Los Alamos Weapons Programs restructured

Contact: Kevin Roark, knroark@lanl.gov, (505) 665-0582 (04-019)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., March 18, 2004 -- Director G. Peter Nanos has begun a restructuring of responsibilities for Los Alamos National Laboratory's nuclear weapons programs beginning with the addition of a new weapons directorate, headed by a Principal Associate Director for Nuclear Weapons Programs, reporting directly to Nanos and John Immele, Deputy Laboratory Director for National Security.

The purpose of the new position is the integration of the entire nuclear weapons portfolio at the Laboratory; the new associate director will also chair the Nuclear Weapons Program Integration Board.

The directorates for Weapons Physics, Weapons Engineering and Manufacturing, and Operations will retain line responsibilities for the planning and execution of all activities in their divisions. The program boards - Stockpile Assessment and Certification; Experimental Assessment and Validation; Simulation; Manufacturing - currently subordinate to the PIB, will evolve into a single coordination board that will link program directors and division leaders for all sectors of nuclear weapons work at Los Alamos.

"I believe this restructuring will result in a significant increase in programmatic focus, and much-improved definition of responsibilities that will result in more timely and effective management of priorities," said Nanos. "In addition, the new directorate will clarify authorities for resource allocation, responsibilities, schedule, costs and performance, achieve better balance of program and line scope for the other associate directorates, and improve coordination with NNSA and the Laboratory's Chief Financial Officer."

The new associate director's chief responsibilities will be overall allocation of weapons program resources and responsibilities and integration of the weapons portfolio through the currently existing Program Integration Board, with direct support from the Planning and Integration Office. The associate director also will ensure overall weapons program execution, provide risk-based project management throughout the weapons program and manage weapon-specific Directed Stockpile Work.

The Deputy Associate Directors for Experimental Physics, Advanced Simulation and Computing, Manufacturing, and Operations will remain "dual-hatted." They will function as program directors to administer and manage project funds allocated from the new directorate, while remaining within and directly supporting the associate directors of Weapons Physics, Weapons Engineering and Manufacturing and Operations.

"It is my goal in taking these steps that these key programs will quickly see improved communications and greater clarity of program and line management missions and responsibilities," said Nanos.

Nanos has formed a search committee to conduct a nationwide search for permanent Associate Directors for the new Nuclear Weapons Programs Directorate and the Weapons Physics Directorate, and has selected John Immele to serve as its lead. In the interim, Don McCoy will serve as acting Principal Associate Director for Nuclear Weapons Programs. Physics Division Leader Susan Seestrom will act as Associate Director for Weapons Physics, and has named former Weapons Physics chief of staff William "Buck" Thompson as her acting Principal Deputy.

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.