Last month U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced nine recipients of the 2026 Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award. Among the honorees is Nevada National Security Sites scientist Michael Reed, Ph.D., who was recognized for his transformative work developing the Advanced Visualization & Integration of Data (AVID) software platform. The award citation reads, in part:
“[Reed has been recognized for] vital contributions to national and international nuclear emergency response through the Advanced Visualization & Integration of Data (AVID) software, which broke existing paradigms by simultaneously fusing all radiological data into a single interface connected seamlessly to world-wide expertise.”
During radiological and nuclear emergencies, response teams rely on rapid, accurate situational awareness. Prior to Reed’s development of AVID, responders often managed disparate radiological sensor feeds, plume projections, and field telemetry across disconnected systems. AVID fundamentally modernized that process by integrating diverse radiological data into a unified, real-time operating picture accessible to field responders and global subject matter experts alike.
“Dr. Reed’s recognition highlights the caliber of innovation thriving at the Nevada National Security Sites,” said NNSS President Roger Rocha. “AVID represents applied science at its finest—delivering a dependable, mission-critical capability that protects emergency responders and the public when seconds count. We are extraordinarily proud of his achievement.”
“It’s not just me. This award belongs to the people of the Remote Sensing Laboratory and to the NNSS mission,” said Reed. “Ernest Lawrence pioneered mission-focused science carried out by large, multidisciplinary teams, and that spirit is alive at the NNSS. The next big leap in nuclear emergency response is waiting to be built, and the people who will build it are walking through the doors of the NNSS today.”
Established in 1959 to honor the legacy of Nobel laureate Ernest Orlando Lawrence, the award is among the most prestigious science and technology honors bestowed by the U.S. government. It recognizes mid-career scientists and engineers who have made exceptional contributions in research and development supporting the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Nuclear Security Administration.
“This year’s Lawrence Award recipients exemplify the ingenuity and determination that drive America’s leadership in science and technology,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “From achieving fusion ignition to advancing critical materials and high-performance computing, these scientists and engineers are tackling some of our nation’s most complex challenges and translating groundbreaking research into real-world capabilities.”
Other recipients of the 2026 Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award include researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, the National Laboratory of the Rockies, the University of Delaware, and the University of Pennsylvania.
DOE will honor the recipients at a hybrid award ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 13, 2026. The event will be broadcast live online, with public virtual attendance registration available through Oct. 30 on the DOE Office of Science Ernest O. Lawrence Award webpage.
For more information about ongoing research and technical capabilities at the Nevada National Security Sites, visit nnss.gov.