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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).
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).
Comments
Yeah, it's crazy and destructive but that's how LANS/Bechtel will handle this budget problem.
We are DOOMED!!!!!
December 1, 2011 7:48 AM
You should get a clue about the Congressional funding cycle.
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.
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.
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!
Or, perhaps it is the new operating model. Lessions In Serving Charlie?
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?
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.
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.
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.
December 2, 2011 9:46 AM
For me the word "disappointing" doesn't come to mind. I think the more appropriate word is "disgraceful".
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.
Did he resign himself then? Or find offsetting budget savings? Or just leave the unpleasant work to someone else and feel pure afterward?
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.
December 3, 2011 2:07 PM
Please provide your evidence for this claim. What "information"???
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.
Nah, that will never happen.
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!
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!
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.
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.
December 5, 2011 9:28 AM
It should be. Watch who gets fired. Call it "trickle-down non-diversity."
Put a bullseye on it and place darts nearby.
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
With unclear objectives and no metrics, the results will be whatever are shouted out at the moment.
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!
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.
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.
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....
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.
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.
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?
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.
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 $$$.
You have got to be kidding, right?
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
December 11, 2011 1:44 PM
The rest of the country doesn't make pits.
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.
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?