LLNL Deputy Director Pat Falcone receives inaugural AI Honors in Public Science Award

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Deputy Director for Science and Technology Patricia Falcone was presented with the AI Honors in Public Science award at the inaugural AI Honors Gala on June 3 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Coinciding with the AI+ Expo at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the AI Honors Gala convened more than 300 influential leaders from government, industry and academia to recognize the transformational impact of AI.

Honored in the inaugural “Public Science” category, organizers praised Falcone's “extraordinary leadership in driving research directions to advance science and technology at one of America's most vital research institutions” and her role in fostering innovative partnerships at the intersection of national security, advanced computing and artificial intelligence.

Additional honorees included Sen. Todd Young of Indiana; Reps. Jay Olbernolte and Ted Lieu of California, chairs of the House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence; Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, director of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency; Jack Hidary, CEO of SandboxAQ; Ylli Bajraktari, president & CEO of SCSP; Joanna Guy, Zane Price and Don Polaski of Booz Allen; and Father Paolo Benanti, the Vatican’s official adviser on AI ethics.

“I'm proud to accept this honor on behalf of the entire LLNL community and our partners across government, academia and industry,” said Falcone. “The future of AI depends on collaboration, and national laboratories are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world applications that serve our nation.”

Before joining LLNL in 2015, Falcone served six years at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), where she served as the Senate-confirmed associate director of OSTP for national security and international affairs. In that capacity, she led a team that advised on the science and technology dimensions of national security policy deliberations and on federal support of national security research and development.

As deputy director for science and technology at LLNL, Falcone oversees the Laboratory’s strategic investment in capabilities and collaborative research with academia and the private sector. Her stewardship has elevated the role of national laboratories in shaping America's AI leadership through public sector innovation.