The Department of Energy on Friday swore in William Bookless as second-in-command at the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Upon being sworn in by Deputy Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, Bookless officially joined the senior ranks of the semiautonomous DOE nuclear-weapon steward, just over a week after the Senate confirmed him following nine months of logjams and political tit-for-tat.
As NNSA principal deputy administrator, he fills the last of four politically appointed senior management positions at the agency.
The physicist is the second Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory veteran to post up at DOE headquarters in the Donald Trump administration. Charlie Verdon, NNSA deputy administrator for defense programs, was the first.
Bookless’ 35-year career had previously ended with a stint as assistant director for policy and planning at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York state.
“I deeply appreciate Dr. Bookless coming out of retirement to fill a key leadership position here at NNSA during a crucial time,” NNSA Administrator Lisa Gordon-Hagerty said in a prepared statement. “We are at the highest level of activity since the Cold War and Dr. Bookless’ leadership and expertise will be invaluable as we modernize the enterprise to face 21st century threats.”
