 In 1966 , Bradbury was awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service for " exceptionally meritorious civilian service to the Armed Forces and the United States of America in a position of great responsibility as director , Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory " . His citation went on to say that " The outstanding international reputation of the Los Alamos Laboratory is directly attributable to his exceptional leadership . The United States is indebted to Dr. Bradbury and his laboratory , to a very large degree , for our present nuclear capability . " He also received the Enrico Fermi Award in 1970 . 
