Wisoff selected as principal associate director for NIF & Photon Science

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Director Bill Goldstein has named Peter J.K. "Jeff" Wisoff the principal associate director for the Lab's National Ignition Facility & Photon Science (PAD/NIF&PS) directorate. The appointment is effective immediately.

Wisoff has been acting PAD/NIF&PS since Oct. 2013 "and has done an outstanding job in that role," Goldstein said. "I have every confidence in Jeff and know that he will continue to lead the NIF&PS organization effectively, as well as continue to champion the Laboratory's missions and key initiatives, as a member of the LLNL senior management team."

"I am honored to take on this role," Wisoff said. "Thanks to a dedicated team of employees, NIF with its unique capability to create extreme pressures and temperatures, will continue to serve our country in support of national security and discovery science."

As the principal associate director, Wisoff will continue to be responsible for ensuring the safe operation of NIF as a world-class user facility in support of the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Stockpile Stewardship mission; partnering with Laboratory capabilities to establish leadership in Stockpile Stewardship science associated with inertial confinement fusion and high energy density physics; overseeing the development of advanced laser systems, related optical and target systems, control systems and systems engineering capability for research, commercial and government agencies; and maintaining close partnerships with the Department of Energy/NNSA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Missile Defense Agency, Department of Homeland Security, academia and private industry.

"Jeff's leadership and managerial acumen is as broad and extensive as his technical experience and he brings this extraordinary skillset to this position," Goldstein said. "I have known Jeff for many years and am particularly pleased to have his technical expertise, enthusiasm and dedication as we continue to carry out the important strategies necessary to achieve our institutional, program, and discipline goals."   

Prior to joining the Laboratory in 2001, Wisoff spent more than 10 years as a NASA astronaut, participating in four space shuttle flights and three spacewalks, where he operated multiple space laboratories with experiments ranging from remote sensing, materials science and biotechnologies. He also served as a member of the faculty at Rice University, where he led a laser research program as assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering. Before being named to the acting PAD position at LLNL last year, Wisoff served as the principal deputy PAD/NIF&PS, the Directed Energy Program manager, the deputy PAD for Operations, the Small Optical Systems associate project manager and the deputy associate project manager for Systems.

Wisoff has a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Virginia and a master's and doctorate in applied physics from Stanford University.