NIST Update and Agenda Review

Dr. Willie E. May

Acting NIST Director

Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology
Welcome to New VCAT Members

Hemma Prafullchandra

Chief Technology Officer and 

Senior VP, Products at HyTrust, Inc. 

• Over 25 years of industry experience in the field of 

security

• Held senior management and technical positions at 

FuGen Solutions, VeriSign, Critical Path, Sun 

Microsystems, and The Wollongong Group

• Recognized as one of the 2014 Power Players in IT 

Security

NEW VCAT MEMBERS | 2

Credit: NIST
Welcome to New VCAT Members

Mike Garvey

President and C.E.O. of M-7 Technologies

• M-7 Technologies is a founding and governing board 

member of America Makes, the NNMI established in 

2012 

• M-7 Technologies is also a founding member of ASTM 

International Standards Development Committee E-57 

on 3D Imaging Systems 

• Executive board member of the Youngstown Business 

Incubator, and a member of Youngstown State 

University College of STEM Advisory Committee 

• Former examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National 

Quality Award

NEW VCAT MEMBERS| 3

Credit: Youngstown State University
Welcome to Our Invited Guest

David Wilson

President of Morgan State University

• Former chancellor of both University of Wisconsin 

Colleges and the University of Wisconsin–Extension 

• Has held numerous other administrative posts in 

academia, including: vice president for University 

Outreach and associate provost at Auburn University, 

and associate provost of Rutgers, the State University 

of New Jersey

• In February 2010, the President appointed him to the 

11-member Board of Advisors on Historically Black 

Colleges and Universities

NEW VCAT MEMBERS | 4

Credit: Morgan State University
Safety Update

Goal = Zero

NIST UPDATE | 5

Recordable case (RC)

To a first approximation, an 

injury that required medical 

treatment beyond first aid

DART case

An OSHA recordable that 

resulted in employee Days 

Away, Restricted duty, or job 

Transfer

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15

RC

DART

Projected 

from 1st

quarter
Safety Incident

• During 100% chemical inventory, 

MML scientist discovered 

uranium-containing reference 

materials in violation of policy for 

control of such materials

• Incident response:

– NRC notified

– NIST Leadership informed

– Search for additional radioactive 

material

– MML had Safety Stand Down Day

– Other OU Directors took actions 

– NIST Director sent email to all 

staff

Legacy 

Radioactive 

Material 

Discovery

NIST UPDATE | 6

NRC regulation violations 

because materials were not:

- appropriately labeled

- in approved facility

- in inventory
Safety Incident Investigation

• Findings

– 160 additional materials transferred to Radiation Safety

– Some staff unaware of radiation safety program 

requirements

– Changes in requirements not communicated to all staff

• Root Causes

– Failure to manage changes in locations, personnel, 

material ownership, and regulatory requirements

– Failure to conduct sufficiently thorough inventories

• Corrective Actions

– New procedures for:

• conduct of chemical inventories, radioactive materials 

inventories, and safety inspections 

• Ensurance of cradle-to-grave material accountability 

(database under development)

• staff exit-from-duty process to ensure all types of 

hazardous materials are properly disposed

– New Radiation Safety Program requirements for acquisition of 

uranium and thorium materials (under development)

Legacy 

Radioactive 

Material 

Discovery

NIST UPDATE | 7
NIST Update

• NIST Organizational Update

– Confirmation of Director

– Priorities

– Budget 

• Selected Staff and Programmatic Achievements

• External Reviews

• New Programmatic Efforts

• Program Updates

• Agenda Review

NIST UPDATE | 8
NIST Director Update: 

Presidential Nomination and Senate Confirmation required

NIST UPDATE | 9

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee

• July 28, 2014: Referred to Committee

• December 9, 2014: Committee reported favorably during an 

Executive Session

Full Senate Vote

• December 16, 2014: The 113th U.S. Congress completed its work 

without a Full Senate vote on the nomination 

Presidential Nomination

• July 24, 2014: Dr. Willie E. May nominated to be NIST Director and 

Commerce Undersecretary for Standards and Technology
My Priorities as Acting Director

• Fill key leadership vacancies (e.g., Directors of PML, EL, MEP, and the Standards 

Coordination Office) 

• Work with the Senior Leadership Team in: 

– Continuing to strengthen the NIST Safety Culture 

– Completing the successful implementation of programs that NIST has initiated in 

response to pressing national needs 

– Enhancing current and developing new capabilities needed to enhance mission 

delivery

– Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our internal operations 

• becoming an organization known and looked up to for our “Operational Excellence”

– Addressing long-term sustainability of the Baldrige Program

– Strengthening the MEP Program

– Supporting the Secretary in the execution of the Department’s Strategic Plan

PRIORITIES | 10
Operational Excellence Task Forces

• Effective mission delivery 

requires operational excellence 

in key functions

– Acquisitions

– Agreements

– Human Resources

– Legal Services

• Established four task forces

– Involve customers and process 

owners

– Challenge status quo

– Recommend process improvement 

solutions

– Report back every 30 days, 

complete by first of 2015

Priority Update: 

Improve 

operational 

efficiency and 

effectiveness

PRIORITIES | 11

Groups were asked to answer:

What does success look like?

What works well?

What hinders success?

How can we fix barriers?
Operational Excellence Task Forces - continued

• All task forces kicked off 

between mid-Sept and mid-Oct

• Three of four task groups have 

issued final reports

• Already aggressively acting on 

some recommendations

• Commonly cited needs:

– robust processes

– transparent tracking infrastructure 

and targets for timeliness

– updated and clarified roles and 

responsibilities

– training and guidance for all 

stakeholders

Priority Update: 

Improve 

operational 

efficiency and 

effectiveness

PRIORITIES | 12

Groups were asked to answer:

What does success look like?

What works well?

What hinders success?

How can we fix barriers?
Employee Engagement and Satisfaction

• Selected data from 

2014 OPM Employee 

Viewpoint Survey

Priority Update: 

Improve 

operational 

efficiency and 

effectiveness

PRIORITIES | 13

HR selected 11 questions from the 

survey related to employment 

engagement and job satisfaction. 

Averages shown; positive = most 

satisfied
Director’s Recognition for Excellence in Mission Support

• For commitment to and excellence in 

service that stands out to customers 

and contributed to NIST mission 

delivery

• Bi-monthly recognition to an 

individual or group of employees from 

the MR Directorate

– Certificate

– Luncheon with NIST Director and 

Associate Directors

– CIYA

• Nominations by OU Directors within 

Lab and IIS Directorates

• Selection by Director based on 

recommendations from panel of 

Deputies of Lab and IIS Directorates

Priority Update: 

Improve 

operational 

efficiency and 

effectiveness

PRIORITIES | 14

Considered factors:

Quality of activity and service 

Initiative and creativity

Degree of difficulty overcome

Breadth and scope of impact 

provided 
NIST Update

• NIST Organizational Update

– My Priorities

– Budget 

• Selected Staff and Programmatic Achievements

• External Reviews

• New Programmatic Efforts

• Program Updates

• Agenda Review

NIST UPDATE | 15
FY 2015 Budget Update

• The “CROmnibus” was enacted on December 9, 2014

• Total NIST Budget: $863.9M (+$14M over FY2014)

– Scientific and Technical Research and Services: $675.5M (+$24.5M)

– Industrial Technology Services: $138.1M (-$4.9M)

– Construction of Research Facilities: $50.3M (-$5.7M)

• Also includes language authorizing the National Network 

for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI)

© Robert Rathe

BUDGET UPDATE | 16
FY 2015 Budget Update

• $2M for Manufacturing Extension Partnership

• -$6.9M for AMTech (compensated with FY14 carryover)

• Funds highest priority construction, maintenance, and repair projects

• Requests status reports on ongoing renovation projects

• $6M for Cybersecurity R&D

• $6M for Lab to Market

• $2M for GHG Measurement

• $3.5M for Forensic Science R&D

• $2.5M for Cyber-Physical Systems

• $2.5M for Synthetic Biology and 

Biomfg

• $2M for NIST-on-a-Chip

STRS

ITS

CRF

BUDGET UPDATE | 17
FY 2016 Budget Request

• President’s request NIST Budget: $1,119.7M (+$255.8M 

over FY15)

– Scientific and Technical Research and Services: $754.7M (+$79.2M)

– Industrial Technology Services: $306M (+$167.9M)

– Construction of Research Facilities: $59M (+$8.7M)

• Includes one-time funding for two NNMI institutes

BUDGET UPDATE | 18
FY 2016 Budget Request

• $150M for National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI)

• $9.7M for Manufacturing Extension Partnership

• $6.8M for Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech)

• $7.9M for Safety Capacity, Maintenance, and Major Repair

• $11M for NCNR

• $10M for Materials Genome Init.

• $10M for Disaster Resilience

• $9M for Advanced Comms

• $7M for Cryptography

• $5M for Advanced Sensing for Mfg

• $5M for Cyber Physical Systems

• $5M for Mfg Entrepreneurship

• $5M for Quantum-based Sensors

• $4M for Biomfg / Engineered Bio

• $4M for Lab-to-Market

STRS

ITS

CRF

BUDGET UPDATE | 19
NIST Update

• NIST Organizational Update

– Confirmation of Director

– Priorities

– Budget 

• Selected Staff and Programmatic Achievements

• External Reviews

• New Programmatic Efforts

• Program Updates

• Agenda Review

NIST UPDATE | 20
Five NIST Scientists win APS awards

Ian Spielman – I.I. Rabi Prize in Atomic Molecular, and Optical Physics

For the development of quantum simulations using ultra-cold atoms, creation of synthetic 

electromagnetic fields, demonstration of synthetic spin-orbit coupling, and applications to 

studying new physical systems. 

Gretchen Campbell – Maria Goeppert Mayer Award 

For her pioneering contributions to the study of superfluidity in atomic-gas Bose-Einstein 

condensates, realizing atomic analogs to superconducting and superfluid liquid circuitry, 

including the use of weak links to create the first closed-circuit atomtronic devices.

Daniel Pierce – Joseph F. Keithley Award

For the invention and development of electron spin sources and detectors, and their application 

to measurement science.

Robert J. Celotta – Joseph F. Keithley Award

For the invention and development of electron spin sources and detectors, and their application 

to measurement science.

John Unguris – Joseph F. Keithley Award

For the invention and development of electron spin sources and detectors, and their application 

to measurement science.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS | 21
Dean of Staff Recognition Resurrected

Naomi Crockett 

NBS/NIST employee for 

52 years

Longest serving 

NIST employee

Next Dean of Staff:

Elizabeth Fong

NIST employee for 47 years

ACCOMPLISHMENTS | 22
Extended Calibration Service for Laser Welding and More

• NIST has launched a new 

measurement service capability for 

high-power lasers 

• Supports a broad range of general 

applications such as cutting and 

welding of metals and has more 

specialized uses such as defusing 

unexploded land mines.

• Use of these high-power lasers could 

result in significant savings for U.S. 

manufacturers. E.g., compared to 

traditional welding methods, laser 

welding is lower cost and has a 

smaller environmental footprint.

Max. power calibration 

extended from 1.5 kW 

to 10 kW

ACCOMPLISHMENTS | 23
NIST Update

• NIST Organizational Update

– Confirmation of Director

– Priorities

– Budget 

• Selected Staff and Programmatic Achievements

• External Reviews

• New Programmatic Efforts

• Program Updates

• Agenda Review

NIST UPDATE | 24
External NIST Reviews

• NIST has three complementary methods for external 

review

– Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT) 

• What should NIST currently be doing in response to its Mission?

– National Research Council (NRC) Board on Assessment 

• What is the quality of the research being carried out in each Laboratory 

Organization in support of the NIST Mission

– NIST Measurement Services Programmatic External Review 

NEW

EXTERNAL REVIEW | 25
National Research Council FY14 Review

• Technical programs

– Comparative research quality

– Adequacy for program goals

• Portfolio of scientific expertise

– Is expertise world class?

– Support technical programs? 

• Facilities, equipment, and 

human resources

• Output dissemination

– Are goals driven by 

stakeholder needs? 

– Tech transfer effectiveness

– Output use and impact 

assessment

Quality of 

research 

supporting 

NIST mission

EXTERNAL REVIEW | 26

FY14 NRC Reviews:

Engineering Lab

Material Measurement Lab

FY15 NRC Reviews:

Physical Measurement Lab

Information Technology Lab

Communication Technology 

Lab
“The high-quality technical work at 

the MML (...), supported by an 

excellent equipment infrastructure, is 

enabling the MML to meet its 

technical goals. However, the MML is 

in high demand by external 

stakeholders, its relevant technologies 

are leading-edge and dynamically 

changing, and there is competition for 

individuals with the expertise required 

of its staff.”

Material Measurement 

Laboratory

Engineering Laboratory

“Measurement science remains one 

cornerstone of the research program 

(...). Computer simulation, effectively 

integrated with unique testing and 

physical measurements, is becoming a 

second cornerstone of the program, 

making possible the generalization of 

experimental results and facilitating 

the dissemination of technology to the 

user community.” 

National Research Council FY14 Review
NIST Measurement Services Programmatic External Review

• Conducted: January 27-28, 2015

• Purpose: provide a high level review of the NIST measurement service programs 

(calibrations, SRMs, and SRD) to include evaluating the capabilities and performance of 

NIST compared to the general competencies of the world’s national measurement 

institutes

• External Review:

• By a team of eight high-level, technical representatives from five of the world’s Regional Metrology 

Organizations

• Background:

• The Organic Act of 1901 and updated in 2008 requires that NIST conduct “Comparison of US 

national standards with those of other nations.”

• The CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) established in 1999 requires:

− Declaring and documenting calibration and measurement capabilities (CMCs)

− Evidence of successful participation in formal, relevant international comparisons

− Demonstration of system for assuring quality of each NMI’s measurement services
NIST Measurement Services Programmatic External Review 

- continued

29

Charge to Panel: 

Each panelist to provide the NIST Director with his/her views of the:

− NIST Programs for delivering Calibrations, SRMs, and SRD 

services including:

o capabilities NIST maintains to underpin the delivery of its 

measurement services to customers

o level of participation and performance in CIPM MRA key 

comparisons, etc.

o relevance of measurement services provided (from a global 

perspective)

o the NIST Quality System
NIST Update

• NIST Organizational Update

– Confirmation of Director

– Priorities

– Budget 

• Selected Staff and Programmatic Achievements

• External Reviews

• New Programmatic Efforts

• Program Updates

• Agenda Review

NIST UPDATE | 30
Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS)

• Research partnership between 

University of Maryland, NIST, 

and the NSA

• Center Objectives: 

– Develop scientific foundation for 

quantum information science

– Maintain nation’s leading role in 

quantum information science

– Establish unique interdisciplinary 

center including computer 

scientists, physicists, and quantum 

information researchers

• Kickoff Workshop March 31 –

April 1

NEW PROGRAM | 31
NIST Partnering with NFL in Head Health Challenge:

Seeking materials to advance safety and protection

In September 2014 , NIST signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate with the 

National Football League, Under Armour, Inc., and General Electric Company to advance the 

state-of-the-art in advanced materials for impact mitigation.

• Sponsors seek to stimulate development of a range of materials that provide excellent 

energy absorbing and energy dissipating properties

• Partnership utilizes NIST expertise in materials testing and assessment 

• Launched a prize challenge focusing on research and technologies to develop 

advanced energy absorbing materials

Activity is highly aligned with the NIST efforts 

under the 

Administration’s Materials Genome Initiative

− January 29, 2015: NFL Press Conference

− February 2, 2015: Challenge Website opens

− March 2015 Abstract Submission Deadline

− April 2015 Winning Abstracts invited to submit full 

proposal and sample of material

− 6 Round 2 awardees up to $250,000 each

− Grand Prize Winner $500,000
FirstNet / Public Safety Communications Research

• Partly due to the lack of interoperability among radio 

equipment, first responders face significant 

communication problems

• The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 

– Created FirstNet to provide emergency responders nationwide, 

high-speed, broadband network dedicated to public safety.

– NIST to receive $100–300M from Wireless Spectrum Auction for 

R&D and testing support for FirstNet/Public Safety 

Communications Research

NEW PROGRAM | 33
• NIST has been involved with Public 

Safety Communications research for 

several years

• With this funding, the research plan has 

expanded to include activities involving:

– Mission Critical Voice over LTE

– LMR to LTE integration/migration

– Expanded 700 MHz Demonstration 

Network

– ID and incorporate public-safety 

requirements into broadband standards

• Plan will engage all stakeholders

– Stakeholder-driven R&D roadmaps

– Competitive industry collaboration 

program

– Partnerships with Federal agencies

Proceeds from 

wireless auctions 

provide NIST $300M 

through 2022 for 

Public Safety 

Communications

FirstNet / Public Safety Communications Research

© Geoffrey Wheeler

NEW PROGRAM | 34
NIST Update

• NIST Organizational Update

– Confirmation of Director

– Priorities

– Budget 

• Selected Staff and Programmatic Achievements

• External Reviews

• New Programmatic Efforts

• Program Updates

• Agenda Review

NIST UPDATE | 35
Program Update: Disaster Resilience Framework

Workshops:

• Gaithersburg, MD – Apr. 7, ‘14

• Hoboken, NJ – July 30, ‘14

• Norman OK – Oct. 27-28, ‘14

• San Diego, CA – Feb. 18-19, ‘15

• Southeast/Gulf Coast – Apr. ‘15

• West Coast – July ‘15

• Holding fourth workshop Feb. 18-19, 2015 

in San Diego

• Disaster Resilience Framework at 50% 

Draft

• Framework focuses include:

- Social aspects of resilience

- Interdependencies and Cascading Effects

- Building Sector

- Transportation Sector

- Energy Sector

- Communication and Information Sector

- Water and Wastewater Sector

PROGRAM UPDATE | 36

The Disaster Resilience Framework will identify typical performance goals; 

existing standards, codes, and practices to enhance resilience; and gaps that 

must be addressed to enhance community resilience.
Program Update: Cybersecurity Framework 

• Exec. Order 13636 (Feb. 12, 

2013) directed NIST to work 

with stakeholders to develop a 

voluntary framework for 

reducing cyber risks to critical 

infrastructure

• The Cybersecurity Framework 

is to:

– Include existing standards, 

methodologies, and processes 

– Provide an approach to 

identify, assess, and manage 

cyber risk 

– Identify areas for 

improvement

PROGRAM UPDATE | 37

“It is the policy of the United 

States to enhance the security 

and resilience of the Nation’s 

critical infrastructure and to 

maintain a cyber environment 

that encourages efficiency, 

innovation, and economic 

prosperity while promoting 

safety, security, business 

confidentiality, privacy, and civil 

liberties.”
Program Update: Cybersecurity Framework 

PROGRAM UPDATE | 38

• Partnering on awareness 

campaigns

• Participating in stakeholderorganized events

• Developed through a strong 

and intensive private-public 

partnership

• Delivered in 1 year, on time

• Improve the Framework if 

needed based on experience

• Ensure the Framework and its 

use endures

• Produce guidance, tools, and 

resources; support others as 

they do the same

• Engaging more communities

• Amplify awareness through 

strengthened relationships 

Development with sectors and agencies

Raising 

Awareness

Analyzing Use

Amplifying

Educating

Sustaining

• Getting feedback on 

Framework use

• Issuing guidance and reference 

tools

What We’ve Been Doing Where We’re Headed
Program Update: Cryptography Review

• NIST Director asked VCAT to 

help review NIST’s 

cryptographic standards 

development process

• VCAT asked Committee of 

Visitors – a distinguished panel 

of experts – to provide 

feedback

• VCAT recommendations

– Openness and Transparency

– Independent Strength and 

Capabilities

– Clarification of Relationship with 

NSA

– Technical and other issues

PROGRAM UPDATE | 39

COV Members

Vint Cerf

Edward Felten

Steve Lipner

Bart Preneel

Ellen Richey

Ron Rivest

Fran Schrotter
Program Update: Cryptography Review

• Request in 2016 budget 

for increased 

cryptography capability

• Proposed withdrawal of 

several obsolete 

Standards (Jan. 16, 2015)

• Seeking comment on 

revised NIST 

Cryptographic Standards 

and Guidelines document 

(ends Mar. 27, 2015)

PROGRAM UPDATE | 40

FY16 Budget Request:

Expanded cryptography team

Analysis of quantum-resistant 

security technologies

Development and 

dissemination of standards, 

guidelines, and tests 
Program Update: Forensic Science

• With US DoJ, established the 

National Commission on 

Forensic Science 

• Established the Organization of 

Scientific Area Committees 

(OSAC), the practice-focused 

organization supporting the 

National Commission on 

Forensic Science

• Conducting laboratory-based 

research on forensic science 

methods

Strengthening 

the “Science” 

in Forensic 

Science

PROGRAM UPDATE | 41

“With the exception of nuclear 

DNA analysis, no forensic 

method has been rigorously 

shown to have the capacity to 

consistently, and with a high 

degree of certainty, 

demonstrate a connection 

between evidence and a 

specific individual or source.” 

U.S. National Research Council,

NAS, Feb. 2009 
Program Update: Forensic Science and OSAC

• Membership of all 

subcommittees 

finalized – total of 422

• Forensic science 

standards inventory 

published

• Public OSAC Meetings 

to be held Feb. 16-17

Strengthening 

the “Science” 

in Forensic 

Science

PROGRAM UPDATE | 42
Program Update: NIST Centers of Excellence

NIST has received appropriations to expand our 

Centers of Excellence program. We will establish new 

COEs in FY2015:

• Community Resilience

o Develop integrated, systems-based computational models to 

assess community infrastructure resilience and guide 

community-level resilience investment decisions

– Competition closed Sept. 12, 2014; received strong 

response

– Leading proposal has been selected

– Announcement planned in mid-February 2015

• Forensic Science

o Develop probabilistic methods to support the forensic science 

disciplines, focusing Pattern Evidence and Digital Evidence

o Proposals due by December 13, 2014; received strong 

response

o Expect to make award in Q3 FY15

Jace Anderson/FEMA

Credit: FBI

Credit: NIST
Meeting Agenda

• Overview

– Safety

– Congressional Update

– NNMI Update

• Baldrige Performance Excellence Program

• Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program

• VCAT Annual Report

• NIST International Programs and Engagements

NIST UPDATE | 44
Questions?

NIST UPDATE | 45