Oct 16, 2008

ASTM International members and friends have been honored by the American National Standards Institute with 2008 Leadership and Service Awards. The honors were presented during an Oct. 22 ceremony held in conjunction with the U.S. celebration of World Standards Week 2008.

Helen Delaney, president of Delaney Consulting in Cambridge, Md., has been honored with the Astin-Polk International Standards Medal, which recognizes distinguished service in promoting trade and understanding among nations through the advancement, development or administration of international standardization, measurements or certification. Delaney has more than 30 years experience in government relations, standards and conformity assessment. For 17 years, she was Washington representative and director of global affairs for ASTM International. From 1995 to 1998, Delaney served in the newly created position of standards attaché to the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium. Sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, she held the title of first secretary in the Foreign Commercial Service; in this post she was an adviser on standards and conformity assessment as well as an advocate for U.S. business and exporters. Delaney has presented and written numerous works on standards policy and implementation.

Ajit Jillavenkatesa, Ph.D., physical scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Md., has received a Next Generation Award. The award recognizes individuals engaged in standardization or conformity assessment activities for less than eight years who have, during this time, demonstrated vision, leadership, dedication and significant contributions to his or her chosen field of activity. Jillavenkatesa, an ASTM International member since 2005, serves on Committee E56 on Nanotechnology and several of its subcommittees. As part of his ASTM activities, Jillavenkatesa has worked with ASTM technical and policy staff since 2003 to further convey the global nature of ASTM International standards.

Mary C. McKiel, Ph.D., the standards executive with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., has been honored with the George S. Wham Leadership Medal; she is the first woman to receive this award. The award honors outstanding contributions to the voluntary standardization community and long-term direction and visionary qualities in support of the ANSI Federation. McKiel, who serves on the ASTM International board of directors and on Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action, has been involved with ASTM activities since the 1980s. McKiel is also chair of the ANSI National Policy Committee and an ex-officio member of the ANSI board of directors. She previously served as vice chair of the ANSI board for eight years.

Three ASTM International members have been given the Meritorious Service Award for their outstanding contributions to the U.S. voluntary standardization system.

Benedict R. Bonazza, Ph.D., retired principal chemist, TI Automotive LLC, in Caro, Mich., is a member of the ASTM board of directors and joined the organization in 1994. Bonazza serves on Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants, where he is currently chair of Subcommittee D02.A0 on Gasoline and Oxygenated Fuels. Bonazza has been honored with the Sydney D. Andrews ASTM Committee D02 Scroll of Achievement and an Award of Excellence; he has also received a Service Award for his tenure on the Committee on Technical Committee Operations.

Gordon Gillerman, conformity assessment advisor - homeland security at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Md., joined ASTM International and Committee E36 on Laboratory and Inspection Agency Accreditation this year.

Steve Howell, president and founder of MARC-IV Consulting in Kearny, Mo., has been an ASTM International member since 1994. Howell works on Committee D02, where he serves as chair of the biodiesel task force.

Release #8080/Oct08