Submitted by Dave Roberts on Wed, 25/01/2012 - 16:58
Professor Sir Mark Welland, head of The Nanoscience Centre at Cambridge University and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Defence, has been awarded two prestigious honours by the US Department of Defense and the US Department of Energy.
The first award, the 'Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service', is the highest level non-career award given by the Secretary of Defense. It was awarded to Professor Welland for his 'exceptional public service' and highlights his many contributions to anti-proliferation.
The citation commends Professor Welland, stating: Professor Welland's numerous accomplishments had a significant impact on the United States and the United Kingdoms national security. He provided the vision necessary to align the program of atomic weapons cooperation between our two countries. He greatly expanded mutual participation of scientists and engineers in directed stockpile work; fostered bilateral cooperation in nuclear, chemical, and biological threat reduction; led new efforts in the area of treaty monitoring and verification; and advocated for the expanded trilateral threat reduction cooperation with France. His vision, leadership, foresight, and direction had far reaching and positive impacts in several areas: The United States and the United Kingdom atomic weapons cooperation; several international engagement programs such as the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-Russia Council; the entire field of bilateral work to counter weapons of mass destruction; and the United States and the United Kingdom relations writ large. The distinguished achievements of Professor Sir Mark Welland reflect great credit upon himself and the Department of Defense.
Professor Welland was also presented an award by the US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), part of the US Department of Energy and is rarely (if ever) bestowed upon non-US citizens. He was given the 'The NNSA Gold Medal' for his 'outstanding leadership and wise counsel as Chief Scientific Advisor to the United Kingdom'. The citation highlights his contributions to national security, stating 'Our countries are stronger and safer for your service.'