Deputy Laboratories Director – Integrated Security Missions
As the Deputy Laboratories Director for Integrated Security Missions (ISM), Deborah Frincke leads the integration of three mission organizations to advance Sandia’s national security mission. Collectively, the directorate delivers high-impact outcomes across a diverse sponsor portfolio in support of integrated deterrence and defense, threat reduction, and the Laboratories’ deterrence, science, and energy portfolio. Through coordinated strategy, systems integration, and innovative engineering solutions, ISM helps protect the nation from strategic threats at home and abroad while synergistically supporting the nuclear missions of the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Previously, Deborah served as Associate Laboratories Director for National Security Programs and Division at Sandia.
Prior to Sandia, Deborah served at the National Security Agency (NSA) from 2011 to 2020 in three capacities, most recently Director of Research, NSA Science Advisor, and Member of the Board of Directors. Deborah also served as Associate Laboratory Director at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for National Security Science (2020-2021), chief scientist of cybersecurity research at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory from 2004 to 2011, cofounder of TriGeo Network Security startup, and was a full professor at the University of Idaho.
She has held three Special Government Employee appointments, including U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) Senior Advisory Group – Chair, Intelligence Community Panel; Defense Science Board subgroup on Threat Reduction; and member of the White House National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee.
Her awards include the NSA’s Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, the NSA Research Leadership Excellence in Intelligence Award, and both the Meritorious and Distinguished U.S. Presidential Rank Award, as well as numerous others for teaching and outreach. Deborah is an Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Fellow, holds a PhD in Computer Science/Security from the University of California, Davis and has published more than 200 articles and technical reports.
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