Alissa Tabirian
NS&D Monitor
7/10/2015

Sandia National Laboratories’ role in nuclear modernization has contributed to the retention of a younger technical workforce, according to Paul Hommert, outgoing president and director of SNL. Speaking to NS&D Monitor July 8 on Capitol Hill, Hommert noted the “continuing challenge” to “attract and retain good people” with the necessary technical expertise, particularly as the nuclear industry’s workforce and knowledge base continue aging. “Because of the amount of work we’re having to do for the [National Nuclear Security Administration] in modernization of the stockpile, we’ve had the opportunity to bring a fairly large number of new scientists and engineers to the lab in the last five years, so our demographic has actually shifted younger,” Hommert said.

Hommert joined Department of Energy officials and other laboratory directors for the House Science and National Labs Caucus’ National Lab Day, where representatives from DOE labs displayed their latest innovations in energy. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) offered remarks at the event, calling for “[renewed focus] on the potential of technology transfer” and continued “engagement with private sector partners.” Coons, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, also said members of Congress “are wrestling with what to do with sequester.” He said it would be a “tragedy” not to “invest in an energetic and robust way in our national labs at a time that our competitors . . . are investing even more than we are.”

Asked by NS&D Monitor about ongoing concerns regarding working conditions at NNSA labs, Hommert said that although SNL has lost some engineers to competitive sectors such as cybersecurity, it has attracted a younger generation of engineers who are “excited by the mission.” Hommert said that SNL and NNSA must now focus on creating and maintaining a high quality work environment, in part by ensuring benefits, flexibility, and research opportunities. Hommert said that this would help “keep this new generation engaged” and added, “I’m reasonably optimistic about that.” SNL announced last month that Hommert is retiring from his position mid-July, to be replaced by SNL official Jill Hruby.