Vincent Tang to lead LLNL’s National Ignition Facility and Photon Science Directorate

LLNL Director Kim Budil has named Vincent Tang as the principal associate director (PAD) to lead the National Ignition Facility and Photon Science directorate (NIF&PS), the LLNL program that advances the NIF and world-leading laser and photon science capabilities for stockpile modernization and critical national missions. NIF is the world’s most energetic laser and is the first and only facility to achieve controlled fusion ignition.

“We are delighted to welcome Vincent back to LLNL, where his leadership will guide NIF&PS into an exciting new era of discovery and innovation,” Budil said.

“I look forward to being back and working with our Laboratory teams to keep making the impossible possible,” Tang said.

As PAD, Tang is responsible for leading the NIF&PS team to help advance the Department of Energy’s (DOE) leadership and partnerships in transformational high energy density (HED) and photon science, technologies, and capabilities for stockpile modernization, defense and security, as well as fusion energy applications.

That portfolio includes overseeing the sustainment and advancement of NIF, the development of advanced laser systems and associated technologies, and the support of LLNL’s workforce in these areas. He will also foster close partnerships with other national laboratories, academia, industry and government agencies.

Through a nearly 20-year long career in national security with significant leadership roles at LLNL and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Tang brings substantial experience and vision to his new role.

Tang served as NIF&PS principal deputy PAD before taking government service leave from LLNL in December 2024 to help establish the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Advanced Research Projects Agency - Infrastructure, or ARPA-I. Tang started at LLNL in 2006 after completing his Ph.D. in applied plasma physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Tang succeeds Jeff Bude, who had been serving as acting principal associate director since May after the retirement of Jeff Wisoff after a 24-year career at the Lab. Bude will now serve as the NIF&PS principal deputy PAD.

“Jeff Bude has shown exemplary leadership as acting PAD,” said Budil. “I greatly appreciate his incredible work steering NIF&PS through this transition.”

In a message to the directorate, Tang noted that “first and foremost, we have to deliver on our mission of ensuring the safety, security and reliability of the nuclear deterrent, which is the ultimate backstop to our national defense. The stockpile modernization work we do on NIF and other HED facilities and our plans and collaborations across the U.S. nuclear security enterprise are critical to this.”

Tang then discussed the importance of NIF&PS’s work in directed energy for integrated deterrence, in the Livermore Institute for Fusion Technology to support the fusion energy community to enable enduring energy security, and in laser technologies for next-generation extreme ultraviolet lithography. 

He concluded that the directorate must “continue to deliver on fundamental science, engineering and technology across HED, lasers and photon science to make the next set of amazing discoveries and innovations possible. That is critical to help ensure our nation’s long-term prosperity.”

– Benny Evangelista