Community Highlights

2025 Community Highlights

The Laboratory, its employees, and its managing contractor Triad are committed to help Northern New Mexico thrive by partnering with organizations throughout the region

We focus on four main areas:

• Improving educational opportunities for children
• Promoting economic and workforce development to grow small businesses and help people into jobs
• Supporting nonprofits as they help address issues facing the community
• Improving access to child care for working families

To enhance and expand the Laboratory’s work in the community, managing contractor Triad National Security, LLC, invests in nonprofit programs in the region under its own Community Commitment Plan.

Information in this report is from FY 2025 (which runs Oct. 1, 2024–Sept. 30, 2025), except where stated.

Education

The success of the region and of Los Alamos National Laboratory depends on skilled people. To help produce better education outcomes for students, the Laboratory supports initiatives from elementary school through higher education.

• The Bradbury Science Museum’s Challenge Tomorrow traveling STEM experience brought the Laboratory's research, innovations, and people to 25 events, serving over 6,000 students and families across nine New Mexico counties. Budding scientists and learners of all ages got to chat with employee volunteer Challenge Ambassadors, try out real tools and tech, and explore future careers.
• 370 LANL employees provided 4,446 service hours to nonprofit and educational organizations in Northern New Mexico, supporting 119 STEM and non-STEM activities impacting an estimated 2,440 students, teachers, and community members.
• The Los Alamos Employees Scholarship Fund awarded $1,030,000 in scholarships to 138 four-year students from across Northern New Mexico.
• Under the Laboratory’s Math and Science Academy (MSA) Math Teacher Leader Network program, 25 teacher leaders and principals from five districts in the region took part in nine professional learning sessions and a two-week summer institute to support and enhance their mathematics content knowledge, knowledge of effective math teaching practices, and leadership skills. Thirteen of the teachers are working towards a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Mathematics Teacher Leadership, a new degree designed by MSA and New Mexico Highlands University.
• The Bradbury Science Museum’s educators served 170 teachers and approximately 2,700 students from 45 different schools through virtual field trips, in-person classroom visits, and museum visits. The Museum’s Summer Science on Wheels program served approximately 500 students in the Española School District and 66 students from San Ildefonso Pueblo.
• The ninth annual free two-week Summer Physics Camp took place in June, hosting more than 30 high schoolers from across New Mexico, and including a residential component that allowed students from more distant and rural areas to attend.

Workforce and Economic Development

The Laboratory invests and partners in workforce and economic development initiatives that train future employees, create jobs and help businesses grow.

• The Laboratory’s pipeline programs address critical skills for a growing workforce: 
  
  • The Laboratory has four formal partnerships with regional colleges for workforce development pipeline programs.
  • In partnership with NNSA, the Laboratory provided funding for additional workforce development programs in engineering, machining, supply chain management and welding at 10 regional colleges, and for career exploration programs reaching more than 1,000 K-12 students.
  • An agreement with Northern New Mexico College under the Department of Energy’s Mentor Protégé Program builds capacity for the college and supports workforce development in IT and cybersecurity areas. The NNSA’s Pipeline Development Program provided $376,675 to the project for work conducted in 2024 and 2025.
• The Laboratory’s economic development programs through its Feynman Center for Innovation assisted 248 businesses in New Mexico, attracting $34 million in new financing and creating or retaining 554 jobs (2024 data, the latest available). 
• The Laboratory spent $752 billion on procurement in New Mexico in the 2025 fiscal year, including $382 million with New Mexico small businesses.
• The New Mexico Lab-Embedded Entrepreneur Program (New Mexico LEEP) announced the fellows in the program’s 2025 cohort. The program, offered at Los Alamos National Laboratory, provides a two-year fellowship for entrepreneurs focusing on deep tech for national security.

Community Giving

Laboratory employees are committed to community service, and work to improve the quality of life for people in the region by giving their time, talent, and money to STEM projects and other nonprofit activities.

• In 2025 employees donated $2.8m through giving initiatives, including:
  
  • $2.2 million to nonprofit organizations 
  • $397,000 to the Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund (LAESF) to provide scholarships for students from Northern New Mexico
  • $30,441 and more than 1,000 toys for the holiday Toy Drive
  • $45,000 for backpacks and school supplies for distribution to middle and elementary school students in need across the region
• The Community Technical Assistance program allowed nonprofit, tribal, and non-federal government entities in Northern New Mexico to access the unique expertise and capabilities of the Laboratory to help solve a variety of technical challenges at no cost to the organizations. Among the projects was a data sprint in which Laboratory data scientists partnered with The Food Depot, Adaptive Sports Program New Mexico, and the New Mexico Office of Housing.
• The Laboratory organized 14 blood drives with 1007 donors giving 1,247 units of blood, enough to save up to 3,741 lives.
• The Laboratory’s Community Partnerships Office team hosted more than 60 employee volunteer events supporting local nonprofit organizations including The Food Depot, Española Humane, Habitat for Humanity of Santa Fe, San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen, Mesa to Mesa, Kitchen Angels, and The New Mexico Ramp Project.
• In the 2025 Laboratory Food Drive, employees donated $83,000 and 6,600 pounds of food, providing 337,000 meals to Northern New Mexicans.

Triad’s Community Commitment Plan

Building on the Laboratory’s work in the community, managing contractor Triad National Security, LLC, invests in nonprofit programs in the region under its own Community Commitment Plan. In accordance with the plan, Triad invested $3.1 million in the LANL Foundation, Regional Development Corporation, United Way of NNM, a child care center, and more than 60 other nonprofits.

Letter from the Triad Board Chair, Jay Sures

It has now been more than seven years since Triad National Security, LLC took over the management and operation of Los Alamos National Laboratory. In that time, Triad has invested $17 million through its Community Commitment Plan expanding and enhancing the reach of the Laboratory’s community work in education, economic diversity, and community giving.

The three members of Triad—Battelle Memorial Institute, the Texas A&M University System, and the University of California—are all public service–oriented organizations, and Triad is committed to sustaining and deepening the Laboratory’s partnership with the community for the benefit of the region and the Laboratory.

In 2025 Triad invested $3.1 million in the region through support for organizations including our major partnerships with the LANL Foundation, the Regional Development Corporation and the United Way of Northern New Mexico. A list of our nonprofit grants and sponsorships is provided below.

Particular highlights in 2025 include the completion of the new child care center in Los Alamos supported by Triad and Triad member UC, and the work of the Laboratory and the Triad-supported LANL Foundation to help create the statewide STEM Innovation Network. The value of this collaborative education resource has been recognized by the State of New Mexico, which has pledged $3 million to the Public Education Department to formerly establish the network.

Triad wholeheartedly supports the Laboratory’s continued commitment to be recognized as a force for good by Northern New Mexico communities, and we look forward to building on the impact of our investment in the years ahead.

Jay Sures
Board Chair, Triad National Security, LLC

Support for Education

Triad made grants totaling $800,000 to 19 education nonprofits and organizations supporting education programs across Northern New Mexico.

Triad’s investment in the LANL Foundation supported a range of initiatives with the aim of unlocking the potential of the region’s young people in four areas: scholarships and post-graduation support, expanding access to college and career pathways, preparing and supporting teachers, and promoting STEM education. Initiatives include the following:

• Supporting the Northern NM STEAM Coalition (which also includes the Laboratory) to create a statewide STEM Innovation Network. Building on the work of the Coalition, the NM Legislature awarded $3 million to the Public Education Department to formerly establish the network.
• Strengthening education opportunities with additional support for needs-based scholarships (both four-year, and two-year or trade certification) and support for LANL Scholars during their studies and after graduation
• Expanding career technical education opportunities through partnerships with high schools, higher education institutions, and education and workforce leaders
• Preparing and supporting teachers in Northern New Mexico by expanding the current National Board Certification (NBC) training programs
• Cultivating excellence in science teaching and learning in public schools by providing 20 schools with materials and professional learning for 137 teachers as they implemented the ISEC Science curricula in their classrooms.

Support For Economic Diversity

Triad’s investment in the Regional Development Corporation (RDC) helped the regional economy throughout 2025:

• Overall, the RDC made 71 direct investment awards totaling $409,594, creating 90 new jobs, with revenue increases of $1.7million.
• 48 regional businesses were awarded an average of $2,774 in microgrants to acquire services or equipment needed for growth.
• Nine regional businesses were awarded no-interest loans totaling $170,000 through the Technology and Manufacturing (TEAM) Fund which supports growth-oriented companies that are on track to add jobs, grow revenues, and attract additional funding or investment.
• 14 tribal member–owned businesses from Northern New Mexico pueblos were awarded grants averaging $7,601 through the Tribal Economic Diversity Fund.
• Partnerships with six regional institutions under the Higher Education Workforce project provided funding for workforce training, internships, and education programs tailored to the region’s needs.

Support for Nonprofits

Triad magnified the generosity of Laboratory employees by providing a match of $0.50 on the dollar for employee contributions to qualified charitable organizations in Northern New Mexico.

Triad’s support for United Way of Northern New Mexico allowed UWNNM to continue its work in its main focus areas: youth engagement and nonprofit collaboration and capacity building.

UWNNM highlights include:

• Establishing the Pathfinder Casita to provide a dedicated youth leadership and workforce hub in Española, hosting 11 workshops and classes
• Supporting the UNITE! Nonprofit Network, which fosters active collaboration among over 116 nonprofit organizations to address community needs and receive training on fundraising, grant-writing, and strategic partnerships.

In addition, Triad matched employee payroll deduction gifts from 954 employees to 290 regional nonprofits, and awarded 20 Time and Talent grants to regional nonprofits supported by Laboratory volunteers.

Support for Child Care

The Triad-supported child care center in Los Alamos is now fully open, serving 150 children. 

2025 saw the full opening of the Triad-supported child care center in Los Alamos. After extensive remodeling of the buildings, all construction at Bilingual Montessori School's Los Alamos campus (at 3500 Trinity Drive) was completed and the facility is fully staffed.

One of Triad's parent entities, the University of California, provided $2 million for the remodeling and furnishings at the center. Additionally, Triad's board of directors and the University of California have pledged ongoing financial support for its operations, together providing $600,000 in 2025. 

The center opened in phases as construction and licensing was completed on different buildings in the complex. It serves 150 children, and while priority is given to Lab employees, applications are open to everyone.

The facility is part of the effort to address the shortage of child care spaces in Northern New Mexico. Neither Los Alamos National Laboratory nor Department of Energy funds are being used for this initiative.