Other News - June 2026
Charlie Nakhleh selected as deputy Laboratory director for Weapons
Charles W. "Charlie" Nakhleh has been appointed the new deputy Laboratory director for Weapons (DDW) at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He succeeds Robert Webster, who retired March 31 after more than 40 years of service to the nuclear security enterprise.
As DDW, Nakhleh takes over leadership of all line organizations and programmatic scope associated with National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Weapons Programs, including four Lab directorates: Weapons Physics, Weapons Engineering, Weapons Production and Plutonium Infrastructure, totaling approximately $6 billion and 6,000 employees. In his new role, he will guide the strategic alignment of these programs to meet national objectives, ensuring rigorous design, simulation, manufacturing and certification processes that sustain the nation’s strategic deterrent.
Since joining the Lab in 1996, Nakhleh has served in several leadership roles, most recently as the associate Laboratory director for Weapons Physics (ALDX), where he has overseen the Lab's weapons physics and design portfolio, dynamic experimentations and multiphysics computational simulations. In addition to his leadership and management responsibilities, his research interests span a wide range of nuclear weapons design and physics issues, ICF, high-energy-density physics and applications of Bayesian inference techniques. Nakhleh received his Ph.D. in physics from Cornell University.
Bradbury Science Museum receives Family Friendly Business award
The Lab's Bradbury Science Museum has been named the 2026 Family Friendly Business of the Year by the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce.
The museum was selected for the honor by Los Alamos community members in recognition of its welcoming environment and community engagement efforts. The award was presented during the chamber’s awards event May 1.
The Bradbury Science Museum serves residents and visitors of all ages through interactive exhibits, educational programs and public events focused on the science and history of Los Alamos National Laboratory.
“The recognition reflects the Bradbury's commitment to creating an inviting space for families to learn together and explore the Laboratory's science and research in an accessible way,” says Patrick Moore, director of the museum.
