Triad National Security LLC Begins Management Transition at Los Alamos National Laboratory

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Triad National Security LLC, which includes The Texas A&M University System, has received official notice to proceed toward managing the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

The National Nuclear Security Administration notified Triad today to begin the four-month transition.

“This is a significant milestone in the history of Texas A&M’s commitment to public service,” John Sharp, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, said in announcing the start of the transition of the Los Alamos National Laboratory from the current management team to Triad, which includes the Texas A&M System, the University of California and the Battelle Memorial Institute.

“Los Alamos is one of the most important nuclear security assets in the world. We are committed to working with our partners to enhance safety and security at the lab while advancing its world-class science and executing its vital missions,” Chancellor Sharp added. “Obviously, this is a huge affirmation of the nationally recognized quality of research, teaching and national service at Texas A&M.”

The Texas A&M System brings to the Triad team expertise in nuclear engineering, criticality safety and workforce development, all of which are important to the future of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Triad will assume management and operational responsibility for the laboratory when the transition period ends Nov. 1.

Dr. Thomas Mason will serve as president of Triad and director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dr. Mason brings extensive national lab management experience to the position, having served for more than a decade as the director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. Most recently, Dr. Mason was senior vice president for Global Laboratory Operations at Battelle.

“It is a tremendous honor to be selected as director-designate of one of the world’s leading scientific institutions, which is working at the forefront of science to solve complex nuclear security and energy challenges,” Mason said.

Triad National Security LLC is composed of Battelle, the Texas A&M University System and the University of California.  Triad is supported by two integrated subcontractors (Fluor and Huntington Ingalls Industries) and three small business subcontractors (Longenecker & Associates, Merrick-SMSI, and TechSource). The Triad team brings world-class expertise in lab management, nuclear operations, national security, and scientific research to support and enhance the work of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Learn more at triadns.org.

The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $4.7 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities and seven state agencies, the Texas A&M System educates more than 152,000 students and makes more than 22 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceeded $972 million in FY 2016 and helped drive the state’s economy.

Los Alamos is dedicated to solving national security challenges through scientific excellence.  As the senior lab in the Department of Energy national laboratory complex, Los Alamos’ primary mission is ensuring the safety and reliability of the nation’s nuclear stockpile.  The lab has more than 11,000 employees and an annual operating budget of approximately $2.5B.

Contact: Laylan Copelin
Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications
(979) 458-6425
(512) 289-2782 cell
lcopelin@tamus.edu