Associate Laboratories Director, Nuclear Deterrence Modernization & Stockpile Systems and Chief Engineer for Nuclear Weapons
Dr. Brad A. Boswell is the Associate Laboratories Director for Sandia National Laboratories’ Nuclear Deterrence (ND) Modernization & Stockpile Systems. In this executive role, Brad oversees system execution of multiple nuclear weapon modernization and stockpile programs while serving as the primary Sandia leadership interface with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the U.S. Department of War (DOW), and across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) for weapon modernization. Brad is also the Chief Engineer for Nuclear Weapons, responsible for addressing all system stockpile issues that could affect assurance of stockpile safety, surety, and reliability.
Previously, Brad served as director of the ND Systems Modernization Center where he led the integration of advanced science and technology into weapon systems for NNSA and the DOW. Under Brad’s leadership, the center successfully delivered the B61-12 Life Extension Program (LEP), W88 Alteration (ALT) 370, W88 ALT 940, and the Mk21 Arming & Fuzing Assembly (AFA) to stockpile. He was responsible for delivering the W93/Mk7, the W87-1, and the B61-13 on time and within budget. Previously, Brad also led the ND Weapon Engineering & Production (WE&P) Program Management & Executive Office, where he had program oversight of the entire ND portfolio, including all stockpile systems, modernization programs, and key enabling projects and capabilities.
Prior to his director roles, Brad held multiple senior manager roles leading the B61-12 LEP, surety engineering, and a group responsible for quality assurance, product acceptance, and defect prevention competencies for nuclear weapons.
Brad earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with highest honors in 1997, and a doctorate in mechanical engineering in 2001 from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, where he was a National Science Foundation Research Fellow from 1998-2000. Brad then began his Sandia career in November 2001 as a senior member of the technical staff in weapon systems engineering.
Download biography (PDF)