March 10, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science has announced the first-ever recipients of the DOE Distinguished Mentor Award for Workforce Development. This newly established award program recognizes outstanding mentorship, promotes best mentoring practices, and helps sustain a vibrant mentor pool for workforce development at DOE National Laboratories to advance the DOE mission and strengthen the U.S. workforce of tomorrow. 

“The establishment of the DOE Distinguished Mentor Award for Workforce Development directly aligns with our strategic objectives to not only recognize exceptional mentorship but also to actively cultivate best practices across our National Laboratories,” said DOE Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil. “By illuminating these exemplary efforts, we reinforce a vibrant mentoring ecosystem crucial for advancing the DOE's mission and strengthening the U.S. workforce. We look forward to celebrating our inaugural awardees and hearing their insights and experiences.”

For over 60 years, DOE has provided training opportunities for future scientists, engineers, and technical professionals to support DOE’s mission to advance energy, economic, and national security of the United States. 

DOE’s 17 National Laboratories provide a unique opportunity for STEM workforce development, offering access to world-leading expertise, scientific User Facilities and instrumentation, and multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research teams and programs generally not available in universities or industry. This award formally recognizes dedicated professionals for outstanding contributions to workforce development across the 17 National Laboratories. Selected through a rigorous merit review process, this year’s awardees exemplify excellence in guiding future scientists, engineers, and technical professionals through the unique, multidisciplinary research environments only found within the DOE National Laboratory complex.

A virtual DOE Award Ceremony is planned in the near future to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of the awardees. The virtual event will feature a panel of Distinguished Mentors and their mentees sharing experiences and thoughts on mentoring and best practices. For more information, visit the Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) homepage.