[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DR. BILL MADIA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ZACH WAMP

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 25, 2003

  Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, just over 3 years ago, the University of 
Tennessee-Battelle team took over the contract to operate the 
Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, TN. 
Our Lab Director, Dr. Bill Madia will soon be leaving ORNL to take a 
new position. I would like to take a moment today to recognize Bill's 
tremendous accomplishments and thank him for all he has done in East 
Tennessee.
  Bill came to ORNL with over 25 years of experience in research and 
research management, with more than 15 years leading public and private 
research labs. That experience is evident in all the recent successes 
of ORNL, including receiving the laboratory's first-ever 
``outstanding'' rating for overall performance from the Department of 
Energy for fiscal year 2002.
  Under his watch, the construction of the Nation's largest civilian 
science project, the Spallation Neutron Source, has moved forward on 
time, on budget and on scope. Adjacent to SNS, atop Chestnut Ridge, is 
the site for the Center for Nanophase Materials Science, the first of 
DOE's Nanoscience centers. Another new facility is the recently 
completed Center for Computational Sciences, one of the world's most 
modern computer laboratories.
  Along with these examples of cutting edge major research user 
facilities, Bill tackled the needs of a laboratory that dated back to 
the Manhattan Project. In June 2003, only 16 months after breaking 
ground, ORNL celebrated completion of the first of 12 new facilities in 
the Laboratory's ambitious modernization program. The new buildings 
represent an unprecedented partnership among the private, state, and 
federal sectors. This unique effort can be attributed to Dr. Bill 
Madia.
  In the Oak Ridge community, Bill Madia has been active in promoting 
economic growth and providing leadership in the role that science and 
technology can play in education, the workplace, and our daily lives. 
He has served on the boards of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, East 
Tennessee Economic Council, and the Tennessee Technology Development 
Corporation. He has also been supportive of the next generation of 
scientists by supporting funding for high school science laboratories 
and the University of Tennessee's Academy for Math and Science.
  Mr. Speaker, Bill has contributed mightily to the Lab's success 
during his tenure in East Tennessee. I am pleased he will continue his 
commitment to the lab and our community by serving as a member of the 
UT-Battelle Board of Directors. In my judgment, he is by far the 
greatest, most innovative ``lab director'' in the United States. He is 
my personal friend and I will miss him very much.
  However, because of his amazing vision and tireless work, the people 
of Oak Ridge, East Tennessee and the Nation face a brighter, more 
prosperous future. I would like to thank Dr. Bill Madia for his 
remarkable leadership and extraordinary commitment to the great state 
of Tennessee.

                          ____________________