Anonymously contributed:
From: LLNL Public Affairs Office
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 4:00 PM
To: E-line
Subject: MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR TO ALL EMPLOYEES
Dear LLNL employees,
I would like to tell you that I have submitted a letter to the Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS) Board of Governors informing them of my decision to step down as Laboratory director in October 2011. This has been a difficult decision for me, but I believe this is the best time for me personally and for the Laboratory to make this change. It has been my great pleasure and honor to be an employee of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and serve the University of California and our nation for almost 39 years. More than 20 of those years were as an associate director and the last five as Laboratory director and president of Lawrence Livermore National Security. It is now time for me to move on to another stage in my life.
Throughout my career, I have been privileged to participate in many of the critically important Laboratory programs that support our country's national, energy, environmental, and economic security. I have seen first hand the incredible scientific, technical, engineering, and operational talent at the Laboratory take on seemingly impossible tasks - and succeed time after time. I am amazed, inspired, and humbled by your dedication and capability. Our country is facing major challenges and I am firmly convinced that the Laboratory's capabilities and your talents are ideally positioned to help solve some of the most significant ones.
I am more convinced than ever that the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is something extraordinarily special - even among the "crown jewels" of the Department of Energy system of national laboratories. The Laboratory's unique culture blends the personalities of its founders Ernest Lawrence, Edward Teller, and the University of California into an organization that can truly make dreams and challenges into realities.
I have been honored to meet so many of you personally. I will miss serving as your director. I will particularly miss seeing first hand, and describing to others, your remarkable accomplishments.
I am honored to have been given the opportunity to lead this extraordinary institution, to help nurture and expand its capabilities, and to help chart a course for the future. I now look forward to having time to relax, to spend time with and enjoy my growing family, and engage in projects that I have long looked forward to pursuing. Again, thank you for the relationships and opportunities you have given me. Thank you for your passion, your creativity, your dedication, your debates, and your humor. Thank you for making this Laboratory an outstanding institution.
With warmest regards,
George H. Miller
Director
18 comments:
Possible next LLNL Director?
Dr. Steven Koonin (current DOE Under Secretary for Science, ex JASON, ex Caltech Provost)
B.S. in Physics from Caltech in 1972, worked as a summer graduate student at Los Alamos from 1972-1975 and received his Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from MIT.
http://www.energy.gov/organization/dr_steven_koonin.htm
Both directors jumped ship as soon as they had 5 years in. Can you say "vested" ?
George Miller has put in 39 years at LLNL. Hard to call that racing to the door.
George bailed because he knew that a major Reduction In Force is scheduled for October 1st (if not sooner). Remember he was the one who stated that LLNL would add 1000 - 2000 employees soon. George haven't you been watching the U.S. Congress meltdown over the 2011 budget? The 2012 Budget talks will make the recent 2011 debate look like a cakewalk!
I heard that George fired about 1,000 LLNL employees as soon as the contract was privatized. Is that true? If so, good riddance!
I heard that George fired about 1,000 LLNL employees as soon as the contract was privatized.
The NNSA dictated there would be layoffs when they upscaled the management fee without any new funding. Only LANL's Sugar Pete saved them the same fate.
I heard that George fired about 1,000 LLNL employees as soon as the contract was privatized.
The NNSA dictated there would be layoffs when they upscaled the management fee without any new funding. Only LANL's Sugar Pete saved them the same fate.
April 15, 2011 8:57 PM
Sugar Pete didn't save anyone at LANL. I know for a fact that Bret Knapp "axed" at least a hundred contact workers in W-Division and WT-Division as soon as he arrived. Just ask Ed Rodriquez, John Benner, Chris Romero who acted on Knapp's behalf to carry out his orders. Many of these workers were highly skilled and experienced nuclear weapon engineers. Knapp also forced at least 50 full-time engineers out of their jobs, the majority which were women and minorities. In view of his cuts, W-Division is less than one-deep in many critical weapon areas. Keep in mind this is only ~ 1/10 of the Lab. I assume other ADs did the same which is comparable to the same numbers (~ 1000) at LLNL. It's all coming together now, in terms of how the "concept" of the National Laboratory LLCs is an abysmal failure. Why do think Mike and George are bailing?
5 years and two million dollars richer
Lots of sour grapes on this web from lab losers who have stayed around LANL for far too long and have little to offer the NNSA. Knapp simply took the initiative to clear out the arrogant deadwood that had grown up like weeds in the insular culture of W-Division. it was long due for an extreme make-over.
We are lucky at LANL to have such capable lab leaders who can actually lead this lab to weapons excellence.
By the way, I think Brett Knapp would also make an extremely attractive candidate for LANL Director some day. He's got what it takes to handle the job.
By the way, I think Brett Knapp would also make an extremely attractive candidate for LANL Director some day. He's got what it takes to handle the job.
April 16, 2011 8:25 PM
Rabble-rouser. Unless it is Brett himself. Hi Brett!
Lots of sour grapes on this web from lab losers who have stayed around LANL for far too long and have little to offer the NNSA. Knapp simply took the initiative to clear out the arrogant deadwood that had grown up like weeds in the insular culture of W-Division. it was long due for an extreme make-over.
We are lucky at LANL to have such capable lab leaders who can actually lead this lab to weapons excellence.
April 16, 2011 8:25 PM
You must be a comedian because you tell good jokes. Do you consider the managers that Bret Knapp left behind the "creme"? You obviously don't know Ledoux and Vidlak. We also have Benner who has snookered everyone to think he knows something about the stockpile. Another joke. Frankly our performance on the weapons programs has been "embarrassing" since Knapp took over. One small example, take a look at how long it takes us to close SFIs/SFNs. Reason, NO LEADERSHIP!
Knapp had coddled all these young engineers suckering them into believing they are "weapon experts". All they are is "cheap labor" for Knapp.
Brett Knapp is a brilliant manager who has what it takes to get things done. His successes at LANL are helping LANS turn this once 2nd grade weapons lab into a true Center of Excellence.
If we are lucky, the LANS Board will see to it that Charlie McMillan is made the next lab Director to continue the successful "Livermore Method" at LANL and that Brett Knapp becomes his steady right hand man as the next PAD of weapons. They make an unstoppable duo that have what it takes to push LANL up to the next level of managerial excellence.
I can't wait until George finds out the LLNS medical plan for over 65-year-old retirees is to throw him under the bus.
He'll be in tight company, there are lots of retirees under that bus.
Maybe he'll join in the lawsuit. That would be a lark.
As I recall the "Deal" for him and Anastasio was that they would receive the medical care benefits that we "had" prior to the transition. He probably won't feel your pain (both literally and figuratively)!
Miller and Anastasio got a special deal in more ways than just retirement health care benefits.
Believe me, they most certainly WILL NOT feel your pain, lab workers. The chasm of trust between the new executives leading the "for profit" Bechtel dominated LLCs and the lowly employees under them is wide, indeed!
I can't wait until George finds out the LLNS medical plan for over 65-year-old retirees is to throw him under the bus.
April 18, 2011 10:53 PM
It was the case under UC, and is still the case, that retirees at age 65 MUST enroll in Medicare and at that point, retiree health care becomes "supplemental." Nothing new there. It usually means an INCREASE in premiums and costs for the retiree.
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