Five KCNSC employees honored with 2026 STARR Award

The Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC) continues to strengthen the nation’s nuclear security mission. At the 29th annual Significant Technical Achievement Reward and Recognition (STARR) Award ceremony on Aug. 12, five employees were honored for achievements that directly support NNSA’s strategic priorities—urgency, deterrence, and production excellence—while advancing the President’s broader nuclear security initiatives.

This year’s honorees—Luke H., Jason D., Zachary G., Samantha T., and Garrett P.—represent the ingenuity and dedication that power KCNSC’s mission. Their work demonstrates how innovation, teamwork, and problem‑solving strengthen national security.

"Your dedication to technical excellence and your commitment to national security represent the very best of KCNSC," said Elizabeth Fossey, Vice President of Engineering.

Luke H. was instrumental in advancing additive manufacturing (AM) capabilities for ceramic materials at KCNSC, including deployment of a rotor inspection fixture, the first ceramic AM part used in production.

Jason D. worked on Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) development and calibration for flat flex cables, marking a significant technical advancement for quality and testing technologies. By pioneering a novel method that enables AOI for product acceptance — replacing labor-intensive manual inspection — Jason transformed the process to be highly accurate and repeatable.

Zachary G. developed the Supplier Kanban Board within the Digital Information Gateway, creating a modern, real-time platform that replaces phone calls, emails, spreadsheets and network folders used to track purchase order activity. It's projected to save $4 million over three years.

Samantha T. led the development of materials used in W93 filled elastomer components. It may incorporate various fillers and can be direct-ink-write printed or molded, allowing its use across multiple application spaces.

Garrett P. developed an algorithm and novel process to predictively and accurately tune antennas via material removal, addressing a key challenge for a strategic partnership project.

The event celebrated a total of 24 nominees from across the organization.

"To be nominated by the very colleagues who work alongside you is a remarkable milestone, and a clear demonstration of the value you bring to our mission,” Elizabeth said. “I hope you will carry that recognition with you and take a moment to truly appreciate what your peers are saying about your work."

Created in 1998 to celebrate outstanding technical contributions, the STARR Award plays a vital role in recognizing KCNSC innovation and retaining technical talent.