Bret Knapp

Bret E. Knapp, 56, a dedicated family man with a dry wit and wry welcoming smile, died Nov. 18 after a short but valiant battle with cancer. Knapp is survived by his wife, Sheryl, and two sons, Cameron and Trevor. He also is survived by two brothers and a sister.

Knapp was born Aug. 21, 1958 in Livermore to Dr. Myron William Knapp and Dorris Riggs Knapp.  Myron was the first test director at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), conducting nuclear tests in the atolls of the South Pacific, as well as the Nevada Test Site. Dorris was passionate for public service and education, breaking down gender barriers in rising to superintendent of the Livermore public education system.

As a child, Knapp was remembered for having a keen interest in athletics, eventually playing goalie for the San Luis Obispo soccer team.  Early on he was drawn to the field of engineering through his passion for working on cars, most notably his vintage Porsche 914-6 and Chevrolet Camaro.

Knapp earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, during which time he lost his father to cancer.  He also earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Davis while working full time at LLNL.

 It was at LLNL where Knapp me his wife Sheryl. Family was their priority with school, sports, camping, boating and skiing, with the occasional date night.

Knapp passed on his love of sports to his sons, coaching their youth sports teams, and making watching the Golden State Warriors, and the San Francisco 49ers and Giants a family affair. Along with sports, Knapp bequeathed his inquisitive nature to his sons, who both followed him into the engineering field and are both currently working at Los Alamos in the student program.

At home Knapp was happiest when watching his bay area sports teams and discussing the happenings of the family, while making his homemade barbeque pizza. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially from the seat of a mountain bike, and a libation now and then, especially the kind made from malted barley and flavored with hops. In pursuit of both passions he recently discovered the beauty of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and loved vacationing there with his family.

Professionally, he was a brilliant engineer and program manager who most recently lived in Santa Fe, N.M. and spent his entire distinguished career in public service, working for Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories. He will be remembered by friends and colleagues at Los Alamos for many things, but most prominently for his astounding depth of knowledge about the U.S. nuclear deterrent.

Knapp joined Los Alamos in 2006 as associate director for Weapons Engineering.  In late 2011 he was named the Principal Associate Director for Weapons Programs at Los Alamos. In 2013 he became acting director of LLNL, but took himself out of the selection process for permanent director after announcing his illness last spring.  From 2001 to 2006 he led the Defense Technologies Engineering Division and Weaponization Program at Livermore.  He joined Livermore in 1980 and held a variety of leadership and management positions there.

 “Bret had a far reaching impact and an open and honest communication style that fostered collaboration across the Laboratories,” said Charlie McMillan, Los Alamos National Laboratory director. “Bret was my close friend and colleague for over 30 years and leaves an honored legacy of service to the nation. His loss is overwhelming. He will be missed greatly by many.”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society – Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.