Why is it so difficult at LANL?
This one is a zinger.
Fence building is not a difficult job at Y-12, but reportedly a most difficult job to get it right at LANL.
While
it may be something that 'we' know how to design and construct, 'we'
clearly is not LANL, according to the recent reports on TA-55.
"Putting
these fences in is not a very difficult job or difficult project," he
said. "But, all things considered . . . I mean, there's a PIDAS system
around the Air Force One hangar. PIDAS systems are used widely. So this
is something we actually know how to design and construct."
John Eschenberg, federal project director for UPF.
23 comments:
TA-55 has had a working PIDAS for decades. That isn't the issue.
When mom and dad are fighting nothing useful can be accomplished. The team is neutered or even counterproductive.
I suspect there is lots of conflict at LANL enough to make even easy tasks hard.
Time for divorce. Having NNSA oversight leads to nothing good.
It's all about "MANAGEMENT" pure and simple, LANS is not up to the job, and they have continually proved this. The fence with sensors and cameras is not that big of a deal.
So, 9:38 PM, somehow the entire fault of all that has gone less than perfect at LANL in the past year is the fault of NNSA?
In many ways, to the outside world LANL of today looks a lot like LANL of 5 - 15 years ago.
On two fronts the argument that NNSA is to blame is flawed. There was no NNSA 15 years ago and the lab managed to hose up anyway. Add in the relatively calm period at the lab from 08 - 11 that was under NNSA oversight and look elsewhere for the root cause.
Parney was somewhat dismissive about this blog, even stating (correctly) that much of the conversation often centers around LANL. Is this the case because the top people there are considered Livermorons and not really LANL people? I guess I can understand that since there is not much to report while we all wait, that LANL is the top juicy topic of the month.
Yeah the real fault of NNSA is that it didn't push the labs and its directors and managers hard enough. They probably didn't have the power or resources to really bear down either. That is usually an indicator that the customer (NNSA) has to fire someone (or shut down facilities) because the benefits no longer justify the extraordinary cost.
It's no surprise to hear lab middle and upper managers and their mouthpieces putting blame on NNSA. They will resist greater oversight even though it is for the good of this country. These people should really just be fired. NNSA needs to be given more power over the labs, since lab management is obviously incapable of managing the operations they are entrusted and paid to manage.
True that there is more fodder from LANL than LLNL, but some of the credit for that might go to Parney. He's had his share of challenges, but so far, has made it through them in ok form. On the other hand, it is beginning to look like Charlie can't even make it through a single month without a bad headline.
High altitude.
I was thinking more like dry air, but yeah you're riht some people can't function without a higher oxygen content in the air i guess.
Parney was somewhat dismissive about this blog, even stating (correctly) that much of the conversation often centers around LANL.
November 30, 2012 12:50 PM
Parney is unfortunately in "denial".
Parney was somewhat dismissive about this blog, even stating (correctly) that much of the conversation often centers around LANL. Is this the case because the top people there are considered Livermorons and not really LANL people?
November 30, 2012 12:50 PM
No, it's because LANL doesn't have its own blog. Simple. No one at LANL really cares what happens at LLNL, and vice versa.
"... somehow the entire fault of all that is ...FUBAR ... at LANL is the fault of NNSA?..
Of course not, but no matter. The two can't work together - two moms in the same bed, no ones happy. A divorce needed, without blame.
LANL is essential to stockpile stewardship whatever its occasional and exaggerated faults.
NNSA cannot substitute for LANL, no matter its competence.
Can't get along, separate. Only LANL is essential. The loss of NNSA would not be noticed. SecDef would notice if Charlie and George (yes George, not Parney), didn't show up when he had a question.
From the distance from inside the buildings to outside the fence, through the distorted lens and incomplete medium of journalism+spin+bashing things at LLNL may appear to you to "be the same" as 15 years ago.
They are not. More uncertainty causes less focus, turnover of young staff and employee compensation discord.
Congress dumps on NNSA.... NNSA dumps on LANS management... and LANS management dumps the final load on the lab employees.
There is a reason that LANS hasn't done a morale survey for several years. As low and as shocking as the ratings were last time at LANL, I'm sure the morale has dropped even further. Trust in LANS management is pretty much non-existent at the moment. The "us vs. them" divide has grown extreme and for good reason.
Consider the steps before "Congress dumps on NNSA." 1) Labs complain to Congress of stifling ovesight, 2) Congress kowtows to their constituencies and tells NNSA to back off, 3) NNSA reduces oversight, 4) some newsworthy fiasco happens at one of the labs, 5) Congress dumps on NNSA.
"SecDef would notice if Charlie and George (yes George, not Parney), didn't show up when he had a question."
If SecDef has ever been in same room as Charlie there should be a 'photo op' from the visit, and a press release. Without them, one can only speculate, but he might notice if LANL was a no show. Then again, would you believe much that came from the joint as it is now run?
Suggestions for new slogans for LANL:
Trusted advisor to the government on shooting range operations.
Does your radiological facility have those pesky multiple control barriers to prevent active sources from walking out undetected? Call us, we know how to do this without setting off any alarms.
Just because we can't do the cost math for project management, doesn't mean we can't do the code math for science based stockpile stewardship.
Just because we can't do the cost math for project management, doesn't mean we can't do the code math for science based stockpile stewardship.
December 3, 2012 11:17 AM
Better: Advanced Wireless Non-operational Security Fences, LLC
Cowboys and Buttheads R Us!!
LANS Project ASSWIPE.... Assisted Security Systems With Internal Processing Elements.
It's the world's greatest science helping the nation and doing it all with "shoes that GRIP!"
LANS Project ASSWIPE.... Assisted Security Systems With Internal Processing Elements.
December 4, 2012 6:17 PM
Ok, you win. Snoopy, this deserves a certificate.
Scooby. (He has a thing about that mistake).
Oh, OK. Sorry, snoopy.
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