Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Names New Director

Information submitted by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory—

William H. Goldstein has been named the director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Norman J. Pattiz, chairman of  Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS), which manages the Laboratory for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), made the announcement March 27.

Goldstein will begin his new role March 31.

Appointed with the concurrence of the DOE and NNSA, Goldstein is the 12th director of the Laboratory since it was established in 1952. Goldstein also will serve as the president of LLNS, replacing Parney Albright, who stepped down as Laboratory director and LLNS president in November 2013.

“Bill was selected as Laboratory director because of his proven scientific leadership and senior management experience across a broad range of Laboratory programs, his passion for the Lab’s mission and people, and his ability to strategically manage the breadth of Livermore’s science and technology capabilities and operations to meet critical national security needs,” Pattiz said. “He is a respected and trusted scientist among Laboratory managers and employees and with the DOE, NNSA and other key government sponsors and academic and industrial partners.”

Goldstein was selected after a competitive national search that began in November 2013. He is a 29-year Laboratory employee with extensive senior management experience.

“I am honored to be entrusted with this responsibility,” Goldstein said. “I look forward to working with my LLNL colleagues, DOE, NNSA and LLNS to ensure that this extraordinary institution continues to enhance the nation's security and well-being through outstanding science and technology.

Prior to being named director, Goldstein served as the deputy director for science and technology at LLNL, where he was tasked with leading the strategic deployment of the Laboratory's science and technology capabilities, taking line responsibility for the institutional roadmap portfolio, including the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program, collaborative research with academia and private industry and institutional planning activities. Prior to his appointment as deputy director, Goldstein served as associate director of Physical & Life Sciences, where he had responsibility for a broad range of physics research and development; medical physics and biophysics; chemistry; optical sciences and instrumentation; and high-energy-density physics.

He has been a strong contributor to stockpile stewardship by generating data that underlies advanced codes and simulations. Goldstein led the creation of the Jupiter Laser Facility and, in 2006, oversaw completion of Titan, a unique new Jupiter Laser Facility capability.

Goldstein has a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Swarthmore College. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and received the DOE Weapons Recognition of Excellence Award in 1994.

In announcing Goldstein’s appointment, Pattiz also thanked Bret Knapp for his service as acting LLNL Director. 

“The LLNS Board of Governors and Livermore Laboratory are grateful to Bret Knapp, principal associate director for weapons programs at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), for his service as acting LLNL director while a national search for a new director was conducted,” Pattiz said. “It was no easy task for him to step away from his essential management role at LANL and lead the LLNL management transition. His willingness to assume this temporary assignment is evidence of Bret’s deep and abiding commitment to the laboratories and their national security missions.”

“It is a sincere pleasure to congratulate Bill as he takes the helm of this great institution which is Lawrence Livermore,” Bret Knapp said. “I want to take the opportunity to thank LLNL employees for all they do and encourage them to continue to be steadfast in fulfilling their incredibly important mission. I will continue to be one of their strongest proponents.”