ORNL Teams Awarded for Contributions to Exascale Computing

Two Extraordinary ORNL Teams Recognized with DOE Secretary’s Honor Awards

ORNL can pride itself on two exceptional teams that were recently bestowed with the Department of Energy Secretary’s Honor Awards. The ceremony, held on January 8, 2025, at the DOE Forrestal building, saw Secretary Jennifer Granholm commend these incredible groups for their dedication and achievements.

Secretary Granholm praised the awardees, stating, "These teams have faced challenges and failures, but they came out stronger, achieving the extraordinary. They embody public service at its finest."

The first team, the Exascale Computing Project (ECP) Leadership Team, is a remarkable collective that brought together two DOE offices in unprecedented collaboration. Over seven years and with a $1.8 billion budget, they developed the nation’s first capable exascale computing ecosystem. This involved uniting national labs, universities, and industry partners, with over 3,000 researchers and 100 teams delivering applications and software tools. The ECP’s vision has been to address future challenges in energy, economic competitiveness, healthcare, scientific discovery, and security threats.

Among the 175 ECP honorees from six DOE labs were 30 current and former ORNL staff members, including Ashley Barker, Doug Collins, and Julia White. Their collective efforts resulted in an exascale computing ecosystem that provides breakthrough solutions.

The second awardee, the Frontier Supercomputer Integrated Project Team, designed, built, and deployed the world’s first exascale-class supercomputer, Frontier, amidst the global pandemic and supply chain crisis. Completed a year ahead of schedule and $95 million under budget, Frontier achieved an unprecedented performance of 1.1 exaflops, securing top spots on the TOP500, Green500, and AI mixed precision lists.

This team, represented by Justin Whitt, Ashley Barker, and Gina Tourassi from ORNL, exampled unparalleled dedication and hard work. They stood proudly alongside ORNL Site Office’s John Young and Dan Hoag, and DOE Headquarters’ Christine Chalk, honoring the outstanding efforts of over 100 team members.

Secretary Granholm concluded, "Excellence isn’t a one-off; it’s the product of intentionality and great teamwork. Thank you for your excellence and service. It has been my honor to serve as your Secretary."