Lab names Laura Gilliom University Relations director

Laura R. Gilliom, manager of Sandia National Laboratories’ Advanced Design and Production Technology Program and an organic chemist, has been named director of the Lab’s University Relations Program.

She will begin her appointment on June 11.

"I have always enjoyed working at the intersection of science and national security. I absolutely resonate with what the three national security labs are doing, so moving out to Livermore is natural for me," said Gilliom.

As URP director, Gilliom will oversee the day-to-day activities of university-Laboratory collaborative research programs and institutes, and will continue the effective interactions and relationships between the University of California Office of the President, UC Davis and UC Merced administrations. She also will oversee the activities of the Science and Technology Education Program, as well as the five institutes — the Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, the Institute for Geophysics and Planetary Physics, the Institute for Scientific Computing Research, the Materials Research Institute and the Institute for Laser Science and Applications.

Gilliom said she was enticed by Livermore’s relationship with the UC system as well as LLNL’s culture of "risk-taking, innovation and creativity."

"University relations are relatively low-key at Sandia. But Livermore is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the best university system in the world. Getting the top people in and pulling in ideas is going to be awfully important for the work we need to do in support of Livermore’s mission."

"In the coming years, there will be increased emphasis on recruiting and retention of the critical skills in the National Nuclear Security Administration-funded programs at the laboratories," said Deputy Director Jeff Wadsworth in announcing Gilliom’s selection. "Dr. Gilliom’s experience with the NNSA’s national security missions positions her well for meeting these challenges at the laboratories. She brings significant strengths to this position, including outstanding communication skills, broad experience in both leadership and management assignments, and proven ability to build programs."

Gilliom has been at Sandia since 1985, initially working as a member of the technical staff in materials science. Since that time, she has held increasingly challenging management positions involving leadership of exploratory research in diverse technical fields. Assignments have included supervisor of SNL’s Chemical Instrumentation Research Division, a management staff member of the National Security Sector Program Office, manager of the Enhanced Surveillance Program and the Strategic Surety Program, and a deputy within the Nuclear Weapons Program.

From 1991-93 she served as technical adviser at the Department of Energy, Defense Programs, interacting with Sandia, Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore laboratories, as well as headquarters staff.

As manager of the Distributed Systems Assurance Department, a position she has held since 1997, she significantly grew Sandia’s red-teaming effort over a two-year timeframe. She also initiated and managed a large internal LDRD investment in secure agent technology.
Gilliom earned her doctorate in organic chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1986 and her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Princeton in 1980. She is married and has two daughters.

Gilliom replaces Harry Radousky, who has served as the acting URP director since 1980. "I want to sincerely thank Harry for his leadership over the last year and his continuing commitment to the organization," Wadsworth said.