A letter from the Labs Director

Welcome to the 2026 edition of Labs Accomplishments, our annual look at the work Sandians delivered throughout the previous fiscal year. This publication offers a window into the talent, creativity and determination that define our laboratory. It captures what we achieved and how we achieved it through collaboration, technical excellence and dedication to our national security mission.

Inside these pages, you’ll see Sandia at its best. You’ll see advances in our stockpile readiness programs, progress in next-generation engineering and modeling, breakthroughs in microelectronics and materials science, and important contributions in AI, cybersecurity, energy security and global partnerships. You’ll also read about the work that strengthens our foundation in such areas as safety, quality, operational excellence and the well-being of our workforce and community.

Much of Sandia’s national security work takes place out of the public eye. Even so, the stories in this volume offer a clear picture of how we tackle challenges and deliver solutions that make a difference. They highlight a laboratory operating with purpose, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and bringing deep expertise to problems that demand the very best of us.

The importance of Sandia’s mission has never been greater as the world becomes more complex and geopolitical risks continue to evolve. Our role in ensuring the safety, reliability and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear deterrent remains central to the nation’s security. Our science and engineering strength gives us the ability to anticipate what’s coming and help protect the country in ways few others can.

I invite you to sit back with Labs Accomplishments and explore the outstanding work done by Sandians united in their dedication to this country and its citizens. It will be time well spent.

— Laura McGill, Laboratories Director     

Cover Features

⁠— Photos by Craig Fritz