John Straw named to Los Alamos weapons post

Contact: Jim Danneskiold, jdanneskiold@lanl.gov, (505) 667-1640 (03-000)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Sept. 24, 2003 -- John Straw is the new deputy associate director for Weapons Engineering and Manufacturing at Los Alamos National Laboratory, announced Rich Mah, associate director for Weapons Engineering and Manufacturing.

Straw, who has worked at Los Alamos for 31 years in a variety of engineering, manufacturing and management positions, will lead scientific and technical work on weapons engineering and manufacturing technologies. He also will provide direct oversight of weapons system stewardship activities in the directorate.

"John has expertise in manufacturing process and technology development as well as program, project and line management experience at multiple levels at the Laboratory," Mah said. "His combined technical expertise and management experience make him the ideal choice for the position of deputy in Weapons Engineering and Manufacturing."

Straw has worked in welding, joining and fabrication process technologies and in manufacturing process development. His extensive supervisory and management experience includes leading four key projects: B61 Acorn development; W76 Acorn development; W88 Terrazzo development; and engineering design of advanced concept nuclear weapons.

Straw was associate group leader for gas transfer systems and program manager for nuclear reconfiguration and for the device fabrication facility. Most recently, he served as deputy division leader for program execution and as acting division leader in the Nuclear Materials Technology Division, where he led the division in delivering the W88 certifiable pit, Qual 1, a critical milestone for the Laboratory.

Straw began his career as a process development engineer at the Kaiser Aluminum Center for Technology in California. He holds master's and bachelor's degrees from the University of Kentucky, both in metallurgical engineering.

"I am honored and excited to have this opportunity to provide leadership for the weapons engineering and manufacturing activities in the nuclear weapons program. This is vitally important work for the nation and the Laboratory," said Straw. "I look forward to the many challenges in ensuring the continued safety and reliability of the nation's nuclear deterrent."

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos develops and applies science and technology to ensure the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent; reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction, proliferation and terrorism; and solve national problems in defense, energy, environment and infrastructure.

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