Erhart to Leave Top NPO Spot for NNSA HQ; Beausoleil to Replace Him

Steve Erhart, who helped stand up the National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office three years ago, is shifting to head up the agency’s new Office of Policy and he will be replaced by Sandia Field Office Manager Geoff Beausoleil. Office of Secure Transportation Assistant Deputy Administrator Jeff Harrell will replace Beausoleil as the head of the Sandia Field Office. The changes had been rumored for months, but NNSA Administrator Frank Klotz confirmed the moves in an internal message to employees yesterday afternoon.  Klotz said the Office of Policy will serve as a “central resource for strategic planning and policy analysis” and he said Erhart “has both the breadth of experience and the right professional attributes to assume this key integrating role in NNSA.”

 

Before taking over the Sandia Field Office, Beausoleil reported to Erhart as the deputy manager of the Pantex Site Office. He also previously served as the assistant manager of DOE’s Idaho Operations Office. “Geoff’s experience puts him in an excellent position to manage NPO,” Klotz said. Harrell has worked at OST since 2009, and Klotz said his “outstanding record at OST, following a distinguished 25-year military career, has prepared him to take on this larger role for NNSA.” Kerry Clark will serve as the acting head of OST while a search for a permanent assistant deputy administrator is conducted. “NNSA is extremely fortunate to have these accomplished leaders, and we commend them for their willingness to take on new career challenges and help our organization build broad based executive skills across our SES cadre,” Klotz said.