National Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a U.S. DOC agency.
Composition
NIST is overseen by the Undersecretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology.
The institute is led by a director and operates in six laboratories:
- Communications Technology Laboratory
- Engineering Laboratory
- Information Technology Laboratory
- Center for Neutron Research
- Material Measurement Laboratory
- Physical Measurement Laboratory
Other work is organized as extramural projects, for example MEP.
History
The United States' authority for standards was originally organized as the Office of Standard Weights and Measures under the Treasury.
In 1901, the office was reorganized as the National Bureau of Standards.
The bureau was renamed to the National Institute of Standards and Technology in 1988.