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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E799-E800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING DR. MARK PETERS
______
HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON
of idaho
in the house of representatives
Friday, August 28, 2020
Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Dr. Mark Peters for
his excellent service as Director at Idaho National Laboratory. After
nearly five years of capable leadership, Dr. Peters has accepted a
position as Executive Vice President for Laboratory Operations for the
Battelle Memorial Institute. I wish him well in this new endeavor and
take comfort that he will continue to have a role in oversight, not
just at INL, but each of the national laboratories managed by Battelle.
Dr. Peters spent considerable time on Capitol Hill and many of you
have gotten to know him and rely upon his expertise.
One of the benefits of representing a Department of Energy national
laboratory is you get to meet and work with some of our nation's best
and brightest. Intelligent and driven people come to these crown jewels
of science and innovation and contribute so much to our economic
prosperity and national security.
Mark's service at INL is an example of operational excellence, energy
innovation, and national security impact.
Under Dr. Peters' leadership, INL has delivered on the grand
challenges we ask of our national labs. Since Mark arrived at INL on
Oct. 1, 2015, the laboratory has helped push forward development and
demonstration of advanced nuclear technologies and deployed new
capabilities to secure our nation's critical infrastructure from
cyberattack.
Mark's vision and ability to bring people together allowed INL's
clean energy program to expand and contribute to new and exciting
areas. I'm talking integrated energy systems, advanced manufacturing,
biomass upgrades, and so much more.
[[Page E800]]
Under Mark's leadership, the laboratory assembled the power source
for the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, continues to meet the Army's
needs for tank armor, is helping DoD explore the use of microreactors,
and is producing new nuclear fuels and materials.
A personal priority of mine has been revitalizing the lab's
infrastructure and putting INL's talented workforce into world-class
facilities. Mark has been a great ally in this process, an innovator
and collaborator.
He brought the Department of Energy and lab together with the State
of Idaho to build two new facilities on INL's in-town campus. One of
those facilities is dedicated to protecting our nation from
cyberattack. The other is dedicated to collaborations in high-
performance computing.
Dr. Peters has worked hard to introduce the lab to all corners of our
state and region, demonstrating to the people of Idaho that our
national laboratories are places of innovation and intellectual
curiosity rather than secretive outposts often rumored about, but
rarely understood.
Mark has been dedicated to partnerships, building relationships with
universities, industry, governments, and schools. He showed our state
and region that so much can be accomplished when we work together and
in pursuit of lofty, even idealistic, goals.
Finally, Dr. Peters has a decency and optimism about him--an
intangible quality that makes everyone around him more positive and
excited to work together for a brighter future.
Mark is a thoughtful person who cares deeply for the people he works
with, his community, and our state.
Mark has implemented policies to support employee safety, work/life
balance, inclusive recruiting and retention, a shared sense of
responsibility, and duty to give back.
My wife, Kathy, and I have developed a close relationship with Mark
and his wife, Ann Marie, who has distinguished herself through her work
with the College of Eastern Idaho and various eastern Idaho charities.
Mark and Ann Marie are an incredible asset to Idaho and Kathy and I
are grateful for their passion for our community and friendship.
Mark and Anne Marie will be missed, but I look forward to working
with Mark in his new role.
____________________