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November 28, 2011 - LANL Memo
Director Charlie McMillan has established a Laboratory Integrated Stewardship Council (LISC) to make financial decisions and provide approvals (staffing and spending) in order to keep Laboratory spending in line with current budget expectations.
McMillan notes that LANL's key challenge for FY12 will be “to manage our staffing and spending to levels that will accommodate the ~$200M budget reduction that we expect to see in FY12.” He set up the LISC to ensure that resources are managed in a consistent and appropriate fashion throughout the Laboratory.
Rich Marquez of the Director’s Office (DIR) will lead the LISC, which includes Terry Wallace of Global Security (PADGS), Bret Knapp of Weapons Programs (PADWP), Carl Beard of Operations and Business (PADOPS), Alan Bishop of Science, Technology, and Engineering (PADSTE), and Paul Henry of Capital Projects (PADCAP).
73 comments:
You could get rid of some managers. It would save money, improve moral, allow for more work, and increase efficiency.
Yea...like that will ever happen. The workers who actually perform the mission will get the shaft first. Managers will go only after the place has been run into the found.
None of the oversize management team will be reduce. Instead, LANS will begin to get rid of technical staff who do the work that the lab was designed for and then increase the labor rates and tax burdens on the remaining staff.
Yeah, it's crazy and destructive but that's how LANS/Bechtel will handle this budget problem.
Rich Marquez will lead up this cost cutting effort to micro-manage project budgets?
We are DOOMED!!!!!
Take a look at the group. Not much is known about Paul Henry, but the rest are homogeneous. They are career DOE/NNSA/Lab employees, were part of the AD team that came with LANS, and each has been in their current job less than six months. Should be a good show.
The committee of acting, or acting acting, PADs should be in a good position to find ways to make the enterprise more efficient and add value to the sponsor for work done at the new rates. When do they go into place?
So did LANL take a $200M cut and is there going to be a lay off. Is LLNL looking at the same cuts in 2012?
So did LANL take a $200M cut and is there going to be a lay off. Is LLNL looking at the same cuts in 2012?
December 1, 2011 7:48 AM
You should get a clue about the Congressional funding cycle.
Bret Knapp was appointed as PAD for Nuclear Weapons today by MacMillan (surprise!) and is LLNS Senior Manager (per Presidential Directive) for reducing paper being used at LANS. Bret will be checking and monitoring the "stalls" to see how much paper is being used by people. Those using an inordinate amount will be sent to the gallows.
I thought it was appropriate that MacMillan assigned Knapp to reduce paper being used at LANS. This is the first job that Knapp has been appointed to he is overqualified for. So the next time you see Knapp, ask him, "paper or plastic"?
Today was Parney's first day as Lab Director. Didn't notice him looking to have layoffs soon. Perhaps LLNL has a leadership team that is prepared for the future.
Perhaps LLNL has a leadership team that is prepared for the future.
December 1, 2011 4:34 PM
In case you hadn't noticed, LANL's "leadership team" is from LLNL. No space at all between them and LLNL.
No space at all between [LANL's 'leadership team'] and LLNL.
There is at least enough space to fit CMRR between them and probably a couple of LEPs.
But really it is Sandia that gets to chuckle and go home with the bacon as the two physics labs pound on each other.
The sickest part about Bret Knapp's recent "crowning" as the permanent weapons research PAD at LANL is that this same arrogant yahoo who totally hates Los Alamos is now being groomed by LANS as LANL's next Director!
A punk kid with less management skill than the stupid boss in Dilbert cartoons and with only a masters degree in mech engineering from a 2nd rate state school will soon be LANL's next Director.
Amazing, isn't it? And very disgusting!
One of the differences between Anastasio, MacMillan, and Knapp is that Knapp has a horrible record of treating Hispanics and Asian Americans with distain. While he's kept a few "token" Hispanics on staff his overall record is abysmal. His treatment of minorities borders on hatred. It's very clear he has some issue here and it goes beyond his huge inferiority complex with being so stupid.
I guess I'm not impressed with McMillan's decision to form a highly visible committee of already highly visible Principal Lab Directors to do their job. He even gave it a fancy acronym, LISC, Let's Insure Screwing Committee. On the other hand, maybe he's trying to get our attention on something that will be so destructive and painful it will rival Sig Hecker's unnecessary and destructive reduction in force (RIF). Of all the cut-throat PADs on this committee I wonder if Bishop will have the fortitude or integrity to "carry it out".
You missed it. The name is Lab Is Saving Cash.
Or, perhaps it is the new operating model. Lessions In Serving Charlie?
Maybe, just maybe, MacMillan is a student of history and fondly recalls Ben Tre.
Maybe, just maybe, MacMillan is a student of history and fondly recalls Ben Tre.
December 2, 2011 5:49 AM
He (Peter Arnett) was talking about the decision by allied commanders to bomb and shell the town regardless of civilian casualties, to rout the Vietcong." The quote was distorted in subsequent publications, eventually becoming the more familiar, "We had to destroy the village in order to save it."
This is best explanation for what Livermore (aka Anastasio, McMillan, Knapp) is trying to accomplish at Los Alamos. What didn't they just come out and say it? Or are they just cowards?
Of all the popular acronyms for LISC is "Life in the Spirit Camp". Picture all these guys holding hands singing "Kumbaya" after they axe 600 workers.
Unlike some other NNSA locations, LLNL did not get hundreds of millions of stimulus funding. One key attribute of leadership is to be able to exhibit sufficient self-restraint to not grow too big too fast on unsure funding. If Parney said what he means, then LLNL likely will be hiring some of the staff that are laid off from other places, nut on more stable projects.
In the end, this saves the Lab money. Lawsuits follow layoffs, layoffs follow bad managment decisions. Even with a 'win' the defense of the class action suits takes time, effort and money to fight. So, in a screwed up way, the LANL layoffs are a consequence of poor managment decisions to chase funding that was not durable.
A punk kid with less management skill than the stupid boss in Dilbert cartoons and with only a masters degree in mech engineering from a 2nd rate state school will soon be LANL's next Director.
Amazing, isn't it? And very disgusting!
December 1, 2011 10:59 PM
Absolutely. I recall seeing somewhere at LANL a row of photos of the former Directors; Oppenheimer, Bradbury, Agnew, Hecker, Browne... And then I remember thinking how incongruous and disappointing it was to see the rest. What a shame.
Of all the cut-throat PADs on this committee I wonder if Bishop will have the fortitude or integrity to "carry it out".
December 2, 2011 4:40 AM
Us ole-timers still remember Mike Henderson telling Sig Hecker to "stick it" when he was asked to terminate people in his Directorate. Does Bishop have the "stones" to do the right thing, cause he will be asked...and soon.
Absolutely. I recall seeing somewhere at LANL a row of photos of the former Directors; Oppenheimer, Bradbury, Agnew, Hecker, Browne... And then I remember thinking how incongruous and disappointing it was to see the rest. What a shame.
December 2, 2011 9:46 AM
For me the word "disappointing" doesn't come to mind. I think the more appropriate word is "disgraceful".
Absolutely. I recall seeing somewhere at LANL a row of photos of the former Directors; Oppenheimer, Bradbury, Agnew, Hecker, Browne... And then I remember thinking how incongruous and disappointing it was to see the rest. What a shame.
December 2, 2011 9:46 AM
I could not fathom a few years ago that we would be pinning up the pictures of Livermore managers on the walls in the Los Alamos National Laboratory Study Center. To think that someday Bret Knapp's picture will be placed in the Study Center as a LANL Director is nauseating and worse.
IF Parney is successful at LLNL, then it should be a long time before another director of EITHER lab is selected with limited background and experience. The experiment is being run. What will be the outcome?
Us ole-timers still remember Mike Henderson telling Sig Hecker to "stick it" when he was asked to terminate people in his Directorate.
Did he resign himself then? Or find offsetting budget savings? Or just leave the unpleasant work to someone else and feel pure afterward?
To get 200M out of the budget, looks like a layoff of 400 staff. The year has already started, so the number likely will scale upward to make the target savings.
From the information available, it appears that the cut was known to be needed many months ago.
This begs to ask -- Why was this not announced earlier? What good is there in waiting for the crash that was known to be coming?
Say what you will about Anastasio, at least he gave some advance warning about such news. OK, OK, not always in a well delivered talk, but he was predictable to give advance warning. Miss him already.
It's disgusting how McMillan, is assigning a token Hispanic (Marquez), of ALL the Senior Managers which Marquez isn't one, to lead the cost cutting and people cutting at LANS. It gives the illusion that Marquez, being a Hispanic, will ensure Hispanics will be treated with respect and dignity at LANS while their being given their pink slips. I hope Marquez now understands why he was retained by McMillan; to do the dirty work. It's gonna REAL UGLY REAL SOON!
From the information available, it appears that the cut was known to be needed many months ago.
December 3, 2011 2:07 PM
Please provide your evidence for this claim. What "information"???
Both Marquez and Wallace were ADs for Nanos, no?
From the information available, it appears that the cut was known to be needed many months ago.
December 3, 2011 2:07 PM
Please provide your evidence for this claim. What "information"???
December 3, 2011 9:17 PM
An examination of the annual funding calendar tells the story.
For years, LANL took the President's Budget Request from January as an opening bid to get Congressional add ons, earmarks, pork projects, etc. The operating model was to live by the Congressional budget, not the Presidential budget.
In a complete flip flop of action, for FY 2012, LANL has for six months blindly pursued the notion that the Congressional budget is not real and that the Presidential one will be appearing at any time.
The 200M difference between the 2012 Presidential and Congressional budgets is no where close to the add ons, earmarks, pork projects, etc from years gone by.
Perhaps some highly paid upper managers should be RIF'ed for screwing up their budget calculations, big time?
Nah, that will never happen.
The Revenge or Rick Marquez... COMING SOON!
Bret Knapp (LANL's Next Director-in-Waiting) really hates Los Alamos. It's visceral with him.
On Friday afternoons he can't wait to speed out of Los Alamos in his expensive Porsche and head down to the ABQ Sunport to head back to his home in Cali. He's been doing this for several years now.
What's worse is the fact that LANS pays for his airline tickets to do this each weekend. It's one of his LANS executive perks. And he's on the new McMillan committee that's looking to cut costs? What a joke!
I hope Marquez now understands why he was retained by McMillan; to do the dirty work. It's gonna REAL UGLY REAL SOON!
December 3, 2011 8:12 PM
McMillan himself and all the other highly paid Senior Executives did not want their reputation or clothes stained with this dirty cost and people cutting work. Yeah, we know, let Marquez lead us through this crap! Another leadership joke at LANS! Outta boy McMillan, good job!
McMillan will be sending Marquez to the New Mexico State Legislature to explain all the reasons LANS needed to cut Hispanics at LANS. This guy McMillan isn't so stupid is he?
Bret Knapp (LANL's Next Director-in-Waiting) really hates Los Alamos. It's visceral with him.
December 4, 2011 5:21 PM
Bret "Midas" Knapp didn't look too good in his recent photograph announcing his recent promotion. He didn't realize the toll it takes on you (Knapp) screwing people day-in and day-out.
Knapp holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from California Polytechnic State University and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Davis.
Marquez was one of Nanos' hatchet men, so this is nothing new for him. He is the worst kind of example of Hispanics in upper management - just a hack willing to do whatever dirty work it takes to get a salary increase and keep his job, even if most of the people hurt are also Hispanic. "Yah, Boss, I do it!!"
Marquez was one of Nanos' hatchet men, so this is nothing new for him. He is the worst kind of example of Hispanics in upper management - just a hack willing to do whatever dirty work it takes to get a salary increase and keep his job, even if most of the people hurt are also Hispanic. "Yah, Boss, I do it!!"
December 4, 2011 9:44 PM
I got news for you. Marquez is the ONLY example of Hispanic(s) in upper management at LANS. There are NO others! Otta boy LANS, now that's Diversity.
The conversation is turning from a focus on the aparent urgent firing of about 400 staff to the chronic situation of lack of diversity at LANL in top slots. The lack of diversity is a real issue, but for the 400 staff that may be fired before the end of the year due to poor managment decisions, it may not be their top concern.
The lack of diversity is a real issue, but for the 400 staff that may be fired before the end of the year due to poor managment decisions, it may not be their top concern.
December 5, 2011 9:28 AM
It should be. Watch who gets fired. Call it "trickle-down non-diversity."
It will be funny when Marquez is RIFed after he's done his dirty work for McMillan. The same way Knapp tossed out Rodriquez and Romero after they cut a bunch of minorities loose in WT-Division, eliminated the division, and then appointed his boy Benner to lead the way forward. These guys are "cut-throat" to the MAX.
o think that someday Bret Knapp's picture will be placed in the Study Center as a LANL Director is nauseating and worse.
Put a bullseye on it and place darts nearby.
"...Let's Insure Screwing Committee..."
Demographers have pointed out the decline in fertility of successful, highly educated caucasians since the mid-1930's.
It is about time action is taken to reverse this loss of talent.
S. Colbert
The experiment is being run. What will be the outcome?
With unclear objectives and no metrics, the results will be whatever are shouted out at the moment.
"...Let's Insure Screwing Committee..."
Demographers have pointed out the decline in fertility of successful, highly educated caucasians since the mid-1930's.
It is about time action is taken to reverse this loss of talent.
S. Colbert
December 5, 2011 1:51 PM
No worries, DOE will slap a PBI on this for LANS/LLNS; now it will get done. Outta of the way Marquez, here comes that Big Fela Knapp. Can you imagine a whole Division of Bret Knapp's knocking the crap out of each of other!
It should be. Watch who gets fired. Call it "trickle-down non-diversity."
December 5, 2011 12:32 PM
Being fired is being fired. Not sure that 400 firings were required in the present case. If the situation is due to lack of budget planning then it is a failure of those doing the planning. Close to the upcoming holidays, what a way to share the spirit of the season if you happen to be one of the 400.
It should be. Watch who gets fired. Call it "trickle-down non-diversity."
December 5, 2011 12:32 PM
Quite the opposite actually. While LANS CLAIMS to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, Affirmative Action, and encourages applicants of all religions, ethnicities, etc., LANS will for the first time actually apply these Policies to fire more than its fair share of minorities, women, and workers older than 50 years old in this next RIF. Now that's Affirmative Action! Watch who gets fired.
Marquez, Wallace, Knapp, Beard, and Henry. It's not by accident that all these Senior Managers are henchman. They have now been lined-up and cut loose to do what they were hired to do....hack.
Marquez, Wallace, Knapp, Beard, and Henry. It's not by accident that all these Senior Managers are henchman. They have now been lined-up and cut loose to do what they were hired to do....hack.
December 6, 2011 4:06 AM
The names ring of a bunch of pirates. Aaarrrggghhh, raise the black flag over the NSSB you scallywags, its time to feed the sharks....
Something just does not fit in this story. The budget 'cuts' are in reality just budget increases that did not come in as desired. Can someone explain how the lack of increase in budget results in a lay off?
Maybe if we were all busy buying near million dollar houses instead of worrying about the fire six months ago then this would make sense.
"Can someone explain how the lack of increase in budget results in a lay off?"
With the expected increase they grew the size of overhead budget, managers salaries increases, extra secretaries, some more perks. Now they are stuck so something has to be cut.
Lots of parents start children earning a weekly allowance before they begin school. Teaches them how to manage money, live within their budget, and defer wants for needs.
Looks like LANL made a big mistake and spent money that had not yet been earned. The preschoolers runnig the show did not do so well living within their allowance. What, if any, will be the consequences to the preschoolers from the parents for this failure?
You should get a clue about the Congressional funding cycle.
December 1, 2011 9:28 AM
Why don't you clue us all in since you know so much. bring it on ! We'll all be standing by to hear your wisdom and full detailed explaination.
If the Senior Management (with their budget analysts) can't figure out what happened to $200M how can you expects a bunch is nerds like us to figure it out. I guess it's asking too much this stellar management to figure this out. I know, let the government figure it out for us. A Congressional hearing is just what is needed here.....yah right! Better yet, let's form another committee (LISC) ala Sig Hecker to figure it out. What a massive joke.
Anastasio is looking better every day McMiillan is on the job. Never thought I'd say that.
Anastasio is looking better every day McMiillan is on the job. Never thought I'd say that.
December 6, 2011 6:39 PM
And he's laughing all the way to the bank at $1.2M for life with perks and still that's not enough. I hear he back at LLNL looking for more $$$.
"I hear he (Anastasio) back at LLNL looking for more $$$." (7:05 PM)
You have got to be kidding, right?
"I hear he (Anastasio) back at LLNL looking for more $$$." (7:05 PM)
You have got to be kidding, right?
-------------------
If true, It's called "triple dipping" .....
1) UCRP (as part of deal, they get to continue accumulating UCRP as they
work for LANS),
2) LANS (special retirement compensation from LANS), and
3) now "consulting" for LLNS
"I hear he (Anastasio) back at LLNL looking for more $$$." (7:05 PM)
You have got to be kidding, right?
December 7, 2011 9:07 AM
Anastasio reminds me of the character "Waldo" in "Where's Waldo". If you had photographs of all the employees at LANS or LLNS, or even Sandia or even DOE or God knows where else, you would eventually find him in in all these pictures. Point is, he is a con artist from the get-go, I saw through him years ago while he was an upstart at LLNL.
I will never forget at my 30-year anniversary celebration at the Study Center. The first one in line for the food after the celebration was Anastasio. While I was excited at first that he actually showed up, it was for the food and nothing more.
It is easy to pick on Anastasio for the things he did not do well. On the big items LANL generally came out ok under his tenure.
Time will judge the new team on big matters with what appears to be the lack of reality over the next several years for most of the desired weapons new money. For example can they balance the books without having layoffs? Rembember that the budget was NOT cut. It just did not get the desired increase.
For example can they balance the books without having layoffs? Rembember that the budget was NOT cut. It just did not get the desired increase.
December 9, 2011 2:57 PM
Apparently not. I don't know if you have been paying attention but they lost $200,000,000.00. They assigned Marquez as lead of LISC (LANS Institute for Secrecy and Conspiracy) to find it and assigned Knapp to reduce the paper being used at copiers and toilets.
Sure it looks bad right now, but LANL bet that there would be big increases in the weapons budget for the next several years. Despite the lack of credible evidence to support this notion during the current economic depression, for six months it appears that little attention was paid to the looming issue. Hey, it could still turn out ok. Perhaps Santa will drop off a few hundred mil as a thank you for being tracked by the Lab.
Perhaps Santa will drop off a few hundred mil as a thank you for being tracked by the Lab.
December 10, 2011 10:37 AM
Sorry, there are going to be a lot of disappointed kids this year because McMillan's LISC Team headed up by Marquez canceled "Tracking Santa" this year. It was over $100,000.00 and Knapp needed another bonus and Porshe. Tough decision! Don't worry McMillan directed Marquez to give the bad news.
"Can someone explain how the lack of increase in budget results in a lay off?"
With the expected increase they grew the size of overhead budget, managers salaries increases, extra secretaries, some more perks. Now they are stuck so something has to be cut.
December 6, 2011 7:22 AM
In the rest of the country, 'they' would be rewarded for such decisions with a pink slip. Since 'they' still have jobs, looks like LANL is still existing in a different reality from the rest of the country.
In the rest of the country, 'they' would be rewarded for such decisions with a pink slip. Since 'they' still have jobs, looks like LANL is still existing in a different reality from the rest of the country.
December 11, 2011 1:44 PM
The rest of the country doesn't make pits.
December 11, 2011 4:33 PM
If that is the reason for the continued functioning of the whole enterprise on the Hill, then, pray tell, why was it the weapons budget that fell short?
LLNL, with a new Director that understands that the Lab's future is in broad national security missions beyond the weapons program, is in a much stronger position without needing to support a pit operation.
LLNL doesn't make pits. Never has, never will. LLNL may soon be irrelevant to stockpile. Hang in there with your Never Ignite Farce!
LLNL doesn't make pits. Never has, never will. LLNL may soon be irrelevant to stockpile. Hang in there with your Never Ignite Farce!
December 13, 2011 8:47 PM
What is Livermore's product or mission? Other than providing "stellar" management for Los Alamos and stealing weapon systems from Los Alamos (i.e. W80)? Anybody?
I wonder if the recent $100M cut at the LANL "pit factory" will be in addition to the $200M shortfall. That's at least a 10% cut in funding. LANL is in deep "kimshi" now.
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