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.

Jeramee Campbell, a lifelong resident of Tracy, California, has deep roots in the local community. After graduating from high school in Tracy, he earned his business degree from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. Following college, Jeramee began his career in procurement at San Joaquin County before transitioning to a federal contractor in Byron, the San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority, where he was a contract specialist for the Bureau of Reclamation’s canal system.

Jeramee joined Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) on Halloween 2022, fulfilling a long-time aspiration to work at the Lab. As a team lead in the High Volume Purchasing Group, Jeramee’s group handles a wide range of purchase orders, from small items like bolts to large scientific equipment. His team awards thousands of orders annually, supporting programs across the Lab by ensuring timely delivery, competitive pricing and proper payment coordination with the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

Outside of work, Jeramee enjoys spending time with his family, including his wife and two young sons. He values the camaraderie within his team and appreciates being part of LLNL’s mission to advance groundbreaking science and technology.

Mark Marinac brings a wealth of experience in nuclear operations, engineering and safety to his role as a work control engineer at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), located in Mercury, Nevada. With a career spanning over three decades, Mark has worked in the Navy, commercial nuclear power, the Department of Energy (DOE) and international nuclear energy projects.

Having moved frequently during his childhood due to his father’s work in mineral exploration, Mark enlisted in the Navy, where he served 20 years in the nuclear submarine force. Rising from machinist mate to lieutenant commander, he gained extensive expertise in nuclear systems and operations. After his Navy career, Mark worked at Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in commercial nuclear power and later at Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Mark also spent several years in the United Arab Emirates, helping commission nuclear power plants under international agreements facilitated by the DOE.

At NNSS, Mark applies his engineering background to ensure the safe execution of experiments conducted at the site’s specialized facilities. He collaborates with teams to develop work control documents, identify hazards, establish safety controls and coordinate with industrial health and safety experts. His work ensures experiments are conducted securely and efficiently in compliance with safety standards. Now based in Las Vegas, Mark enjoys its central location for visiting family and friends. He and his wife have six adult children, and he values the social connections that come with living in a vibrant city.

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.