Management and Sponsors

Government Owned, Contractor Operated

LLNL is operated by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS) is a limited liability company (LLC) that assumed management of the Laboratory on Oct. 1, 2007. LLNS was formed specifically to manage and operate Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) by entities renowned for their expertise and accomplishments throughout the Department of Energy (⁠DOE) nuclear weapons complex and beyond. The LLNS management team includes Bechtel National, University of California, BWX Technologies and Amentum.

The Laboratory attracts talented staff while maintaining scientific objectivity and independence by operating as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). Private-sector entities that deliver specialized research and development capabilities to sponsoring governmental agencies, FFRDCs operate in the best interest of the public to make sure technical excellence and objectivity are applied to federal research and development.

As a government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) facility, the Laboratory is further managed through a contract between the LLNS Board of Governors and the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration. By bringing together government, industry and academic expertise, the Laboratory can quickly address complex problems that aren’t easily solved by federal resources or traditional contractors.

DOE determines the mission of the Laboratory and provides most of the funding for the work conducted.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory employees determine how best to carry out the research.

LLNS management provides the appropriate long-term research and operational environment.

The National Laboratories

The Department of Energy (DOE) is the largest funder of basic research in the physical sciences and energy research. The DOE oversees 17 national laboratories — the leading institutions for scientific innovation in the United States for more than 70 years. As one of those 17 national labs, LLNL contributes a highly skilled workforce, premier research capabilities and extensive partnership opportunities to the mission-driven work being performed across the nation.

Outgrowth of immense investment in scientific research
>70,000 employees
Major scientific user facilities
Multidisciplinary approach to tackling critical scientific challenges

Learn More About Recent National Lab Breakthroughs

Nuclear Security Enterprise

LLNL is one of three national laboratories that are part of the National Nuclear Security Administration, along with Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.

The three laboratories, together with plants and sites, make up the National Security Enterprise (NSE). The NSE provides the research, development, production, dismantlement and surveillance capabilities necessary to support the U.S. nuclear deterrent.

The NSE provides scientific and technical expertise in support of the NNSA's major missions:

Maintaining a safe, secure and effective nuclear stockpile through unparalleled science, technology, engineering and manufacturing
Preventing nuclear weapon proliferation and reducing the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism around the world
Preventing, countering and responding to a terrorist or other adversary with a nuclear or radiological device
Providing militarily effective nuclear propulsion plants and ensuring their safe, reliable and long-lived operation

Learn More About the NNSA’s Strategic Vision