It’s a bit of an understatement to say brothers Juan-Antonio and Francisco Vigil have deep roots at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Their father, Duane Vigil, recently retired from his position at the Lab as a plutonium engineer; their mother, Dollie Vigil, worked as a property manager in the Personnel division; and both their grandfathers were employed at Los Alamos. Fidel Alarid and Rudy Vigil came to the Lab after serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II and the Korean War, respectively, one delivering mail and the working as a warehouse foreman.
But the brothers can reach even further back in Los Alamos history. Their great grandfather, who Juan-Antonio is named after, worked on the Manhattan Project — a fact the family didn’t discover until after his death. Family members found a certificate along with identification and hiring documents showing the senior Juan-Antonio Vigil worked for a contracting company in Los Alamos during World War II. Today, this certificate honoring Juan-Antonio’s service to the Manhattan Project hangs in the office of his namesake. The first Juan-Antonio worked as a laborer for an hourly wage of 50 cents.
If you think those family ties run deep, just wait. The brothers work in Lab buildings built on land that once belonged to their ancestor, Ramon Vigil. Ramon purchased more than 30,000 acres on the Pajarito Plateau in the 1800s. Although Ramon sold the land (known as the Ramon Vigil land grant) before the U.S. government bought it to build what would later be called Los Alamos National Laboratory, the brothers can even claim a family connection to the land where they work.
“The path to our careers began by spending a lot of time with our grandfathers,” Juan-Antonio said. “They instilled in us a sense of patriotism and duty. I always wanted to find a way to serve the country, and I believe I do that through my work at the Lab.”
Francisco, the younger of the pair, agrees, adding that growing up attending Family Day at the Lab (a discontinued event where family members got to visit and attend presentations) and hearing their parents discuss the Los Alamos mission also had an impact. “Plus, we grew up lighting fireworks in our backyard, so that explosive foundation has just continued to escalate,” he said with a laugh.
A dynamic duo of deputy division leaders
Juan-Antonio and Francisco both serve as deputy division leaders in the Weapons Physics associate directorate. Juan-Antonio has a management role the Dynamic Experiments division, while Francisco serves the Integrated Weapons Experiments division.
The Dynamic Experiments division provides expertise in explosive science and shock physics as well as high-explosive fabrication and disposition. The division executes large scale, outdoor hydrodynamic experiments that study how materials behave in extreme pressures and temperatures causing them to flow like fluids (thus the name “hydrodynamic.”) Hydrodynamic experiments play a key role in nuclear weapons research, assessment and certification.
Hydrodynamic experiments are also a key part of Francisco’s role leading the Integrated Weapons Experiments division, which carries out integrated and focused experiments using the Dual Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test Facility, or DARHT. Additionally, the Integrated Weapons Experiments plans, fields and executes dynamic high-explosive experiments, including subcritical experiments involving special nuclear material. The division also coordinates the design, engineering and qualification of the steel vessels used to confine imploding materials during experiments.
The brothers often turn to each other for assistance with projects and share perspectives and advice. “We work together a lot — especially in these new roles,” said Juan-Antonio, noting that the two divisions frequently collaborate on experiments and depend on each other for success.
An emphasis on responsiveness and service
As deputy division leaders, the brothers say they — and the scientists, engineers and technicians they work with — are facing new challenges. “Our divisions have been called upon to increase experiment cadence, agility and ingenuity,” Juan-Antonio said.
Francisco chimed in, saying, “We must work to address emerging challenges involved in modernizing the stockpile and developing faster, more flexible ways to meet the nation’s needs. It’s important that we do things quickly but always correctly — we cannot cut any corners. We must base decisions on sound scientific principals and expertise.”
Both brothers said they have seen their workloads increasing, but they and their colleagues are ready for the challenge. “People are stepping up, bringing new talent and efficiencies,” Francisco said.
As a manager, Francisco noted that planning and communication are some of his most important tools for handling growing demands.
“We are in the process of modernizing, building and expanding everything, which requires close coordination among multiple organizations,” he said. “We must make sure we are all moving together in the same direction.”
The message is the mission
Although the brothers’ family connections to the Lab paved the path to their current roles, Los Alamos’ nuclear deterrence mission is what inspires and motivates them. Sitting side by side, the two reflected on that mission and what it means to them.
“It is imperative that we ensure our nuclear weapons are reliable and effective in order to continue to deter adversary aggression,” Juan-Antonio said.
Francisco agreed, saying, “I fully believe in the Lab mission. Soldiers, generals and politicians are all making decisions based on knowing we have a credible deterrent.” As his brother nodded, Francisco continued: “Our work sends a message to Russia and China — a signal that we are capable, competent, confident and continuing to sustain and modernize America’s nuclear deterrent. Our work has a direct impact on our national defense. What we do matters.”
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