Staff Report
Los Alamos National Laboratory Director designate Thom Mason met with the Los Alamos Daily Post news team today and announced that Triad National Security, LLC has named the associate directors who will begin their new jobs Nov. 1 when Triad assumes management of LANL.
Michael Bernardin Michael Bernardin will serve as the Associate Laboratory Director, Weapons Design for Los Alamos National Laboratory once Triad assumes responsibility for the laboratory. For the past three years, Michael has been the Associate Director for Weapons Physics at LANL, where he has lead responsibility for the physics element of weapon system certification and assessment. He has also had responsibility for advancing capabilities in foundational weapon science, computational simulation and engineering science to ensure continued accomplishment of LANL’s stockpile stewardship mission. Prior to this position, Michael served as Deputy Associate Director for Weapons Physics, Division Leader for Theoretical Design (XTD) and for Applied Physics (X) Divisions, and Group Leader and Deputy Group Leader of Thermonuclear Applications (X-2) at LANL. Michael has worked at LANL for 33 years, including 20 years as a technical staff member in X Division in areas of secondary design, weapon certification, nuclear weapon effects and nuclear weapon science. He is a Laboratory Fellow. Michael has a M.S. and Ph.D. in Theoretical Plasma Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. degree in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
James OwenJames Owen will serve as the Associate Laboratory Director, Weapons Engineering for Los Alamos National Laboratory once Triad assumes responsibility for the laboratory. James has worked in LANL’s Nuclear Weapons Program for more than 25 years and is a recognized leader across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). He has demonstrated technical and program leadership abilities in successfully executing some of NNSA and DoD’s most significant and challenging nuclear weapon programs, including the B61 Alt 357, W80 LEP, W76-1/Mk4A LEP, B61-12 LEP, W88 Alt 370 and W88 Alt 940. In his current role as Associate Director for Weapons Engineering and Experiments, James manages the operations and infrastructure of High Explosives (HE) science and engineering research/development across 21 square miles, which are critical to LANL’s execution of nuclear weapons mission. A native of northern New Mexico, James began working at LANL as a high school summer student and participated in the Graduate Research Assistant program before becoming a full-time staff member. James earned a M.S. in Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from New Mexico State University.
David EylerDavid Eyler will serve as the Associate Laboratory Director, Weapons Production for Los Alamos National Laboratory once Triad assumes responsibility for the laboratory. Most recently, David was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), where he was responsible for safe execution of all M&O functions at the Savannah River Site, including Savannah River National Laboratory and the site’s nuclear material operations, tritium operations and waste management. He also led the integrated safety management, providing oversight, operational and safety leadership. Before joining SRNS, David served as Senior Vice President and Deputy Director of the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), where he was responsible for the management, operation, safety and business planning. He has also served as SRNS Vice President for Nuclear Materials Operations, as well as Vice President for Engineering. David began his career in the U.S. Navy, where he served for 29 years in various roles of increasing responsibility in the submarine fleet. Following his naval career, David was a senior engineer with the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, responsible for oversight of several facilities within the Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons complex. David has a M.S in Systems Technology from the Naval Postgraduate School, a M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy.
Frank GibbsGibbs will serve as Director, Actinide Operations for Los Alamos National Laboratory once Triad assumes responsibility for the laboratory. Frank brings 34 years of nuclear industry experience in the U.S., U.K. and Canada with a unique combination of research, nuclear operations and licensing, and program management capabilities. Most recently, he worked for the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited serving as the Vice President of Nuclear Operations and the Vice President for Decommissioning and Waste Management. Frank has direct experience in pit manufacturing in 11 different weapons programs including serving as the lead plutonium development engineer for the W88 in its transition into production at Rocky Flats. Serving in various leadership roles, Frank saw the transition of the Rocky Flats site from pit production to full site closure. He has provided direct technical support to the Regeneration Program at the U.K.’s Atomic Weapons Establishment and served as Program Director for the rebuild of the U.K.’s naval nuclear fuel fabrication facility. Frank has a Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering and a B.S. in Metallurgical and Material Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines with direct research experience in plutonium metallurgy.
Nancy Jo NicholasNancy Jo Nicholas will serve as Associate Laboratory Directory, Global Security for Los Alamos National Laboratory once Triad assumes responsibility for the laboratory. In this role, she will lead the execution of programs in the areas of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, Nuclear Counter-Proliferation and Counter-terrorism, and Strategic Partnership Programs, as well as oversee the Field Intelligence Element. Nancy Jo has worked for LANL since 1990, currently serving as LANL’s Principal Associate Director for Global Security. Prior to this role, she was the Associate Director for Threat Identification and Response. Her expertise integrates national and international policies in nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear materials management with fast-paced innovations and technology development to address complex threats to global security. Nancy Jo serves on the National Academy of Sciences Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board and the Intelligence Science and Technology Experts Group. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM), and recently served a two-year term as president of the INMM. She also recently served on the Board of Directors of the Vienna-based World Institute for Nuclear Security or WINS. She has a M.A. in Nuclear Physics from The George Washington University and a B.S. in Mathematics and Physics from Albright College.
Antoinette TaylorAntoinette (Toni) Taylor will serve as the Associate Laboratory Director, Physical Sciences for Los Alamos National Laboratory once Triad assumes responsibility for the laboratory. She currently serves as the Deputy Associate Director for Chemistry, Life and Earth Sciences at LANL. Toni’s background is in nanophotonics and ultrafast dynamics of quantum and nanoscale materials. Following a postdoc at Cornell University in ultrafast dynamics of condensed matter systems, she became a staff member at AT&T Bell Laboratories in the Lightwave Systems Department. Toni came to LANL in 1986 to work on the Los Alamos Bright Source, one of the first ultrahigh intensity lasers used to investigate light-matter interactions in the high field regime. Following that program, she became Project Leader for Advanced Diagnostics for the Pulsed Power Hydrodynamics Program at LANL, responsible for diagnostic development activities at the Atlas Pulsed Power Facility. Toni then served as the Director of the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, a joint LANL/Sandia nanoscience center funded through DOE Basics Energy Sciences and as the Division Leader for Materials Physics and Applications. She is a Fellow of the America Physical Society (APS), the Optical Society of America, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Laboratory. Toni is a former chair of the APS Division of Laser Science and is currently the Vice-Chair of the APS Division of Materials Physics. Toni received her B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from Stanford University where she was a Hertz pre-doctoral and doctoral Fellow.
Patrick FitchPatrick (Pat) Fitch will serve as the Associate Laboratory Director, Chemical, Earth and Life Sciences for Los Alamos National Laboratory once Triad assumes responsibility for the laboratory. Most recently, Pat was the President of the Battelle National Biodefense Institute, LLC (BNBI) and founding Director of the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC). BNBI has managed and operated NBACC as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center for the Department of Homeland Security since its formation in 2006. Prior to joining Battelle, Pat worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for 22 years where he served as Program Leader, Division Leader, Center Director, and Acting Deputy Associate Lab Director leading ChemBio defense, genomics, biotechnology, engineering research, and health care technologies. Pat has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and B.S. degrees in Physics and Engineering Sciences from Loyola College, Maryland. Pat’s recent research interests have been the application of genomics, host-pathogen biology, and biosafety to bioforensic analysis and threat characterization in biodefense.
Kathye SegalaKathye Segala will serve as Associate Laboratory Director, Capital Projects for Los Alamos National Laboratory once Triad assumes responsibility for the laboratory. In this role, Kathye will lead the planning, coordination and execution of capital projects for LANL. Kathye brings more than 30 years of experience planning, managing and executing capital projects for government and private industry, including 17 years with Fluor Federal Services, an integrated subcontractor to Triad. Most recently, Kathye was Executive Director of Capital Projects for Fluor’s business line that comprises six DOE projects: Idaho Cleanup Project, Portsmouth Decontamination & Decommissioning, Paducah Deactivation & Remediation, DUF6 Conversion Project, Savannah River Site Management & Operations, and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Her prior experience includes founding KP Intercon, LLC, a project & risk management services company and executive positions in Foster Wheeler and URS. Kathye also worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq as Director of Reconstruction supporting the $18.4 billion Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund Program. She is the recipient of the Global War on Terrorism Service Award, the Outstanding Civilian Service Award, and a De Fleury Medal by the U.S. Army Engineer Association. Kathye earned an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering Technology from the Southern Technical Institute. She is a certified Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute, a Certified Safety Professional, and a LEED Accredited Professional by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Michael HazenMichael Hazen will serve as the Associate Laboratory Director, Environment, Safety, Health & Quality and Safeguards & Security (ESHQSS) for Los Alamos National Laboratory once Triad assumes responsibility for the laboratory. Michael served as Vice President of Infrastructure Operations and Chief Security Officer at Sandia National Laboratories where he had responsibility for Facilities, Safeguards and Security, Emergency Management and Environment, Safety and Health. Prior to joining Sandia, he served in the Air Force for more than 31 years, retiring as a Colonel. His first Air Force assignment was as a SAC enlisted Security Policeman and he finished his military career as the Director of Security for Space Command, responsible for the safeguards and security of the ICBM fleet. He held various staff assignments and commanded a Wing (Base), Group and 3 Squadrons. Michael earned a Fellowship at MIT, Seminar XXI, M.A in Public Administration from Golden Gate University, and a B.S. in Management from the University of Maryland. He also attended, in residence, the Air War College and the Air Command and Staff College.
LeAnne StribleyLeAnne Stribley will serve as the Associate Laboratory Director, Business Management for Los Alamos National Laboratory once Triad assumes responsibility for laboratory. She has more than 35 years of multi-industry experience building and leading the finance, accounting, procurement, IT, and administration functions of public, private and nonprofit entities. Most recently, LeAnne worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory as Director of Contracts. She also served as ORNL’s Controller and Director for Accounting Services. Before joining ORNL, LeAnne was the Executive Vice President for Administration and Senior Vice President for Finance and Controller with the Tennessee Valley Authority. In each of these roles, LeAnne focused on continuous improvement of service levels in support of mission organizations. LeAnne was very active in the Knoxville community, serving on multiple Boards, including Child and Family Tennessee (Board Chair), Knoxville Tourism Corp (Treasurer), Leadership Knoxville, The Central Business Improvement District (Treasurer), YWCA, and as Chair of the Smoky Mountain Region Combined Federal Campaign. She has a B.B.A. in Accounting from Texas Wesleyan University and is a licensed C.P.A.
Bret SimpkinsBret Simpkins will serve as the Associate Laboratory Director for Facilities and Operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory once Triad assumes responsibility for the laboratory. Since 2014, Bret has been the Director of Facilities and Operations for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) where he was responsible for campus-wide facility strategic planning, projects and engineering, operations and maintenance, nuclear operations, and real estate management functions. Prior to this role, he served in a number of senior level positions at PNNL including Director of Nuclear Operations, Chief Operating Officer for the National Security Directorate, and Division Manager of Nuclear Science, Safety, and Nonproliferation. Bret has more than 30 years of experience, including management and leadership of large inter-disciplinary R&D, applied science, technology, and engineering activities and organizations. Topical areas impacted by his work include: directed energy weapons, nuclear reactor safety, safety and physical security of nuclear facilities and materials, nuclear weapons assembly/disassembly process safety, global security, nuclear arms control and nonproliferation. Bret received his M.S. in Nuclear Engineering and B.E. in Energy and Power Systems from the University of New Mexico. He is a registered Professional Engineer.
