

organizations

Ajit Jillavenkatesa

Office of Acquisition and 

Agreements Management

Office of Safety, Health and 

Environment

Office of Financial Resource 

Management

Office of Human Resources 

Management

Office of Information Systems 

Management

Office of Facilities and 

Property Management

Associate Director for 

Innovation and Industry 

Services
NIST Leadership Changes: Welcomes

Kevin Stine

Acting Chief Cybersecurity 

Advisor

Jeff Greene

National Cybersecurity 

Center of Excellence Director

8
NIST Leadership Changes: Welcomes

Courtney Silverthorn

Acting Director, Technology 

Partnerships Office

Rob Ivester

Deputy Director, Hollings 

Manufacturing Extension 

Partnership (MEP)

9
10

NIST Organization Realignment 2020

NIST Director / Under Secretary of Commerce for 

Standards and Technology

Associate Director for 

Laboratory Programs (ADLP)

Associate Director for 

Innovation and Industry Services 

(ADIIS)

Associate Director of 

Management Resources (ADMR)

Chief of Staff

Office of Chief Counsel

Policy & Strategic Planning

National Technical 

Information Service (NTIS)

• Laboratory Programs

Communications Technology Laboratory

Engineering Laboratory

Information Technology Laboratory

Material Measurement Laboratory

NIST Center for Neutron Research

Physical Measurement Laboratory

Deputy Director for Laboratory Programs

Strategic Relationships

Research Protections 

Human Subjects Protection 

Special Programs Office

Standards Coordination

International and Academic Affairs

Innovation and Industry Services 

Baldrige Performance Excellence Program 

Hollings Manufacturing Extension 

Partnership 

Office of Advanced Manufacturing

Technology Partnerships Office

Technology Discovery Office

Senior Advisor Technology Innovation

Management Resources

Human Capital

Human Resource Management

Onboarding

Civil Rights and Diversity Office

Safety, Health and Environment

Financial Resource Management

Acquisition and Agreements Management

Information Systems Management

Facilities and Property Management

Information Services

Emergency Services

Fabrication Technology

Congressional and Legislative Affairs

Public Affairs

Executive Officer for Administration

Management and Organization 

Office

NIST Realignment Approved by DOC, 

Finalized with OMB

Principal function changes shown: 

Green font – Complete

Red font – In progress 
11

NIST Budget

NIST is operating under, 

planning for, and developing 

budgets for three fiscal years

Enacted, Spend Plans 

Approved FY20

In Development, 

Delayed by COVID-19 FY21

FY22 Early Stages 

11
12

NIST Budget

FY 2019 Enacted FY 2020 

Enacted

FY 2021 Pres. 

Request

Laboratory Programs 

(STRS) $724.5 $754.0 $652.0 

Hollings Mfg Ext 

Partnership (MEP) $140.0 $146.0 $0.0 

Manufacturing USA $15.0 $16.0 $25.3 

Construction & 

Renovation $106.0 $118.0 $60.2 

Total $985.5 $1034.0 $737.5
NIST Reauthorization Testimony Themes

March 11, 2020

Highlighted NIST’s plans and accomplishments 

in critical U.S. technology areas to the 

Subcommittee on Research & Technology

Lab to Market (L2M), ROI & building 

a more entrepreneurial workforce

NIST’s work to accelerate the 

Bioeconomy

Adoption of smart manufacturing 

systems by U.S. manufacturers 

(MEP and Manufacturing USA)

NASCTN to help address key 5G 

questions regarding 24 GHz band

China and U.S. 5G technology 

competitiveness

U.S. supply chain resilience, the 

importance of entrepreneurs and 

manufacturers

Smart cities implementation and 

interoperability

AI and facial recognition

Industries of the Future and 

essential international standards

Secure and private digital identity 

nationally and internationally (ex. 

currency)

Future of Neutron Science at NIST

NIST role in plumbing research 

and U.S. water quality

Impacts and risks of ailing 

infrastructure on NIST capabilities

New advanced manufacturing 

institutes
14

NIST Privacy Framework Update

Early Adopters of the Privacy 

Framework

Credit: CSIS
Cybersecurity: NIST Work in Encryption

Post Quantum Cryptography 

Moving to Round Three 

Selections in June 2020.

Lightweight Encryption

Down-selected from 57 to 32 

potential candidate algorithms. 

Analysis ongoing.

Credit: E. Edwards/JQI

15
Cybersecurity: Noteworthy Releases

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CSF Manufacturing Profile 

(NISTIR 8183 Rev 1 draft) 

Secure Software Development 

Framework 

SP 800-171 Rev 2

Protecting Controlled Unclassified 

Information in Nonfederal Systems 

SP 800-53 Rev 5 

Draft for public comment

SP 800-207, 

Zero Trust Architectures 

Draft for public comment

5G cybersecurity 

FRN seeking formal industry 

collaborators.

16
17

Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT): Responsible Use

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-strengtheningnational-resilience-responsible-use-positioning-navigation-timing-services/

The Executive Order directs the 

Department of Commerce and other 

agencies to work with the private sector to 

identify and promote responsible methods 

of using PNT services that appropriately 

manage risks. 

The Department of Commerce is also 

charged with making a global navigation 

satellite system (GNSS)-independent 

source of Coordinated Universal Time to 

enhance the resilience of and support the 

needs of critical infrastructure

Request for Information posted in Federal Register May 27, 2020

NIST accepting responses through July 13, 2020
18

PNT: Profile Approach

• Open, collaborative process 

• Involve public & private sector 

stakeholders 

• NIST will develop a foundational 

PNT profile to help organizations 

make deliberate, risk-informed 

decisions on PNT services use 

https://www.nist.gov/itl/pnt

Request for Information 

released May 27, 2020. 

NIST hosts public webinar on 

June 4 to share our tasks, 

objectives, and approach.
19

PNT: Precision Time Approach

Time distribution over optical fiber – Initial 

goal : 1 μs accuracy with eventual 

improvement to < 100 ns. 

• A fiber installation in progress from 

Gaithersburg to a customer facility in VA.

Optical Clock Development – NIST continues 

development of transportable optical clocks 

based on ytterbium atoms and is starting a new 

program for a optical clock based on a single 

strontium ion. NIST ytterbium lattice clock
AI Standards Coordination

Outreach connecting all known 

Federal efforts related to AI 

standards development & use. 

Goal: Participants leverage 

learnings from successes of 

other participants.

Facilitate ongoing discussions 

between U.S. private sector and 

Federal agencies. Strengthen privatepublic sector coordination
AI: Future Events

• Develop shared understanding of 

what constitutes Trustworthy AI 

(e.g., accuracy, security, 

explainability, reliability, free from 

bias).

• Establish the needed scientific 

foundation for design, 

development, and assessment of 

Trustworthy AI.

Bias in AI: Workshop on 

August 19, 2020. 

Secure AI: Terminology and 

Taxonomy; 2nd draft for public 

comment in July.

Use-Inspired AI: 

Call for proposals closes 

June 29, 2020.
Quantum: Interagency Coordination

Multi-agency Quantum Networking 

Coordination Meeting held on May 11th

and 13th to discuss long-term goals 

Participants:

5 year plan:

• Gain technical knowledge needed to 

build useful quantum networks

• Fundamental research to explore 

use-cases 

• Basic R&D for manufacturing key 

components not available yet

Opportunity Areas:

• Engineering approaches to bring R&D 

to market-ready technology • Application studies • Testbeds for technical benchmarking • Unified strategy across agencies & for 

international standards engagement

Roadmap Status:

• Too early to develop this, but gap 

analysis and bottleneck identification 

will help shape future roadmap 

• Will be developed with community 

input across sectors and go from 

R&D up to commercialization
Quantum: Interactions of Atoms and Light

JILA researchers developed a controllable, 

non-equilibrium system with tunable 

parameters that could lead to a new 

understanding of fundamental physics

The phase diagram observed (all possible 

phase changes) were different than those 

seen in equilibrium systems – out of 

equilibrium systems organize with different

principles 

Could lead to better insight on how to 

generate entangled quantum states in 

state-of-the-art quantum clocks 

Credit: Steven Burrows/JILA 23
Standards: 5G Spectrum Sharing Testbed

An adaptable network that can measure 

how well 5G and older systems operate 

without interfering with each other 

Will help clarify how thousands of possible 

network settings / environments impact

interference on the same frequency band

NIST Interoperability Test Bed (NITB) 

undergoing 5G update to better understand

how different systems interact. 

24

NIST ML Formula May Help 5G Wireless Networks 

Efficiently Share Communications Frequencies

https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2020/05/nist-formula-may-help-5gwireless-networks-efficiently-share-communications
Emerging Tech Standards: 5G

NIST engaged in whole-of-government 

effort in support of the National Strategy. 

NIST plays a leading role in standardsrelated efforts in strategy development

March 2020: “Secure 5G and Beyond 

Act” signed. Administration released 

“National Strategy to Secure 5G”

Significant focus for the Administration 

with engagement at highest levels of 

government – Congress, Executive Branch

Commerce Department established 5G 

Working Group to help coordinate DOC 

bureau activities relating to 5G

Credit: Pixabay
Emerging Tech Standards

US companies pulling back from 

standards engagements involving 

Huawei; some standards/specifications 

organizations moving abroad

NIST raised awareness about unintended 

impacts of these rules on US 

effectiveness in digital technology 

standardization

US industry and standards organizations 

confused following 2018 Huawei Export 

Administration Regulations Entity Listing 

and following standards exemption by BIS

NIST worked closely with BIS/DOC to 

provide clarity on standards 

engagement; BIS ultimately decides

Credit: Pixabay
Advanced Communications: Update

EAFB Telemetry Site

May 1: Public Safety Communications Research 

(PSCR) “Tech to Protect” Challenge

• Move to 100% Virtual attendance, 277 online 

participants, 25 teams presented, over $1M 

to date awarded to support innovative 

solutions to help first responders. 

National Advanced Spectrum and Communications 

Test Network (NASCTN) Factor Screening Project 

with U.S. Air Force/Edwards Air Force Base:

• Assembled interagency team (NIST, NTIA & NASA, 

with MITRE Corp) to chart LTE impacts on 

aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT) 

• Performed one of the largest factor screening 

experiments ever completed at NIST. Analysis 

results will be used to lower interference risk with 

government systems and support increased 

spectrum availability for commercial operators. 
Securing Cyber Supply Chains

Advanced Manufacturing Goal: 

Reduce the cybersecurity risk in 

global supply chain

Address risks inherent in 

components making up modern 

information and communications 

technology products

Outlines eight key practices to 

minimize risk 
Exoskeleton Performance Measurement

Advanced Manufacturing systems: 

measurements of joint rotation 

axis locations

Test method to evaluate 

performance of humans wearing 

exoskeletons

Standardized taxonomy and 

measurements
Infrastructure: EDGe$ Resilience Tool

Economic Decision Guide Software 

Online Tool

Provides a method of evaluating and 

comparing community projects to 

improve resilience

Calculates several important figures 

that indicate the value of 

investments

Credit : Delaware Department of Transportation
Infrastructure: Plumbing Research Needs

Current plumbing codes based on 

data that are nearly 100 years old

Drive to improve water efficiency 

needs to be balanced with 

preservation and improvement of 

water quality

Report identifies research needs 

critical to design and operation of 

premise plumbing systems

Credit: nikkytok/

Shutterstock

Credit: B. Hayes/NIST
32

NCNR Upgrade Plans

New liquid D2 cold neutron source will double cold 

neutron flux at long wavelengths. 

NIST Cryostat expected to be purchased this year

NIST will provide world class measurement capability 

with a new superconducting Neutron Spin-Echo 

spectrometer. 

Superconducting coils purchased
NIST’s Critical Role in Bioeconomy Growth

Recent efforts in House, Senate, and OSTP 

to strengthen America’s Bioeconomy.

NIST a key contributor to white paper on 

U.S. Bioeconomy directions 

NIST recognized as major contributor to 

advance Bioeconomy efforts: standards, 

measurement science and data in 

Biomanufacturing & Engineering Biology

NIST MML expanding focus on 

design/build/test/learn cycles for living 

cells and systems, helping to translate 

technologies for commercialization

33 https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25525/safeguarding-the-bioeconomy
NIST and the Circular Economy 

Support US manufacturers and 

recycling industry in response to global 

waste and emerging international 

trade crises

NIST MML major program 

development:

1) $6M Plastics Recycling Center grants to 

develop workforce (aligning with DOE Manuf. 

USA Institutes REMADE, RAPID)

2) Internal seed funding for multiple new 

efforts across NIST sites 34

Circular Economy

Marine Debris

Nano- & 

Microplastics

Develop new measurements/ data/ 

tools to improve efficiency of materials 

recovery/utilization and decisionmaking for circular pathways

Credit: Pixabay
Forensics Center of Excellence Renewal

NIST has renewed support with 

commitment of $20 million for the next 

phase of CSAFE starting June 1st

West Virginia University joins as 6th

University in the consortium for CSAFE 2.0

CSAFE 2.0 will expand from R&D to 

piloting in the field a systematic training 

and education program 

35
U.S. Voting Standards and Guidelines

NIST led the Technical Guidelines 

Development Committee (TGDC) for the 

new Voluntary Voting Standards and 

Guidelines, Version 2.0 (VVSG 2.0) 

VVSG 2.0 and enhancements for voting 

standards governance and transparency 

were issued by EAC for public comment, 

ratification

EAC, NIST, DHS/CISA and FBI jointly issued 

report: “Risk Management for Electronic 

Ballot Delivery, Marking and Return” 

36

EAC Commissioner Ben Hovland with NIST Director Walt Copan
NIST on a Chip: Highlights

DoD established Tri-Service Advanced

Technology Group within the Calibration

Coordination Group

New $25 million / 5-year NIST-wide 

agreement signed with the US Air Force. 

Navy and Army agreements in progress

Laying the foundation for international 

adoption of NIST on a Chip 

37

Breakthrough 

measurements 

related to new 

micro-comb 

platforms for low 

power systems 

(with UCSB)

Ohm dissemination 

for the US Air Force 

through graphene 

Quantum Hall 

Standard 
Baldrige Performance Excellence Program

• Pledge to America’s Workers Presidential Award

• Baldrige-informed effort to recognize excellence in workforce 

education, training, and reskilling

• Developed in response to E.O.’s 13801 and 13845

• BPEP leads on design and implementation – first awards this 

September

• Communities of Excellence

• Communities using a modified Baldrige Framework to enhance 

quality of life through education, healthcare, and economic 

opportunity

• Sharing best practices to enhance community resilience
ROI Initiative Progress Continues!

April 24, 2020 – one-year 

anniversary of release of NIST 

Special Publication 1234

Moving from findings to 

implementation through the Labto-Market NSTC Subcommittee 

and CAP Goal 

Progress in Legislation, 

Regulation, Tools, and new 

programs 39
40

ROI Progress: Bayh-Dole

Government Use Rights Finding 1

March-In Rights Finding 2

Preference For US Manufacturing Finding 3

Streamlined Partnership Mechanisms Finding 8

Federal IP Data and Reporting Systems Finding 13

Benchmarking and Metrics Finding 15

Green Paper Findings Addressed in Proposed Regulation:

Current Status:

Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking in DOC 

clearance before being sent 

for formal agency review.

Publication of final rule 

expected November 2020.
41

ROI Progress: Stevenson-Wydler

Finding 4 Copyright of Government Software 

Finding 5 Proprietary Information

Finding 6 Strengthen Technology Transfer at Federal Labs

Presumption of Government Rights to Employee Finding 7 Inventions

Finding 8 Streamlined Partnership Mechanisms

Finding 9 Expanded Partnership Mechanisms

Access to Federal Technologies, Knowledge, and Finding 14 Capabilities

Finding 15 Benchmarking and Metrics

Green Paper Findings Addressed in Proposed Legislation:

Current Status:

LRM comments from 

agencies received; 

completed review and 

adjudicating responses 

with OMB.

Delivery to Congressional 

Committees expected 

Summer 2020.
42

ROI Progress: Other Areas

NIST Presidential Innovation Fellow examined barriers limiting 

Angel / VC investment into Federal technologies; 

Recommendations to be published in NAI Journal, Technology 

and Innovation

Government-wide, new working group for Entrepreneurial 

Training; Technology Maturation Acceleration Program at NIST

Rebuild of the interagency Edison system for reporting BayhDole inventions being transferred from NIH and rebuilt at 

NIST; estimated to launch in mid-FY22
43

NIST Strategic Plan: Goals

Position NIST to Advance U.S. Science and Innovation –

NIST will make sure that it has the workforce, 

organizational structures, and partnerships to support the 

development and adoption of emerging technologies 

critical to innovation and the economic competitiveness 

of the United States.

Maximize NIST’s Stakeholder Impact through High-Value 

Service Delivery – NIST will optimize service delivery, 

streamline processes, and strengthen stakeholder 

engagement to transform technology transfer.

Create the Infrastructure for a 21st Century Research 

Institution – NIST will make sure that it has both the 

physical and IT infrastructure to carry out its programs.

Build a One NIST Culture – Ensure that our workforce of 

federal staff and NIST associates are united around NIST’s 

mission and are valued for the expertise they bring.
44

NIST Strategic Plan: Immediate Actions

• Team members selected

• Initial meetings held / 

scheduled

• Prioritized and 

Integrated Master Plan 

developed

• Discussing best 

approach

• Discussing best 

approach

• Working towards 

contract 

implementation
45

NIST Strategic Plan: Implementation Cycle

Review progress on plan 

implementation and selection of 

activities for action.

Quarterly progress review and 

assessment of selected actions.

Six-month progress review and 

selection of next actions for 

second round of 

implementation.

Quarterly progress review and 

assessment of selected actions.
DISCUSSION
47

Meeting Agenda

June 9, 2020

Session I: NIST Update

Session II: NIST Efforts in Response to COVID-19

Session III: NIST and COVID-19 Safety and Operations

Session IV: Discussion with VCAT