DOE Honors Hanford Classified Material Expert With Excellence Award

RICHLAND, Wash. – DOE recently bestowed the prestigious 2021 Classification Award of Excellence to an employee of EM Richland Operations Office contractor Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS) for his outstanding contributions to the Department’s classification program.

Hanford classification officer and HMIS information security manager LaMont Schofield led two high-impact projects that will result in a large reduction of classified documents, improved processes and quality control, and cost savings for the Hanford Site.

“Mr. Schofield earned this award through his significant contributions to the Department of Energy classification program at the local and national levels,” Matthew B. Moury, DOE Associate Under Secretary for Environment, Health, Safety and Security, said in a letter to HMIS. “His professionalism has enabled him to maintain the respect of his peers within the classification community.”

The first project Schofield led reduced the number of active hard-copy classified documents by more than half, converting most material to digital format. Having fewer hard-copy documents in existence lowers the risk of potential security concerns related to handling sensitive material, while increasing the efficiency and ability to control distribution.

In selecting Schofield for this award, DOE noted his oversight role in the Hanford projects and the “tremendous savings of both time and money” that resulted from his efforts.

“This recognizes LaMont’s leadership in combining deep understanding of our classification program goals with an innovative approach to make a significant difference,” said David Chase, vice president of HMIS safeguards, security, and emergency services.