FROM PAO:
Penrose "Parney" C. Albright has been named the director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Norman J. Pattiz, chairman of Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS), which manages the lab for the U.S. Department of Energy, made the announcement today (Oct. 27).
The appointment takes effect Dec. 1. Albright also will serve as president of LLNS.
Appointed with the concurrence of DOE, Albright is the 11th director of the Lab since it was established in 1952. He replaces George Miller, who is stepping down after six years as director and a 40-year career of service to the nation and the Laboratory.
"We have selected a leader who brings a fundamental understanding of the importance of science and technology to national and global security," Pattiz said. "In selecting a leader for Livermore Laboratory, we have found someone who has credibility in the national security arena and a history of addressing a broad range of complex technical issues for the nation's senior leaders.
"Parney understands how the fundamental and applied science, engineering and computational capabilities of the Lab can contribute to advances in new energy technologies, scientific discoveries and global security," Pattiz added. "He has a strong commitment to, and understanding of, the critical role Livermore Laboratory plays in the weapons complex and to the stockpile stewardship program, along with the National Ignition Facility and National Ignition Campaign. His skills and experience will lead the Laboratory into a new era of scientific and technological excellence in service to our nation."
"Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is an integral component of our nation's national security enterprise and one of the Department of Energy's most vital and distinguished laboratories," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "As we work to accomplish the Department's unique national security missions and make the critical investments required for the future of American innovation, I know we have an outstanding partner in Dr. Albright."
Albright was selected after a nationwide search that began in June. Albright joined the Lab in 2009 as the principal associate director of Global Security, the Lab's program for applying science and technology to the nation's effort in counterterrorism, nonproliferation, defense, intelligence and energy needs.
"It is my honor to lead this Laboratory," Albright said. "Livermore Laboratory has a long and rich history of service to the nation. As director, I will work diligently with the help and counsel of the entire Livermore team to ensure this Laboratory remains a pre-eminent center of excellence in stockpile stewardship, high energy density physics, high performance computing and simulation, and other pillars of world class science, technology and engineering - all applied in the nation's interests."
Albright has more than 20 years of experience in the federal government and the private sector. Prior to joining the Laboratory he worked with Civitas Group, a homeland security consultant in Washington, D.C. He has served as assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), assistant director in the Office of Science and Technology Policy and, concurrently, senior director in the Office of Homeland Security in the White House; and program manager with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. He served for more than 15 years on the staff of the Institute for Defense Analyses, a Department of Defense Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), performing high quality and high impact studies and analyses for the most senior officials within the Office of the Secretary of Defense on a wide variety of complex systems and issues at the intersection between technology and policy.
He has extensive experience with interagency and congressional interactions, and was a spokesperson for both the White House and DHS to the press and to the broad national research and development enterprise on issues associated with science, technology, and weapons of mass destruction.
Albright holds a bachelor's degree in physics and applied mathematics from The George Washington University, and a master's and Ph.D. in physics from the University of Maryland.
"Having known and worked with Dr. Albright, I look forward to a strong and rewarding partnership," said Thomas P. D'Agostino, administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration. "As NNSA continues to implement President Obama's nuclear security agenda and make critical investments in the future of our Nuclear Security Enterprise, I know that Livermore will continue to play an important role in the safety and security of the American people."
In announcing Albright's appointment Pattiz also thanked Miller for his extensive service.
"George Miller has given 40 years of his life in service to this nation," Pattiz said. "Building on its incredible history as a premier research and development facility, Miller successfully guided Livermore Laboratory into a new era of science and operations. Our thanks to George for his tremendous commitment; the Laboratory and LLNS will miss his exceptional leadership."
62 comments:
Wow! A George Miller clone!
Doesn't seem like a Miller clone to me... Miller had weapons design experience, NIF, etc.
Anything Tom Dawg says is good by me.
Just bet on the opposite.
What a muck-up. In two years, neither weapons lab will be able to deliver the mission and nobody will know why.
Ya mean in the entire weapons physics complex there wasn't one candidate to carry it into the future?..... either a crappy farm system or poor talent scouting.
DOE couldn't spot talent if it kicked 'em in the nuts...
This was not a DOE decision, it was UC. And UC realizes that LLNL has only a limited future as a "Nuclear Weapons Laboratory" and has to become a "National Security Laboratoy" if it is to survive.
Outside of his last 2 years at LLNL, Parney has no experience in DOE - he grew up in DOD and DHS. So expect him to try and take the LLNL down a different path than LANL and out of their shadow.
hey oct27 2011 11:30AM physical clone, look-alike you know?
OK, I get it... They both have white hair.
Interesting selection. The short bio from the LLNS LLC website
Penrose C. "Parney" Albright has more than 20 years of experience in the federal government and the private sector. His focus has been in programs to counter terrorism, protect against weapons of mass destruction, protect borders, and develop and implement intelligence and special operations technologies.
Prior to joining the Laboratory in 2009 he worked with Civitas Group, a homeland security consultant in Washington, D. C.
He has served as assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), assistant director in the Office of Science and Technology Policy, senior director in the Office of Homeland Security in the White House, and program manager with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. He has extensive experience with interagency and congressional interactions, and was a spokesperson for both the White House and DHS to the press on issues associated with science, technology, and weapons of mass destruction.
Albright holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and applied mathematics from The George Washington University, and a master’s and Ph.D. in physics from the University of Maryland.
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With his CV, I definitely see LLNL shifting its focus away from nuclear weapons (which will still be a core mission) and significatly expanding its national security/defense R&D work.
What a muck-up. In two years, neither weapons lab will be able to deliver the mission and nobody will know why.
What's the muck up? For LANL they've gone with a 'life in the program' weapons guy and at LLNL someone with a plenty of outside perspective. There are arguments for both sets of experience.
Both labs will continue to deliver on their missions.
That last comment was from Miller!
The last comment was from Miller!
Sorry, I never have been, nor will ever be, a laboratory director or other senior manager.
s/ October 27, 2011 4:50 PM
Sounds like a Bill Reis clone who was an absolute disaster at Los Alamos. Wow, two whole years experience at LLNL. It's pretty clear whoever made this decision was staying clear of all the frontrunners at LLNL (Moses, Goodwin, Goldstein, etc.).
My only question is: Who is he?
Penrose "Parney" Albright!? Sounds like a George "Pete" Nanos type of guy w/o the military expereince. We all know what a desaster that turned out to be. Good luck!
From his first comments he looks to understand that it is an honor to be asked to lead. Others have taken it as a birthright, as their destiny or that they were the single person for the job at that moment in time.
All due respects but what/where are the technical accomplishments? Aside from owning a bunch of Florsheim wingtip shoes, Italian tailored suits, and frequent flyer miles; where's the beef? It sad to see our sister Lab go down in flames.
The view on the LLNL director selection from the American Association for the Advancement of Science basically sums it all up;
"...Albright now serves as the director of the global security program at Livermore. And his promotion to the top spot at the $1.6 billion lab is not necessarily an enviable gig, says Steven Aftergood, director of the government secrecy program at the Washington-based Federation of American Scientists. "Any director will have to function within a tightly constrained and shrinking fiscal environment," he says. "It's a tough job even for a scientific or bureaucratic superstar."
But Aftergood says Albright, who previously served as an assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, should know how to navigate contentious Washington politics. "Dr. Albright is intimately familiar with the ways of Washington and its multiple pathologies," Aftergood says. "He probably has as good a chance as anyone of being a successful director."
I do not often agree with FAS but having someone at the top that understands Washington beyond weapons physics topics in the current and likely future reality of tight funding gives LLNL a brighter prospect than some other places.
In case anyone still actually thinks having nuclear weapons credentials or being a scientific rock star is an essential qualification for the Director job should think "Steve Chu" and see where that got us. The job is 50% political, including dealing with Congressional and DOE nitwits, and 50% dealing with really boring operational b.s. We've had nuclear weapons guys and the Lab hasn't exactly flourished, but has been on a path to slow death. Give the guy a chance and hope we can try to get this place into something resembling the 21st century.
"In case anyone still actually thinks having nuclear weapons credentials or being a scientific rock star is an essential qualification for the Director job should think "Steve Chu" and see where that got us."
Well, one of the Director's most important responsibilities is signing out the annual stockpile certification letter. I'd rather it be someone competent rather than incompetent.
Well, one of the Director's most important responsibilities is signing out the annual stockpile certification letter. I'd rather it be someone competent rather than incompetent.
October 28, 2011 4:18 PM
Ah come on! For those of us who have participated know Sieg Shalles does this for all three Labs. The Lab Directors have no significant role in the Annual Assessment process. They show up to one briefing on each system and sign on a dotted line.
Ah come on! For those of us who have participated know Sieg Shalles does this for all three Labs. The Lab Directors have no significant role in the Annual Assessment process. They show up to one briefing on each system and sign on a dotted line.
October 28, 2011 5:00 PM
Sieg Shalles has more knowledge, experience, and competency regarding the annual assessment reports under one fingernail than the previous three directors at LANL.
Sieg Shalles has more knowledge, experience, and competency regarding the annual assessment reports under one fingernail than the previous three directors at LANL.
October 28, 2011 7:13 PM
Absolutely. He is a royal pain in the butt though. You"ll never hear Sieg say "good job or crack a smile in that wooden personality". He's a good fit for LANS.
Is the Board trying to set a new precedence by selecting someone so old (Albright) in view of LANS/LLNS efforts (specifically Knapp) to drive all the senior technical workers out of the Labs? If Albright were a staff at LANS/LLNS he would have moved to the Waste Management program to process paperwork in a cold basement.
Albright has a lot of distinguished titles with no accomplishments.
Albright may not have published hundreds of papers in science journals or been elected Fellow of professional societies, but he is harldy without accomplishment. His accomplishments from his time in DC should serve LLNL well in the future.
Well, one of the Director's most important responsibilities is signing out the annual stockpile certification letter. I'd rather it be someone competent rather than incompetent.
October 28, 2011 4:18 PM
Are you suggesting that the new Director is incompetent in this regard? Is there support for such a claim?
His accomplishments from his time in DC should serve LLNL well in the future.
October 29, 2011 7:30 AM
What's that? Riding the metro or wearing a suit?
Absolutely. He is a royal pain in the butt though. You"ll never hear Sieg say "good job or crack a smile in that wooden personality". He's a good fit for LANS.
October 29, 2011 6:03 AM
If you've never heard Sieg say 'good job' or crack a smile, then you don't know him very well.
For those of us who have participated know Sieg Shalles does this for all three Labs.
I do not know Sieg and am willing to accept he is quite knowledgeable on many systems. But I don't think George Miller ever signed an AAR letter at Sieg's direction or anyone else's.
Is the Board trying to set a new precedence by selecting someone so old (Albright)...
Huh? So the guy has white hair. Judging by his degree dates (B.S. '79, Ph.D. '85) he's probably no more than 55 years old. Doesn't appear to set a precedent at either edge of the age bracket.
Let's take a deep breath, enjoy the autumn weather, and see what the guy actually does.
Having the Lab Directors sign the stockpile certification letter every year is as archaic as the Electrical College, and just a ceremonial act. This made sense back when the lab had a single mission and focus, and was not a loose collection of divergent programs - most of which are not nuclear weapons design related. In the old days the director was actively involved in design/technical issues. The head of Livermore's weapons program - Bruce Goodwin - is the only person that rally has the technical knowledge at LLNL to make this call, and is the person that tells the director (whomever it is) its okay to sign the letter.
Parney was a hard nosed program manager when at DOD and DHS. He's grilled many a project manager during technical review meetings, so I'm sure he will do the same to Goodwin before he signs anything.
"Are you suggesting that the new Director is incompetent in this regard? Is there support for such a claim?
October 29, 2011 7:35 AM"
No. As my post indicated, I was merely responding to this comment:
"In case anyone still actually thinks having nuclear weapons credentials or being a scientific rock star is an essential qualification for the Director job should think "Steve Chu" and see where that got us."
When I started at the lab (Stone Age) Roger Batzel was director. And I believe he held the position longer than any other. I found his presentations to the lab to be boring and poorly executed. He oversaw the lab during an incredible period of expansion. I once asked someone in the know how it was done. I was told that he was a silver tongued devil when put in front of a congressional session. If Mr. Albright can put LLNL in a good light before congress and has good advisers to whom he listens, I am more that willing to give him rope to hang himself.
It is not a position I would like to attain. My dearest wish would be to tell congress that they are idiots and that they created the DOE/NNSA, which is just about the worst department the Federal government has ever produced. I wouldn't last long in the director's chair.
The supreme test for any of the former or current Lab Directors (during the moratorium) is if they had or have "the stones" to inform the President of the United States that we have to return the Nevada Test Site (NTS) to execute an underground nuclear test. Regardless of the technical issue, it will never happen. Through our arrogance, we have fooled ourselves we can calculate anything and convince anyone the answer is correct.
f you've never heard Sieg say 'good job' or crack a smile, then you don't know him very well.
October 29, 2011 10:26 AM
Oh I know Seig very well. I remember him telling Ed Rodriguez, while Ed was WT-Division Leader, that he was the most incompetent manager at the Laboratory, to his his face. Whether Ed was or was not competent, is no way to treat people. Seig also used to have huge gold lettering above his door at the NSSB with his title and had no chairs in his office so the Weapon Managers would all stand obediently answering his commands like a bunch of good sailors. Unfortunately, Seig has absorbed himself with his tile and power. Oh I know Seig very well!
If the only experience someone has is 'THE letter' then they likely are unqualified to be Lab Director.
Albright looks to have experience in a broad national security area. On first glance, he should be a much better choice than some of others.
This is an example of why LLNL will be well-served to have someone familiar with the ways (and hallways) of D.C.:
NY Times re: Bloated NW Budget
It's going to be a complex environment. And plenty of things will be outside their control.
As someone from outside the weapons program, Albright can make the case for a healthy weapons budget and it may be heard. On the other hand, those with their entire life inside the weapons program have little chance to be effective in such budget battles, since their view will be seen to be self serving.
Yes, LLNL should do well by having selected someone that has a chance in the upcoming harsh budget climate.
Sounds like LLNL won't be hanging around the NNSA environs and the nuclear weapons world for much longer.
This guy is a wing-tipped Washington shoe polisher who knows nothing about nuclear weapons.
NNSA might as well start shutting down the remaining nuclear weapon projects at LLNL and ship them to the last remaining nuclear design lab that is left, LANL.
Sounds like LLNL won't be hanging around the NNSA environs and the nuclear weapons world for much longer.
Wishful thinking for the foreseeable future, oh friend from the mesa. But we are happy you will provide a pit factory.
What pit factory? It sounds like the budget cut talk in Congress may put an end to any new facilities within the NNSA complex.
"But we are happy you will provide a pit factory.
October 31, 2011 7:51 PM"
We wish, but that ain't happening either.
"Dr. Albright is intimately familiar with the ways of Washington and its multiple pathologies," Aftergood says. "He probably has as good a chance as anyone of being a successful director."
October 28, 2011 9:57 AM
Unfortunately, Dr. Albright doesn't have a clue the way Livermore runs. Just wait til Moses and Godwin get a hold of this guy. He won't last.
Rather than assume that Albright will fail, lets see what he does. He has over a month before George departs. What will he say? Where will he go?
Perhaps his ability will prove to be more than acceptable for the position.
Did anyone else notice that Albright, after his introduction as the new LLNL Director, did not mention DOE or NNSA once in his televised talk to Lab employees. He only referred to Lab sponsors. He also took pains to articulate the FFRDC (Federally Funded Research & Development Center) concept, specifically citing Lincoln Lab (run by MIT for the US Air Force).
It seems he is going to make a very strong effort to turn LLNL into a "National" Laboratory in more than name only, instead of being an "NNSA" Laboratory. This will be interesting to watch.
It seems he is going to make a very strong effort to turn LLNL into a "National" Laboratory in more than name only, instead of being an "NNSA" Laboratory. This will be interesting to watch.
November 3, 2011 7:34 AM
D'Agostino will need to reign this "cowboy" in by slicing a big chuck of NNSA money from LLNL. Let's see how many RIFs Parney will endure until he understands who's buttering his muffin.
"It seems he is going to make a very strong effort to turn LLNL into a "National" Laboratory in more than name only, instead of being an "NNSA" Laboratory. This will be interesting to watch."
Unless it is a PBI this is not going to happen. Trying to expand the mission beyond NNSA could bring more people and changes leading to the possibility of more security incidents. The safe course is keep a small number of people on a very focused mission. Expanding the lab and doing other things is not going to increase profit.
It will take the portly beltway buggerboy some time to figure out his new world.
Let's see how many RIFs Parney will endure until he understands who's buttering his muffin.
November 3, 2011 6:45 PM
It appears he already had one given the "flushing" of 40 people at NIF. Is this Moses operating behind the scenes still pissed he didn't get the Lab Director position? Parney could smash Moses with this deception. I hope he let Parney know!
I ran across this old piece on new Director Albright from Government Executive newsletter in 2004. Offers some potential insight into his management style...
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GovExec.com - February 15, 2004
Homeland Security Penrose 'Parney' Albright
Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology
Ask Penrose Albright about the scientists he admires, and he'll name figures such as Blaise Pascal, Rene Descartes, and Isaac Newton - thinkers who worked well in many fields. "They were polymaths," says Albright, who focuses on plans, programs, and budgets in his post as the Homeland Security Department's assistant secretary for science and technology. "You don't find so many of those people anymore, and I really admire those types."
Working closely with Undersecretary for Science and Technology Charles McQueary, Albright, 50, serves as an in-house polymath of sorts. His job, essentially, is to develop an understanding of the technical details of subjects ranging from biological environmental sampling to aviation security, and then work those details into homeland-security policy as needed.
"The good news is, about every half-hour, I do something totally different," said Albright, a Maryland native who earned a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Maryland. "The bad part of this job is that about every half-hour, I do something different."
Albright, who goes by the nickname "Parney," came to the department after serving as assistant director for homeland and national security in the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House - a job he began shortly after 9/11. Before that, Albright was a program manager for the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, where he landed after a long tenure with a federally funded research organization called the Institute for Defense Analyses.
At the White House, Albright also worked as senior director for research and development in the Office of Homeland Security under Tom Ridge, and he joined a cadre of members of the president's early homeland-security team who moved to leadership positions at DHS. "It's a really cool job, if you like doing a lot of different things every day," Albright said.
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Again, lot's of grandiose titles with no technical accomplishments.
So did Steve Jobs have a lot of "technical accomplishments" before he created Apple and then came back to lead it as they revolutionized a whole industry and consumer generation?
Read the all employee letter from Pattiz and Albert. Why should LLNS consider technical accomplishment when hiring a lab director?
"Parney has credibility in the national security arena and a history of addressing a broad range of complex technical issues for the nation's senior leaders."
This places LLNL in a whole different class than LANL. Time will tell if it is better off.
So did Steve Jobs have a lot of "technical accomplishments" before he created Apple and then came back to lead it as they revolutionized a whole industry and consumer generation?
November 6, 2011 8:17 PM
I knew Steve Jobs and "Parney" is NO Steve Jobs!
the Electrical College...?
Was this one of the units of Ecole Polytechnique that Napoleon started at Saclay?
Maybe it was Princeton after Edison invented the lightbulb down the street.
Or Harvard? Ben Franklin flew kites nearby
Someone forgot to inform Parney that no one survives the nuclear weapon gauntlet. No one has, no one will. NO ONE!
no one survives the nuclear weapon gauntlet. No one has, no one will. NO ONE!
November 13, 2011 6:42 PM
Sig Hecker has survived it quite well. John Browne is also doing well as I understand. Good is as good does, same with evil.
"Sig Hecker has survived it quite well. John Browne is also doing well as I understand. Good is as good does, same with evil.
November 13, 2011 7:28 PM"
You just proved the posters point. Both these people where driven out under controversy. It is sort of like Roman Emperors.
no one survives the nuclear weapon gauntlet. No one has, no one will. NO ONE!
Baloney.
Glen Mara
Bob Kuckuck
Roger Batzel
Bruce Tarter
Mike May
Carl Hausman
John Foster
Ed Teller
Then there are all the scientists and engineers who brought you the Manhattan Project, like Lawrence, Feinman, Fermi, etc....
Take a deep breath. It is a low point, perhaps, but not the end.
Then there are all the scientists and engineers who brought you the Manhattan Project, like Lawrence, Feinman, Fermi, etc....
Take a deep breath. It is a low point, perhaps, but not the end.
November 15, 2011 10:31 PM
Funny you brought up the Manhattan project and Ed Teller. The man who "fingered" Robert Oppenheimer and was responsible for destroying him. We haven't forgotten about that at Los Alamos.
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