Acting Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Director Bret Knapp is pulling himself out of the running for the permanent position, citing health reasons. In a Friday message to employees, Knapp said he had been diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of cancer that is one of the more common forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. “While I remain optimistic about a full recovery, I have made the decision to withdraw my application for the LLNL director position,” Knapp said. “It is disappointing for me to do so, but it was the decision made with my family after evaluating my medical situation. … I am hopeful about my journey over the coming months.”
Knapp headed up the weapons program at Los Alamos National Laboratory until he was named acting LLNL director in October after the abrupt resignation of Parney Albright. He said he will continue to fulfill his duties as acting lab director and said he would assist in the transition to a new director. “The search for a permanent Laboratory director is continuing as originally scheduled, and I expect this to come to a successful conclusion shortly,” he said.
