The leadership team for the newly formed Nuclear Deterrence and Science executive directorate held an inaugural town hall on Nov. 13 at Steve Schiff Auditorium to review its structure and answer employee questions. Deputy Laboratories Director Rita Gonzales was joined onstage by Associate Laboratories Directors Doug Kothe, Brad Boswell and Steve Girrens.

Doug discussed each of the centers in the Advanced Science and Technology division and shared the team’s enthusiasm and excitement to be part of the new directorate.

Brad described the three key missions shared by the centers in the Nuclear Deterrence Modernization and Stockpile Systems division. He explained the importance of quality data and data collection for stockpile work, the fast pace of modernization efforts and how the team’s technical assurance work and all its underpinnings are the glue that pulls everything together.

Steve shared high-level accomplishments for the Nuclear Deterrence Components and Production division and described the team as a highly focused design agency for components — in some cases producing components at Sandia and sometimes partnering with the Kansas City National Security Campus and others, with work focused on neutron generators, explosives and other nonnuclear components.

During the Q&A, the leadership panel answered questions from employees related to how the directorate will collaborate within Sandia and with other labs.

“Simplify, empower and partner — those are going to stay stable as priorities for the future,” Rita said. “Artificial intelligence and advanced capabilities for future systems are likely to be new technical imperatives that will be added to the strategy. We are a directorate that continues to deliver and innovate, and I think our strategy has to be part of everything we do to accelerate our work.”

Throughout the town hall, the team emphasized their gratitude for employees and the work they do. “Any challenge that has come to this lab, we have stepped up and knocked it out of the park,” Rita said. “It is all based on you, your will, your dedication, your ability to think outside the box when needed, your ability to accelerate when needed. There’s no challenge we can’t take on, especially when we do it together as a team.”