Nomination Form: Everett Hanel, Jr. Presidential Award

This award specifically recognizes extraordinary service to ABSA.

The Everett Hanel, Jr. Presidential Award is given to a current ABSA member for outstanding contributions to ABSA by helping to support those in the biosafety profession and to promote the profession through those contributions.

Nominations must be received by the ABSA Office no later than July 31, 2026.

A nominee for this award should have five (5) or more years of active participation on an ABSA Committee PLUS some or all of the following:  

• Engaged leadership on an ABSA committee, board, or council.
• Demonstrated exceptional service to the ABSA council or an ABSA committee by going beyond routine participation and whose influence exhibits lasting impact on the organization
• Lead an effort in establishing an innovated, widely acknowledged contribution to the biosafety profession using the support of ABSA OR developed a new ABSA initiative to support the biosafety profession

Everett Hanel, Jr. was a member of Dr. Wedum's safety group at Fort Detrick from 1943-1972. Following his tenure there, he became the Director of the Health & Safety group at the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, MD. His efforts were central in the development and perpetuation of the Biological Safety Conference and the organization now known as ABSA. In 1983 Everett was chosen to be the first President of ABSA International. In recognition of his significant contribution to this organization throughout his lifetime career in biosafety, the Everett Hanel, Jr. Presidential Award was established in 1993.