William Henry Merrill Society Welcomes New Inductees

The William Henry Merrill Society (WHMS), an organization that recognizes safety science leaders who work at UL Research Institutes, UL Standards & Engagement, and UL Solutions, has welcomed new inductees.

All WHMS inductees are technical professionals who have earned recognition both inside and outside the three UL organizations as leading authorities in their fields of expertise. Membership in the WHMS represents the epitome of engineering, science, technical knowledge, and expertise required to advance safety science. Members are committed to appropriately sharing their knowledge with colleagues as well as mentoring others who might someday be inducted into the society.

WHMS members are designated as Corporate Fellows or Distinguished Members of Technical Staff (DMTS). Employees at the three UL organizations can submit nominations for the WHMS. Inductees are selected through a detailed review of job experience, technical achievements, publications, patents, professional affiliations, and overall contributions to the three UL organizations’ shared mission of working for a safer world.

Being named a Corporate Fellow is the highest internal accolade for an employee at any of the three UL organizations. Corporate Fellows hold the honor for life, and they typically are professionals who have previously been named a DMTS.

The WHMS Class of 2024 includes seven Corporate Fellows, each of whom received a commemorative medallion. The induction of these seven inductees in mid-November has raised the total number of active Corporate Fellows to 23 across the three UL organizations.

UL Research Institutes inductees

The following inductees are colleagues from UL Research Institutes, all with the Fire Safety Research Institute:

• Adam Barowy, lead research engineer, was inducted for his expertise in lithium-ion battery fires and explosions. He has led experiments examining the safety of energy storage systems, e‑mobility devices, and electric vehicles. He serves on numerous standards committees, has led award‑winning public education campaigns, and frequently delivers presentations to improve fire safety worldwide.
• Gavin Horn, director of research, was inducted for his expertise in firefighter health and safety, first responder technology development, and materials testing and nondestructive evaluation. Horn has written more than 100 peer‑reviewed published works. He has received the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Bullard‑Sherwood Research to Practice Award and the Alice Hamilton Award for Occupational Safety and Health.
• Dan Madrzykowski, senior director of research, was inducted for his expertise in fire dynamics, fire test methods, fire control, and fire investigation. He has co‑authored more than 85 technical reports, handbooks, and book chapters and has delivered presentations at major conferences worldwide. His work has led to pioneering advancements in firefighting practices. Madrzykowski is a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and received the SFPE Harold E. Nelson Service Award in 2017.

Additional Corporate Fellows

• Steve Margis, conformity assessment director at UL Solutions, is a global expert in conformity assessment and serves as the International Electrotechnical Commission vice president and chair of the IEC Conformity Assessment Board. His participation and influence have helped ensure that the governance, service development, and operations of conformity assessment schemes worldwide provide the necessary openness and trust to facilitate strong global trade.
• Robert Osborne, principal engineer for the Energy and Industrial Automation group at UL Solutions, has served with the National Electrical Code since 2002 and currently sits on two NEC code‑making panels and the NEC Correlating Committee.
• Rob Slone, senior vice president and chief scientist at UL Solutions, is responsible for setting UL Solutions’ science and engineering strategy for safety, security, and sustainability — a complex task that involves collaborative work with UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement.
• Anthony Tassone, principal engineer for the Engineered Materials group at UL Solutions, has extensive technical expertise in seasonal lighting, fire propagation, telecommunications cable, and high‑speed cabling.

The WHMS also welcomed more than two dozen DMTS inductees, including UL Solutions employees as well as representatives from UL Standards & Engagement and UL Research Institutes. The society now includes 138 DMTS members from 14 countries.

The society is named after William Henry Merrill (1868-1923), the electrical engineer who founded the safety company that evolved into the three current UL organizations.

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