DOE/LANL Jurisdiction Fire Danger Rating:
  1. LANL Home
  2. About the Lab
  3. Leadership and Governance

Frances Chadwick

Staff Director

Francis Chadwick Staff Director

Introduction

Frances Chadwick serves as Staff Director at Los Alamos, supporting the Laboratory Director and deputy directors while overseeing the Director’s Office and its divisions. She leads strategic initiatives that align governance, communications, and external partnerships to advance the Laboratory’s mission and strengthen community engagement across Northern New Mexico.

Background

Chadwick joined Los Alamos in 1996 and has held leadership roles spanning finance, infrastructure, and mission support. She previously served as Program Director for Weapons Infrastructure and Business Manager for Weapons Programs, where she oversaw financial planning, modernization activities, and facility investments essential to the Laboratory’s weapons mission. She represented the Laboratory on the Department of Energy Infrastructure Executive Council and has long championed community outreach, serving on the board of the Los Alamos Historical Society and previously on the Los Alamos Community Foundation board. Under Triad, she helped lead the effort to establish a new childcare center supporting Laboratory parents, advancing workforce well-being and regional resilience.

In her role as Staff Director, Chadwick serves as a key liaison to the Triad National Security Board of Directors and regional partners, supporting effective governance and alignment between Los Alamos and external stakeholders. She provides executive leadership across complex institutional functions and ensures that operational, strategic, and community priorities remain integrated in support of the Laboratory’s national security mission.

Education

  • MBA — Graduate School of Management, University of California, Davis
  • BA — University of Oxford (England)

Area Managed

As Staff Director, Chadwick leads the Director’s Office and its associated divisions, including General Counsel, Communications and External Affairs, Ethics and Audit, Counterintelligence, Community Partnerships, and National Security and International Studies. Her office ensures cohesive governance, strategic communication, and robust community engagement. This integration of institutional support functions enables Los Alamos to operate effectively, maintain public trust, and fulfill scientific and national security missions.