Operations & Business

Christy Abajian is a construction project manager in the Project Management Office (PMO) with 18 years of experience in pharmaceuticals, biotech and large-scale infrastructure upgrades. Her journey began on a small farm in Pennsylvania, where she learned the value of hard work and collaboration. Inspired by her parents, she earned a B.S. in chemical engineering from The Pennsylvania State University.

Christy launched her career as a consultant in the UK, focusing on quality assurance for pharmaceutical equipment. After returning to the U.S., she managed significant industrial projects that enhanced work environments and fostered teamwork. In 2023, she joined LLNL, where she leads infrastructure projects and serves as the PMO's Sustainability Portfolio Program manager.

Passionate about making a difference, Christy oversees the New Employee Center project and the Integrative Bio Resilience Laboratory, both aimed at fostering innovation and community improvement. Outside of work, she volunteers at her daughter’s school, teaching art and encouraging creativity. Christy’s guiding principles of trust, communication and adaptability shape her professional and personal life, inspiring her daughter to achieve great things and pursue her own aspirations.

Diandra Benjamin is O&B’s PAD office manager, unofficially “knower of all the things,” keeping the PAD office running smoothly at all times. She began her career at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 2006 within O&B’s Business Directorate and has held operations and administrative positions in both O&B and Computing throughout her career. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University East Bay.

Diandra is an avid sports fan — she’s been to three Warriors NBA Finals games and a San Francisco Giants World Series game — but she’s the biggest fan of her children: her daughter is in competitive dance and her son plays baseball, basketball, volleyball and flag football. When she’s not attending sporting events, Diandra is probably traveling — she’s been to 20 states and 8 countries, but her favorite place is her family’s home island of Kauai.

Rimsha Wasim is a records and information management specialist supporting the Laboratory’s records management, digitization and review and release processes. She plays a key role in the Lab’s enterprise digitization efforts, including the establishment of an internal digitization center to convert legacy paper records to digital formats in alignment with federal records and paper reduction directives. Rimsha is also helping to implement and refine the Lab’s new review and release system, with a focus on improving usability and streamlining workflows for staff.

Before joining LLNL in late 2021, Rimsha served in the U.S. Air Force for five years as a knowledge management operations specialist. In that role, she gained extensive experience in records management, publications and information management tools, working within Department of Defense programs at Travis Air Force Base in California.

Rimsha holds a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity from the University of Maryland. While in the Air Force, she also completed coursework through the Community College of the Air Force, concentrating on information and knowledge management. A talented linguist, she is fluent in Urdu and proficient in Hindi, Punjabi and Arabic, and she has tested and been approved to provide language support when needed.

Outside of work, Rimsha is passionate about gardening and local food systems. She has been active in community gardening projects and has taken community college courses on growing food and understanding its sources. She is particularly interested in horticultural therapy and the connections between gardening, mental health and well-being, and hopes to share this interest more broadly as a way to support others. Rimsha lives in Vacaville, California, and enjoys exploring the natural and cultural attractions of Northern California.

Steven Moody is a senior health and safety technologist in Environment, Safety and Health at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, supporting Strategic Deterrence activities at Site 200 and serving as health physics support personnel for the Radiological Assistance Program. He joined LLNL in July 2020 following nine years of service in the United States Navy.

Steven grew up in Roseville, California, and began his professional experience at age 15 as a paid intern for an environmental engineering firm in Lincoln, California, focused on groundwater remediation. This role introduced him to hazardous waste management. After five years with Applied Engineering and Geology, Inc., he enlisted in the United States Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Program, driven by both patriotism and an interest in nuclear power and submarines.

After completing training as a nuclear machinist’s mate, Steven served from 2013 to 2018, primarily aboard the USS Georgia (SSGN 729). His service included extended periods in the Indian Ocean, Diego Garcia, the Mediterranean Sea and Crete, Greece. During this time, he advanced to the rank of E-6 and became the Machinery Division leading petty officer.

During his final deployment under his initial six-year contract, Steven met his future wife on Diego Garcia and reenlisted for orders to Guam as a radiological controls technician to be closer to the Philippines. After completing Radiological Controls Technician Qualification School, he married and moved to Guam, where he served as environmental monitoring program manager from 2018 to 2020.

Following the birth of his first daughter, Steven and his family relocated to Galt, California, to be closer to extended family. He considers joining Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory a highly positive step for both his career and his family.

Katie Pagni is a senior administrative specialist in the Strategic Military and Veterans Program (SMVP) with over ten years of experience. When she started in her Lab position, the SMVP hosted an average of three visits a year. With Katie’s coordination, she now leads an average of 23 official visits annually. Katie has also led the organization of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Day to its largest attendance to date.

Katie is the VA Certifying Officer for veterans participating in On-the-Job Training Programs at LLNL. This allows veterans to qualify for eligible benefits while learning skills to utilize in future Lab positions. She is also the Administrative Officer for the LLNL Air Force Fellows.

Before coming to LLNL in 2023, Katie served for ten years as an administrative specialist in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). In this role, she led over 40 team members and trained in a job proficiency that resulted in a 95% increase in productivity. She supervised pay reporting and entitlements for over 15,000 Marine members totaling $35 million in settlement.

Katie holds a bachelor’s degree in recreation management from the San Jose State University, with a minor in business.

Officer Emil Pasion was born in Manila and came to the U.S. at six years old. He emerged from an upbringing on San Jose’s east side with pride in the adversity he faced growing up.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2009–2013, with one deployment in Sangin, Afghanistan, in 2011 and another on the U.S.S. Peleliu as part of the Battalion Landing Team for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Force–5th Fleet’s Crisis Response Force. The vessel went to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and East Africa, and Pasion worked on humanitarian issues and trained with local forces.

After serving in the Marines, Pasion went back to school to earn his B.A. in history and was planning to become a historian. Then, based on his previous role as an infantryman in the Marines, he was recruited by Sandia, where he worked from 2018–2019. He transferred to LLNL in 2019.

Jarrett serves as a Facility Energy Owner (FEO) supervisor in the Infrastructure and Operations directorate, specializing in hazardous energy management and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures. His primary role involves collaborating with subcontract technical representatives and the Project Management Office (PMO) to ensure safe and compliant handling of hazardous energy across various projects. Jarrett and his team are responsible for developing and executing detailed LOTO plans, ensuring contractors follow proper protocols and preventing potential risks associated with hazardous energy sources such as electrical systems, water, gas, refrigerants and more.

Jarrett has been integral to the development and success of the Facility Energy Owners team, which plays a critical role in maintaining safety standards at the lab. With a strong background in HVAC, Jarrett joined the lab in 2003 as part of its last HVAC apprenticeship program. He spent 15 years honing his skills before transitioning into supervisory roles, accumulating nearly 23 years of experience at the Lab.

A native of Tracy, California, Jarrett graduated from Tracy High School in 1994. Before joining the lab, he explored various trades, including plumbing and vinyl fencing installation, until he found his calling in energy management. Jarrett comes from a family deeply rooted in the trades — his father, uncle and cousins all pursued careers in the trades. His father, who worked at the Lab, retired just six months after Jarrett began his career there.

Jarrett has been married for 20 years and has three children. The family has lived in Manteca for 23 years, where they enjoy spending quality time together. Sunday dinners are a cherished tradition, bringing his family and their significant others together for good food and meaningful connection. Jarrett’s dedication to his work, family and community exemplifies his commitment to excellence and safety in all aspects of his life.

Phil Weiss joined LLNL and the Office of the Chief Financial Officer in August 2019. Before coming to LLNL he was the Talent and Workplace Services Manager at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory since 2008.

He has over 35 years of training and development experience in government, high-tech and pharmaceutical industries. Phil holds a B.S. in Business Management from University of Phoenix, an M.A. in Business Administration from University of Maryland and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Walden University.

Phil has been a Livermore resident for over 20 years and has served in various community service roles in Livermore and the Bay Area including volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America and the Livermore School District. He is married, has two sons and a black labrador named Wiggles and he loves to travel.