Laura to lead Labs effective May 1

Laura McGill will become Sandia’s 17th Labs director, effective May 1. Laura, who has served as deputy Labs director for Nuclear Deterrence and chief technology officer since January 2021, succeeds James Peery, who is retiring at the end of April.

“Laura’s extensive experience in defense systems engineering and her proven leadership within Sandia make her exceptionally qualified to guide the Laboratories into the future,” said Rich DeGraff, chair of the National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia LLC Board of Managers and president of Control Systems at Honeywell Aerospace. “Her commitment to national security, innovation and modern engineering aligns perfectly with Sandia’s mission.”

Laura will oversee Sandia’s diverse portfolio of national security programs, ensuring the continued delivery of innovative solutions to complex challenges.

“I am honored to lead Sandia National Laboratories and build upon its rich legacy of scientific excellence and national service,” Laura said, reflecting on her appointment. “Together with this tremendously talented workforce, we will further advance our capabilities and performance, enhancing the nation’s response to evolving security challenges.”

As deputy Labs director for Nuclear Deterrence, Laura has been responsible for ensuring the safety, security, effectiveness and modernization of the U.S. nuclear stockpile. She has guided Sandia’s contributions to nuclear weapon systems engineering, development and surveillance. In her role as chief technology officer, she has led strategic initiatives and emerging technologies, positioning Sandia to meet future national security challenges.

Before joining Sandia, Laura dedicated more than 30 years to the defense industry, where she served as deputy vice president of Engineering at Raytheon Missiles & Defense, an organization of 15,000 engineers and scientists, where she oversaw the development and operational support for advanced weapons systems for the DOD. In 2019, she was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering, recognizing her significant contributions to the field.

Laura holds a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in aerospace systems from West Coast University. She is a Lifetime Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, serving as the president from 2022 to 2024, and has served as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering.

James, who has served as Labs director since January 2020, announced his retirement in October 2024. Under his leadership, Sandia advanced its nuclear deterrence capabilities and expanded its research in cybersecurity and energy resilience.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to James for his dedicated service and visionary leadership,” DeGraff said.