Lab is ready to seize new opportunities

Transition is over and the Laboratory is now well positioned to seize opportunities to play an expanded national security role and apply its capabilities to helping the country address other challenges, Director George Miller said in an all-hands address earlier this week.

After highlighting recent Laboratory accomplishments, including last week's dedication events and Family Days Open House, Miller summarized the science and technology investment strategies developed and business and operations efficiencies achieved over the last year — achievements that position the Lab to further contribute to national and global security, meeting environmental challenges and enhancing U.S. economic competitiveness.

Miller noted that recent "high level" reports by a congressional commission, the Stimson Center Task Force and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence — which oversees the CIA — confirm the critical role National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) laboratories play in addressing national and global security issues.

"People are noticing how important the capabilities of these labs are, and we've seen over the last weeks and months that the president understands and is bullish on science and technology, not only in our national defense, but for our economic well being," Miller said. "All of this is really good news."

The Laboratory's unique research facilities and expertise lend themselves to supporting the priorities of the current administration, Miller said. "The Obama administration is placing strong emphasis on science and has proposed a doubling of the budget for the physical sciences."

Government reform initiatives from the presidential level down through DOE and NNSA also are providing the Lab with opportunities to further improve efficiencies and cuts costs, he said, adding the National Labs Directors Council is responding through its working groups. "I'm excited because this is a completely top down driven exercise and that's the kind of leadership needed to move us back to a better partnership," Miller said.

The Laboratory has succeeded in achieving operations and business efficiencies by reducing support costs within the Lab to 2007 levels, energy savings and space reductions of 800,000 square feet, according to Miller.

In addition, a five-year investment strategy to support major programmatic thrusts is moving the Laboratory's vision forward, he said. Those thrust areas include: stockpile stewardship; nuclear forensics and counter-terrorism; biosecurity; cyber and space security and intelligence; advanced lasers and applications; and laser inertial fusion engine (LIFE).

While challenges remain, Miller said, the Lab has initiatives in every area and as a result "has tremendous opportunities across the board."

"It's time to stop looking over our shoulder," Miller said. "The transition is over. It's time for us to seize those opportunities."