PNNL

Eric Smith, a Laboratory Fellow and program manager at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), was selected for induction into the Academy of Distinguished Engineers at the 2026 Oregon Stater Awards Ceremony. 

The award is presented by the College of Engineering at Oregon State University (OSU) to engineering alumni who have made sustained, distinguished contributions to their profession, their field, OSU, and society at large. The Oregon Stater Awards honor alumni whose contributions exemplify Oregon State’s leadership over the past 150 years. 

Smith earned his bachelor of science degree in nuclear science and engineering from OSU in 1994. He also received master of science and doctoral degrees in nuclear engineering and radiological sciences from the University of Michigan. 

Across his career, Smith’s primary research and development contributions have been in nuclear fuel cycle safeguards, trace radionuclide detection techniques, and modeling methods for safeguards and nuclear security scenarios. His work has had far-reaching impacts on national and international nuclear security. 

Since 2018, Smith has managed PNNL’s portfolio in the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Defense Programs and stockpile-related scope in the NNSA Office of Environment, Safety, and Health. This portfolio includes PNNL’s long-standing leadership roles in tritium production and science for the stockpile and technical support for the packaging and transportation of nuclear materials. It also includes PNNL’s expanding contributions in plutonium and uranium metal processing and science, advanced manufacturing, diagnostics, Super Intelligence, and cyber-physical security. 

Prior to joining PNNL, Smith was a staff engineer at Argonne National Laboratory. 

Smith was presented the award at the 2026 Oregon Stater Awards Ceremony, which took place October 8 at the CH2M HILL Alumni Center in Corvallis.