View source for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

{{Short description|Federal research center in Livermore, California, US}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox laboratory
| name           = Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
| motto          = "Science and technology on a mission"
| image          =IMAG3049-livermore-lab cropped.jpg 
| established    = {{start date and age|1952|9|2}}
| director       = [[Kimberly S. Budil]]
| city           = [[Livermore, California]], U.S.
| budget         = [[United States dollar|$]]3.25 billion <ref name='numbers'>{{Cite web |url=https://www.llnl.gov/about/by-the-numbers |title=By the Numbers {{!}} Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417014931/https://www.llnl.gov/about/by-the-numbers |archive-date=17 April 2025 |website=llnl.gov }}</ref>
| type           = Nuclear and basic science
| staff          = 9,563 <ref name='numbers' />
| campus         = {{convert|1|sqmi|km2}}
| coordinates    = {{coord|37.69|-121.71|type:landmark_region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|location_map     = USA California
| operating_agency = Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
| website        = {{URL|https://www.llnl.gov|llnl.gov}}
|logo=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory logo.svg|caption=Aerial view of the square LLNL campus (center) from the south. On the south side of LLNL is [[Sandia National Laboratories]] and to the north is the neighborhood of [[Ulmar]].}}

'''Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory''' ('''LLNL''') is a [[Federally funded research and development centers|federally funded research and development center]] in [[Livermore, California]], United States. Established in 1952, the laboratory is sponsored by the [[United States Department of Energy]] and administered privately by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Master Government List of Federally Funded R&D Centers {{!}} NCSES {{!}} NSF |url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ffrdclist/ |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=nsf.gov}}</ref>

The lab was originally established as the University of California Radiation Laboratory, Livermore Branch in 1952 in response to the detonation of the [[Soviet Union]]'s first atomic bomb during the [[Cold War]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The 1950s |url=https://www.llnl.gov/archives/1950s#event-the-founding-of-the-laboratory-at-livermore |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |language=en}}</ref> It later became autonomous in 1971 and was designated a national laboratory in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://history.aip.org/phn/21612012.html|title=Lawrence Livermore Laboratory|website=Physics History Network |publisher=[[American Institute of Physics]] |access-date=August 4, 2019}}</ref>

Lawrence Livermore Lab is primarily funded by the [[United States Department of Energy|U.S. Department of Energy]] and it is managed [[Privately held company|privately]] and operated by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (a [[Public-private partnerships in the United States|partnership]] of the [[University of California]], [[Bechtel]], [[BWX Technologies]], [[Amentum (company)|Amentum]], and [[Battelle Memorial Institute]] in affiliation with the [[Texas A&M University System]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.llnsllc.com/|title=LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC|website=llnsllc.com}}</ref> In 2012, the synthetic chemical element [[livermorium]] (element 116) first made in year 2000, was named after the laboratory.<ref>{{Cite web |editor-last=Livingston |editor-first=Rick |title=Livermorium Chemical Element |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/livermorium |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Britannica |language=en}}</ref>

The Livermore facility was co-founded by [[Edward Teller]] and [[Ernest Lawrence]], then director of the Radiation Laboratory at Berkeley.<ref name=LLNL>{{cite web |url=https://www.llnl.gov/about/history |title=History |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref>

==Overview==
LLNL is a research and development institution for science and technology applied to national security.<ref>{{cite web | title=Missions | url=https://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/201006/losalamos.cfm | publisher=American Physical Society | date=June 2010 | access-date=April 14, 2023}}</ref> Its principal responsibility is ensuring the safety, security and reliability of the [[Nuclear weapons of the United States|nation's nuclear weapons]] through the application of advanced science, engineering, and technology. The laboratory also applies its special expertise and multidisciplinary capabilities towards preventing the proliferation and use of [[weapons of mass destruction]], bolstering homeland security, and solving other nationally important problems, including energy and environmental needs, scientific research and outreach, and economic competitiveness.

The laboratory is located on a {{convert|1|mi2|km2}} site at the eastern edge of [[Livermore, California|Livermore]]. It also operates a {{convert|7000|acre|km2}} remote experimental test site known as Site 300, situated about {{convert|15|mi}} southeast of the main lab site. LLNL has an annual budget of about $3.25&nbsp;billion and a staff of nearly 10,000 employees.<ref>{{cite web | title=Organization | url=https://www.llnl.gov/about/by-the-numbers | publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | date=November 5, 2025 | access-date=November 5, 2025}}</ref>

==History==
===Origins===
LLNL was established in 1952, as the '''University of California Radiation Laboratory, Livermore Branch''',<ref name=":0" /> an offshoot of the existing [[Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory|University of California Radiation Laboratory at Berkeley]]. The lab at Livermore was intended to spur innovation and provide competition to the nuclear weapon design laboratory at [[Los Alamos National Laboratory|Los Alamos]] in [[New Mexico]], home of the [[Manhattan Project]] that developed the first [[atomic weapons]]. The Livermore facility was co-founded by [[Edward Teller]] and [[Ernest Lawrence]], director of the Radiation Laboratory at Berkeley.<ref name=LLNL />

The new laboratory was sited at a former [[Naval Air Station Livermore|naval air station]] from [[World War&nbsp;II]]. It was already home to several University of California Radiation Laboratory projects that were too large for its location in the [[Berkeley Hills]] above the UC campus, including one of the first experiments in the magnetic approach to confined thermonuclear reactions (i.e. fusion). About half an hour southeast of Berkeley, the Livermore site provided much greater security for classified projects than an urban university campus.

Lawrence tapped his former graduate student [[Herbert York]], age 32, to run Livermore. Under York, the Lab had four main programs: [[Project Sherwood]] (the magnetic-fusion program), Project Whitney (the weapons-design program), diagnostic weapon experiments (both for the Los Alamos and Livermore laboratories), and a basic physics program. York and the new lab embraced the Lawrence "big science" approach, tackling challenging projects with physicists, chemists, engineers, and computational scientists working together in multidisciplinary teams. Lawrence died in August 1958 and shortly after, the university's board of regents named both laboratories for him, as the '''Lawrence Radiation Laboratory'''.

Historically, the Berkeley and Livermore laboratories have had very close relationships on research projects, business operations, and staff. The Livermore Lab was established initially as a branch of the Berkeley laboratory. The Livermore lab was not officially severed administratively from the Berkeley lab until 1971. To this day, in official planning documents and records, [[Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory]] is designated as Site 100, Lawrence Livermore National Lab as Site 200, and LLNL's remote test location as Site 300.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/1998.09.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/1998.09.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |last=Hacker |first=Bart |title=A Short History of the Laboratory at Livermore |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |date=September 1998 |pages=12–20}}</ref>

===Renaming===
The laboratory was renamed '''Lawrence Livermore Laboratory''' ('''LLL''') in 1971. On October 1, 2007 [[Lawrence Livermore National Security|Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC]] (LLNS) assumed management of LLNL from the University of California, which had exclusively managed and operated the Laboratory since its inception 55 years before. The laboratory was honored in 2012 by having the synthetic chemical element [[livermorium]] named after it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Livermorium {{!}} Livermore, CA |url=https://www.livermoreca.gov/our-community/livermorium |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=www.livermoreca.gov |language=en}}</ref>

The LLNS takeover of the laboratory has been controversial. In May 2013, an Alameda County jury awarded over $2.7&nbsp;million to five former laboratory employees who were among 430 employees LLNS laid off during 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title=Uncertain Legal Future: $2.7 Million Awarded To Former Lab Employees |first=Jeff |last=Garberson |date=May 17, 2013 |work=[[The Independent (Livermore)|The Independent]] |location=Livermore, California |url=https://www.independentnews.com/news/uncertain-legal-future-million-awarded-to-former-lab-employees/article_48170ce4-be5d-11e2-8f6e-0019bb2963f4.html}}</ref> The jury found that LLNS breached a contractual obligation to terminate the employees only for "reasonable cause."<ref>{{cite news |title=Laid Off Lab Workers Awarded $2.8 Million |url=https://www.law.com/therecorder/almID/1202599755147/ |first=Max |last=Taves |date=May 10, 2013 |work=The Recorder |publisher=[[ALM (company)|ALM]]}}</ref> The five plaintiffs also have pending age discrimination claims against LLNS, which will be heard by a different jury in a separate trial.<ref name="Bob Egelko">{{cite news |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Livermore-lab-jury-awards-2-7-million-4512448.php |title=Livermore lab jury awards $2.7 million |first=Bob |last=Egelko |date=May 13, 2013 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref> There are 125 co-plaintiffs awaiting trial on similar claims against LLNS.<ref>{{cite news |title=Five Former Livermore Workers Receive $2.7 Million in Layoff Case |first=Todd |last=Jacobson |date=May 17, 2013 |work=Nuclear Weapons & Materials Monitor |publisher=ExchangeMonitor Publications}}</ref> The May 2008 layoff was the first layoff at the laboratory in nearly 40 years.<ref name="Bob Egelko" />

On March 14, 2011, the City of Livermore officially expanded the city's boundaries to annex LLNL and move it within the city limits. The unanimous vote by the Livermore city council expanded Livermore's southeastern boundaries to cover 15 land parcels covering {{convert|1,057|acre|km2}} that comprise the LLNL site. The site was formerly an unincorporated area of Alameda County. The LLNL campus continues to be owned by the federal government.

==Major projects==
===Nuclear weapons===
[[File:Bowline Schooner.gif|thumb|[[Operation Bowline|Bowline Schooner]], a nuclear test conducted by LLNL in the 1960s<ref name="LT_6">{{citation |title=United States Nuclear Tests: July 1945 through September 1992 |date=December 1, 2000 |type=DOE/NV-209 REV15 |url=http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_209_REV15.pdf |access-date=December 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061012160826/http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_209_REV15.pdf |archive-date=October 12, 2006 |url-status=dead |location=Las Vegas, NV |publisher=Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office}}</ref>]]
[[File:W87 Peacekeeper warheads.png|thumb|Warheads designed by the LLNL on a [[W87]] missile, a type of missile still in the US nuclear stockpile]]
[[File:B-83 nuclear weapon.jpg|thumb|The [[B83 nuclear bomb|B83]], a nuclear weapon whose warhead was developed by LLNL that is still in the US nuclear stockpile]]
From its inception, Livermore focused on new weapon design concepts; as a result, its first three [[nuclear test]]s were unsuccessful. The lab persevered and its subsequent designs proved increasingly successful. In 1957, the Livermore Lab was selected to develop the warhead for the Navy's [[Polaris missile]]. This warhead required numerous innovations to fit a nuclear warhead into the relatively small confines of the missile nosecone.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

During the [[Cold War]], many Livermore-designed [[warhead]]s entered service. These were used in missiles ranging in size from the [[MGM-52 Lance|Lance]] surface-to-surface tactical missile to the megaton-class [[LIM-49A Spartan|Spartan antiballistic missile]]. Over the years, LLNL designed the warheads: [[Mark 27 nuclear bomb|W27]] (Regulus cruise missile; 1955; joint with Los Alamos), [[W38 (nuclear warhead)|W38]] (Atlas/Titan ICBM; 1959), [[B41 nuclear bomb|B41]] (B52 bomb; 1957), [[W45 (nuclear warhead)|W45]] (Little John/Terrier missiles; 1956), [[W47]] (Polaris SLBM; 1957), [[W48]] (155-mm howitzer; 1957), [[W55 (nuclear warhead)|W55]] (submarine rocket; 1959), [[W56]] (Minuteman ICBM; 1960), [[W58]] (Polaris SLBM; 1960), [[W62]] (Minuteman ICBM; 1964), [[W68]] (Poseidon SLBM; 1966), [[W70]] (Lance missile; 1969), [[W71]] (Spartan missile; 1968), [[W79 Artillery-Fired Atomic Projectile|W79]] (8-in. artillery gun; 1975), [[W82]] (155-mm howitzer; 1978), [[B83 nuclear bomb|B83]] (modern strategic bomb; 1979), and [[W87]] (LGM-118 Peacekeeper/MX ICBM; 1982). The W87 and the B83 are the only LLNL designs still in the U.S. nuclear stockpile.<ref>{{cite web |first=Carey |last=Sublette | title=Complete List of All U.S. Nuclear Weapons | url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Weapons/Allbombs.html | work=The Nuclear Weapon Archive | date=October 14, 2006 | access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Carey |last=Sublette | title=U.S. Nuclear Weapon Enduring Stockpile | url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Weapons/Wpngall.html | work=The Nuclear Weapon Archive | date=August 31, 2007 | access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Stewardship | url=http://www.llnl.gov/llnl/missions/nwss.jsp | publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | date=February 13, 2008 | access-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920124117/https://www.llnl.gov/llnl/missions/nwss.jsp |archive-date=September 20, 2008}}</ref>

With the collapse of the [[Soviet Union]] in 1991 and the end of the [[Cold War]], the United States began a moratorium on nuclear testing and development of new nuclear weapon designs. To sustain existing warheads for the indefinite future, a science-based [[Stockpile stewardship|Stockpile Stewardship]] Program (SSP) was defined that emphasized the development and application of greatly improved technical capabilities to assess the safety, security, and reliability of existing nuclear warheads without the use of nuclear testing. Confidence in the performance of weapons, without nuclear testing, is maintained through an ongoing process of stockpile surveillance, assessment and certification, and refurbishment or weapon replacement.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stockpile Stewardship Program|url=https://wci.llnl.gov/science/stockpile-stewardship-program|access-date=2022-02-16|website=wci.llnl.gov|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Stockpile Stewardship at 20 Years|url=https://str.llnl.gov/july-2015/verdon|access-date=2022-02-16|website=str.llnl.gov}}</ref>

With no new designs of nuclear weapons, the warheads in the U.S. stockpile must continue to function far past their original expected lifetimes. As components and materials age, problems can arise. Stockpile Life Extension Programs can extend system lifetimes, but they also can introduce performance uncertainties and require maintenance of outdated technologies and materials. Because there is concern that it will become increasingly difficult to maintain high confidence in the  warheads for the long term, the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration initiated the [[Reliable Replacement Warhead]] (RRW) Program. RRW designs could reduce uncertainties, ease maintenance demands, and enhance safety and security. In March 2007, the LLNL design was chosen for the Reliable Replacement Warhead.<ref>{{cite news|first=Scott |last=Lindlaw |title=Bush Administration Picks Lawrence Livermore Warhead Design |url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/03/02/state/n091011S16.DTL |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=March 2, 2007 |access-date=March 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312031319/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2007%2F03%2F02%2Fstate%2Fn091011S16.DTL |archive-date=March 12, 2007 }}</ref> Since that time, Congress has not allocated funding for any further development of the RRW.

===Plutonium research===
LLNL conducts research into the properties and behavior of [[plutonium]] to learn how plutonium performs as it ages and how it behaves under high pressure (e.g., with the impact of high explosives). Plutonium has seven temperature-dependent solid [[allotropy|allotropes]]. Each possesses a different density and [[crystal structure]]. Alloys of plutonium are even more complex; multiple phases can be present in a sample at any given time. Experiments are conducted at LLNL and elsewhere to measure the structural, electrical and chemical properties of plutonium and its alloys and to determine how these materials change over time. Such measurements enable scientists to better model and predict plutonium's long-term behavior in the aging stockpile.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2001.03.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017034223/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2001.03.pdf |archive-date=2020-10-17 |url-status=live |last=Parker |first=Ann |date=March 2001 |pages=23–25 |title=Plutonium Up Close ... Way Close |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref>

The Lab's plutonium research is conducted in a specially designed facility called the SuperBlock, with emphasis on safety and security. Work with highly enriched uranium is also conducted there. In March 2008, the [[National Nuclear Security Administration]] (NNSA) presented its preferred alternative for the transformation of the nation's nuclear weapons complex. Under this plan, LLNL would be a center of excellence for nuclear design and engineering, a center of excellence for high explosive research and development, and a science magnet in high-energy-density (i.e., laser) [[physics]]. In addition, most of its special nuclear material would be removed and consolidated at a more central, yet-to-be-named site.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Fact Sheet for NNSA Complex Transformation – Preferred Alternative |url=http://www.nnsa.energy.gov/defense_programs/documents/LivermoreFactSheet_v8.pdf |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |access-date=May 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820030827/http://nnsa.energy.gov/defense_programs/documents/LivermoreFactSheet_v8.pdf |archive-date=August 20, 2008 }}</ref>

On September 30, 2009, the NNSA announced that about two thirds of the special nuclear material (e.g., plutonium) at LLNL requiring the highest level of security protection had been removed from LLNL. The move was part of NNSA's efforts initiated in October 2006 to consolidate special nuclear material at five sites by 2012, with significantly reduced square footage at those sites by 2017. The federally mandated project intended to improve security and reduce security costs, as part of NNSA's overall effort to transform the Cold War era "nuclear weapons" enterprise into a 21st-century "nuclear security" enterprise. The original date to remove all high-security nuclear material from LLNL, based on equipment capability and capacity, was 2014. NNSA and LLNL then developed a timeline to remove this material earlier, and accelerated the completion date to 2012.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://nnsa.energy.gov/2628.htm |date=September 30, 2009 |title=NNSA Ships Additional Special Nuclear Material from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as Part of Deinventory Project |publisher=[[National Nuclear Security Administration]] |access-date=October 2, 2009 |archive-date=March 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314063518/https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/national-nuclear-security-administration2628.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Global security program===
The Lab's work in global security aims to reduce and mitigate the dangers posed by the spread or use of weapons of mass destruction and by threats to energy and environmental security. Livermore has been working on global security and homeland security for decades, predating both the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. LLNL staff have been heavily involved in the cooperative nonproliferation programs with Russia to secure at-risk weapons materials and assist former weapons workers in developing peaceful applications and self-sustaining job opportunities for their expertise and technologies.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.11.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017111445/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.11.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |last=Parker |first=Ann |title=Scientists without Borders |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |date=November 2007 |pages=22–25 }}</ref> In the mid-1990s, Lab scientists began devising improved biodetection capabilities, leading to miniaturized and autonomous instruments that can detect biothreat agents in a few minutes instead of the days to weeks previously required for DNA analysis.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.11.pdf |last=Rennie |first=Gabriele |date=November 2009 |pages=11–17 |title=Characterizing Virulent Pathogens |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |access-date=January 31, 2020 |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017111445/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.11.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.09.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017035517/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.09.pdf |archive-date=2020-10-17 |url-status=live |last=Rennie |first=Gabriele |date=September 2007 |pages=18–20 |title=Assessing the Threat of Bioterrorism |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref>

Livermore researchers address a spectrum of threats – radiological/nuclear, chemical, biological, explosives, and cyber. They combine physical and life sciences, engineering, computations, and analysis to develop technologies that solve real-world problems. Activities are grouped into five programs:

*'''Nonproliferation'''. Preventing the spread of materials, technology, and expertise related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and detecting WMD proliferation activities worldwide.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2008.07.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2008.07.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |last=Meissner |first=Caryn |date=July–August 2008 |pages=23–25 |title=Antineutrino Detectors Improve Reactor Safeguards |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref>
*'''Domestic security''': Anticipating, innovating and delivering technological solutions to prevent and mitigate devastating high-leverage attacks on U.S. soil.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.01.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.01.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |last=Heller |first=Arnie |date=January–February 2007 |pages=12–18 |title=Identifying the Source of Stolen Nuclear Materials |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.10.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.10.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |last=Hansen |first=Rose |date=October 2007 |pages=8–9 |title=Mobile Mapping for Radioactive Materials |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.03.pdf |last=Walter |first=Katie |date=March 2007 |pages=12–19 |title=On the Leading Edge of Atmospheric Predictions |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |access-date=January 31, 2020 |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017054537/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.03.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2006.05.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2006.05.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |last=Heller |first=Arnie |date=May 2006 |pages=11–17 |title=Protecting the Nation's Livestock |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref>
*'''Defense''': Developing and demonstrating new concepts and capabilities to help the Department of Defense prevent and deter harm to the nation, its citizens and its military forces.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2000.01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017111453/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2000.01.pdf |archive-date=2020-10-17 |url-status=live |last=Heller |first=Arnie |date=January–February 2000 |pages=4–11 |title=Simulating Warfare Is No Video Game |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/1999.05.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/1999.05.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |last=Wilt |first=Gloria |date=May 1999 |pages=4–11 |title=Leveraging Science and Technology in the National Interest |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref>
*'''Intelligence''': Working at the intersection of science, technology, and analysis to provide insight into the threats to national security posed by foreign entities.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2002.07.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2002.07.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |last=Parker |first=Ann |date=July–August 2002 |pages=24–30 |title=Knowing the Enemy, Anticipating the Threat |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref>
*'''Energy and environmental security''': Furnishing scientific understanding and technological expertise to devise energy and environmental solutions at global, regional and local scales.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.06.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.06.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |last=Heller |first=Arnie |date=June 2007 |pages=11–16 |title=Setting a World Driving Record with Hydrogen |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.03.pdf |last=Parker |first=Ann |date=March 2007 |pages=20–22 |title=Climate and Agriculture: Change Begets Change |journal=Science and Technology Review |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |access-date=January 31, 2020 |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017054537/https://str.llnl.gov/content/pages/past-issues-pdfs/2007.03.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Other programs===
LLNL supports capabilities in a broad range of scientific and technical disciplines, applying capabilities to existing programs and developing new science and technologies to meet future national needs.

*The LLNL chemistry, materials, and life science research focuses on chemical engineering, nuclear chemistry, materials science, and biology and [[Bionanotechnology|bio-nanotechnology]].
*Physics thrust areas include [[condensed matter]] and [[high-pressure physics]], optical science and [[high energy density physics]], medical physics and [[biophysics]], and nuclear, particle and [[accelerator physics]].
*In the area of energy and environmental science, Livermore's emphasis is on carbon and climate, energy, water and the environment, and the national nuclear waste repository.
*The LLNL engineering activities include micro- and [[nanotechnology]], [[laser]]s and [[optics]], [[biotechnology]], [[precision engineering]], nondestructive characterization, modeling and simulation, systems and decision science, and sensors, imaging and communications.
*LLNL is a computing organization with capabilities in computer science, software engineering, data science, modeling and simulation, information technology, and [[cyber security]].{{cn|date=December 2024}}

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has worked out several energy technologies in the field of [[coal gasification]], [[shale oil extraction]], [[geothermal energy]], [[Rechargeable battery|advanced battery research]], [[solar energy]], and [[fusion energy]]. Main [[oil shale]] processing technologies worked out by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are [[LLNL HRS process|LLNL HRS]] (hot-recycled-solid), [[LLNL RISE process|LLNL RISE]] (''[[in situ]]'' extraction technology) and LLNL radiofrequency technologies.<ref name=AICHE>{{Cite conference
 | last1 = Burnham
 | first1 = Alan K.
 | last2 = McConaghy
 | first2 = James R.
 | title = Comparison of the acceptability of various oil shale processes
 | pages = 2; 17
 | date = October 16, 2006
 | location = [[Golden, Colorado]]
 | conference = 26th Oil shale symposium
 | publisher = Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
 | url = https://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/341283.pdf
 | id = UCRL-CONF-226717
 | access-date = May 27, 2007
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160213164539/https://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/341283.pdf
 | archive-date = February 13, 2016
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref>

==Key accomplishments==
{{more references|section|date=December 2022}}
Over its 60-year history, Lawrence Livermore has made many scientific and technological achievements, including:

*Critical contributions to the U.S. [[nuclear deterrence]] effort through the design of nuclear weapons to meet military requirements and, since the mid-1980s, through the stockpile stewardship program, by which the safety and reliability of the enduring stockpile is ensured without underground nuclear testing.
*Design, construction, and operation of a series of ever larger, more powerful, and more capable laser systems, culminating in the 192-beam [[National Ignition Facility]] (NIF), completed in 2009.
*Advances in [[particle accelerator]] and [[Nuclear fusion|fusion]] technology, including [[Magnetic confinement fusion|magnetic fusion]], [[free-electron laser]]s, [[accelerator mass spectrometry]], and [[inertial confinement fusion]].
*Breakthroughs in [[high-performance computing]], including the development of novel tools for massively [[parallel computing]] and the design and application of computers that can carry out  quintillions of operations per second.
*Development of technologies and systems for detecting nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, and explosive threats to prevent and mitigate WMD proliferation and [[terrorism]].
*Development of [[extreme ultraviolet lithography]] (EUVL) for fabricating next-generation [[computer chips]].
*First-ever detection of [[massive compact halo object]]s (MACHOs), a suspected but previously undetected component of [[dark matter]].
*Advances in [[genomics]], [[biotechnology]], and [[biodetection]], including major contributions to the complete sequencing of the human [[genome]] though the [[Joint Genome Institute]] and the development of rapid PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology that lies at the heart of today's most advanced DNA detection instruments.
*Development and operation of the [[National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center]] (NARAC), which provides real-time, multi-scale (global, regional, local, urban) modeling of [[hazardous material]]s released into the [[atmosphere]].
*Development of highest resolution [[global climate model]]s and contributions to the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]] which, together with former vice president [[Al Gore]], was awarded the 2007 [[Nobel Peace Prize]].
*Co-discoverers of new [[Transuranium element|superheavy elements]] [[Nihonium|113]], [[Flerovium|114]], [[Moscovium|115]], [[Livermorium|116]], [[Tennessine|117]], and [[Oganesson|118]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Superheavy Element Discovery {{!}} Glenn T. Seaborg Institute |url=https://seaborg.llnl.gov/research/superheavy-element-discovery |access-date=2025-12-30 |website=seaborg.llnl.gov |language=en}}</ref>
*Invention of new healthcare technologies, including a microelectrode array for construction of an artificial [[retina]], a miniature glucose sensor for the treatment of [[diabetes]], and a compact proton therapy system for [[radiation therapy]].

On July 17, 2009 LLNL announced that the Laboratory had received eight R&D 100 Awards – more than it had ever received in the annual competition. The previous LLNL record of seven awards was reached five times – in 1987, 1988, 1997, 1998 and 2006.

Also known as the "Oscars of invention", the awards are given each year for the development of cutting-edge scientific and engineering technologies with commercial potential. The awards raise LLNL's total number of awards since 1978 to 129.

On October 12, 2016, LLNL released the results of computerized modeling of Mars's moon [[Phobos (moon)|Phobos]], finding that it has a connection with keeping the Earth safe from asteroids.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/science/scientists-study-death-star-to-save-earth/|title=Scientists study 'Death Star' to save Earth|date=October 12, 2016|publisher=Fox News|first=Rob|last=Verger|access-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref>

In December, 2022 scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory announced, in a breakthrough for [[fusion power]] technology, that they have used the technique of [[inertial confinement fusion]] to achieve a net gain of energy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/science/article/scientists-set-to-make-a-bang-in-nuclear-fusion-breakthrough-zwrq289gh|title=Scientists set to make a bang in nuclear fusion 'breakthrough'date=October 12, 2016|work=The Times|access-date=December 12, 2022}}</ref> The [[National Ignition Facility]] (NIF) became the first fusion reactor to achieve breakeven on December 5, 2022, with an experiment producing 3.15 megajoules of energy from a 2.05 megajoule input of laser light for an energy gain of about 1.5.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DOE National Laboratory Makes History by Achieving Fusion Ignition |url=https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-national-laboratory-makes-history-achieving-fusion-ignition |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Energy.gov |date=December 13, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=National Ignition Facility achieves fusion ignition |url=https://www.llnl.gov/news/national-ignition-facility-achieves-fusion-ignition |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=www.llnl.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|title=Scientists Achieve Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough With Blast of 192 Lasers|author=Kenneth Chang|date=December 13, 2022|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/13/science/nuclear-fusion-energy-breakthrough.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bush |first1=Evan |last2=Lederman |first2=Josh |date=13 December 2022 |title=We have 'ignition': Fusion breakthrough draws energy gain |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/fusion-breakthrough-net-energy-gain-rcna61326 |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=[[NBC News]]}}</ref>

==Key facilities==
{{anchor|Unique_facilities}}
[[File:Exterior patio of the National Ignition Facility.jpg|thumb|[[National Ignition Facility]]]]
* [[Biosecurity]] and [[Nanotechnology|Nanoscience]] Laboratory. Researchers apply advances in [[nanoscience]] to develop novel technologies for the detection, identification, and characterization of harmful biological [[pathogen]]s (viruses, spores, and bacteria) and chemical toxins.
* Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry: LLNL's Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (CAMS) develops and applies a wide range of [[isotope|isotopic]] and ion-beam analytical tools used in basic research and technology development, addressing a spectrum of scientific needs important to the Laboratory, the university community, and the nation. CAMS is the world's most versatile and productive accelerator mass spectrometry facility, performing more than 25,000 AMS measurement operations per year.
* High Explosives Applications Facility and Energetic Materials Center: At HEAF, teams of scientists, engineers, and technicians address nearly all aspects of [[high explosive]]s: research, development and testing, material characterization, and performance and safety tests. HEAF activities support the Laboratory's Energetic Materials Center, a national resource for research and development of [[explosive]]s, [[pyrotechnics]], and propellants.
* [[National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center]]: NARAC is a national support and resource center for planning, real-time assessment, emergency response, and detailed studies of incidents involving a wide variety of hazards, including nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, and natural atmospheric emissions.
* [[National Ignition Facility]]: This 192-beam, stadium-size laser system is used to compress fusion targets to conditions required for thermonuclear burn. Experiments at NIF study physical processes at conditions that exist only in the interior of stars and in exploding nuclear weapons (see National Ignition Facility and photon science).
* Superblock: This unique high-security facility houses modern equipment for research and engineering testing of [[nuclear material]]s and is the place where [[plutonium]] expertise is developed, nurtured, and applied. Research on highly enriched [[uranium]] also is performed here.
* Livermore Computing Complex: One of the world’s most dominant high performance computing centers, the Livermore Computing Complex comprises several buildings that house many HPC systems that hold top-ranking positions on the Top500 list. LLNL is also home to the world’s largest Spectra TFinity tape library. The complex has nearly 48,000 square feet of machine floor space, supporting both classified and unclassified national security programs. In 2023, LLNL modernized the complex with upgrades to its power and water-cooling capacity.
* Titan Laser: Titan is a combined nanosecond-long pulse and ultrashort-pulse (subpicosecond) laser, with hundreds of joules of energy in each beam. This petawatt-class laser is used for a range of high-[[energy density]] physics experiments, including the science of fast ignition for [[inertial confinement fusion]] energy.

== Premier computing ecosystem ==
Throughout its history, LLNL has been a leader in computers and scientific computing. Even before the Livermore Lab opened its doors, E.O. Lawrence and Edward Teller recognized the importance of computing and the potential of computational simulation. Their purchase of one of the first UNIVAC computers set the precedent for LLNL's history of acquiring and exploiting the fastest and most capable supercomputers in the world. A succession of increasingly powerful and fast computers have been used at the Lab over the years in support of the stockpile stewardship mission. LLNL researchers also use supercomputers to answer questions about subjects such as materials science simulations, climate change, reactions to natural disasters, and other physical phenomena.

LLNL has a long history of developing high performance computing [[software]] and systems, focusing on creating highly complex physics models, visualization codes, and other unique applications tailored to specific research requirements. LLNL-developed software projects optimize the operation and management of the computer systems, including operating systems such as [[NLTSS]] or [[TOSS (operating system)|TOSS]] (Tri-Laboratory Operating System Stack), software build and installation tools such as Spack, and resource management packages such as Flux and [[SLURM]].<ref>{{cite web | title=SLURM: A Highly Scalable Resource Manager | url=https://computing.llnl.gov/linux/slurm/ | publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | access-date=February 28, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527193633/https://computing.llnl.gov/linux/slurm/ | archive-date=May 27, 2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref> LLNL also initiated and continues leading the development of ZFS on Linux, the official port of [[ZFS]] to the [[Linux]] operating system.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Toponce |first1=Aaron |title=Install ZFS on Debian GNU/Linux |url=https://pthree.org/2012/04/17/install-zfs-on-debian-gnulinux/ |website=pthree.org |access-date=20 December 2018 |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220230710/https://pthree.org/2012/04/17/install-zfs-on-debian-gnulinux/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ZFS on Linux |url=https://zfsonlinux.org/ |website=ZFS on Linux |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref>

==Livermore Valley Open Campus (LVOC)==
In August 2009, a joint venture was announced between [[Sandia National Laboratories]]/California campus and LLNL to create an open, unclassified research and development space called the Livermore Valley Open Campus (LVOC). The motivation for the LVOC stems from current and future national security challenges that require increased coupling to the private sector to understand threats and deploy solutions in areas such as high performance computing, energy and environmental security, cyber security, economic security, and non-proliferation.

The LVOC is modeled after research and development campuses found at major industrial research parks and other U.S. Department of Energy laboratories with campus-like security, a set of business and operating rules devised to enhance and accelerate international scientific collaboration and partnerships with U.S. government agencies, industry and academia. Ultimately, the LVOC will consist of an approximately 110-acre parcel along the eastern edge of the Livermore Laboratory and Sandia sites, and will house additional conference space, collaboration facilities and a visitor center to support educational and research activities.

Objectives of LVOC

*Enhance the two laboratories' national security missions by substantially increasing engagement with the private sector and academic community.
*Stay at the forefront of the science, technology and engineering fields.
*Ensure a quality future workforce by expanding opportunities for open engagement of the broader scientific community.

==Sponsors==
LLNL's principal sponsor is the [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]]/[[National Nuclear Security Administration]] (DOE/NNSA) Office of Defense Programs, which supports its [[stockpile stewardship]] and advanced scientific computing programs. Funding to support LLNL's [[global security]] and [[homeland security]] work comes from the DOE/NNSA Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, as well as the [[Department of Homeland Security]]. LLNL also receives funding from DOE's [[Office of Science]], Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, and [[Office of Nuclear Energy]]. In addition, LLNL conducts work-for-others research and development for various [[United States Department of Defense|Defense Department]] sponsors, other federal agencies, including [[NASA]], [[Nuclear Regulatory Commission]] (NRC), [[National Institutes of Health]], and [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]], a number of California State agencies, and private industry.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

==Budget==
For Fiscal Year 2009 LLNL spent $1.497&nbsp;billion<ref>{{cite web |url=https://annual.llnl.gov/annual09/excellence/pdf/2009AnnualReport.pdf |title=2009 Annual Report |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |access-date=December 21, 2016 |archive-date=December 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223111815/https://annual.llnl.gov/annual09/excellence/pdf/2009AnnualReport.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> on research and laboratory operations activities:

Research/Science Budget:
*[[National Ignition Facility]] – $301.1&nbsp;million
*Nuclear Weapon Deterrent (Safety/Security/Reliability) – $227.2&nbsp;million
*Advance Simulation and Computing – $221.9&nbsp;million
*Nonproliferation – $152.2&nbsp;million
*Department of Defense – $125.9&nbsp;million
*Basic and Applied Science – $86.6&nbsp;million
*Homeland Security – $83.9&nbsp;million
*Energy – $22.4&nbsp;million

Site Management/Operations Budget:
*Safeguards/Security – $126.5&nbsp;million
*Facility Operations – $118.2&nbsp;million
*Environmental Restoration – $27.3&nbsp;million

==Directors==
The LLNL director is appointed by the board of governors of Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS) and reports to the board. The laboratory director also serves as the president of LLNS. Over the course of its history, the following scientists have served as LLNL director:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.aip.org/phn/21612013.html |title=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |publisher=[[American Institute of Physics]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Image
!Director
!Term start
!Term end
!{{abbr|Refs.|References}}
|-
|1
|[[File:Herbert York.jpg|70px]]
|[[Herbert York]]
|1952
|1958
|
|-
|2
|[[File:EdwardTeller1958 fewer smudges (cropped).jpg|70px]]
|[[Edward Teller]]
|1958
|1960
|
|-
|3
|[[File:Harold Brown 1970.png|70px]]
|[[Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense)|Harold Brown]]
|1960
|1961
|
|-
|4
|[[File:Foster John S Jr.jpg|70px]]
|[[John S. Foster, Jr.]]
|1961
|1965
|
|-
|5
|
|Michael M. May
|1965
|1971
|
|-
|6
|
|[[Roger Batzel|Roger E. Batzel]]
|1971
|1988
|
|-
|7
|
|[[John Nuckolls]]
|1988
|1994
|
|-
|8
|[[File:C. Bruce Tarter.jpg|70px]]
|[[C. Bruce Tarter]]
|1994
|2002
|
|-
|9
|[[File:Michael R. Anastasio.jpg|70px]]
|[[Michael R. Anastasio]]
|July 1, 2002
|March 14, 2006
|<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://physicsworld.com/a/lawrence-livermore-names-new-boss/ |title=Lawrence Livermore names new boss |date=June 10, 2002 |magazine=[[Physics World]]}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|interim
|rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff"|[[File:George Miller at Lawrence Livermore National Lab.jpg|70px]]
|rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff"|[[George H. Miller (physicist)|George H. Miller]]
|March 15, 2006
|September 30, 2007
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.llnl.gov/article/30226/george-h-miller-named-interim-director-lawrence-livermore-national-laboratory |title=George H. Miller named interim director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |date=March 15, 2006 |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref>
|-
|10
|October 1, 2007
|November 30, 2011
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.llnsllc.com/sites/llnsllc/files/2021-02/LLNS_PR_06072007.pdf |title=LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC NAMES ITS BOARD OF GOVERNORS |date=June 7, 2007 |work=Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS)}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.llnl.gov/news/george-miller-retire-laboratory-director |title=George Miller to retire as Laboratory director |date=April 12, 2011 |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |access-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|11
|[[File:Parney Albright.jpg|70px]]
|[[Parney Albright|Penrose C. Albright]]
|December 1, 2011
|October 31, 2013
|<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/26557 |title=Livermore Lab director named |publisher=University of California |last=Seaver |first=Lynda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105090142/http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/26557 |archive-date=November 5, 2011 |date=October 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.llnl.gov/article/39421/parney-albright-steps-down-laboratory-director-bret-knapp-appointed-acting-director |title=Parney Albright steps down as Laboratory director, Bret Knapp appointed acting director |date=October 24, 2013 |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|acting
|
|Bret Knapp
|November 1, 2013
|March 26, 2014
|<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lamonitor.com/content/lanls-knapp-take-over-livermore-acting-director |title=LANL's Knapp to take over as Livermore acting director |date=October 24, 2013 |work=Los Alamos Monitor |access-date=December 21, 2016 |archive-date=December 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221235338/http://www.lamonitor.com/content/lanls-knapp-take-over-livermore-acting-director |url-status=dead |first=John |last=Severance}}</ref>
|-
|12
|
|William H. Goldstein
|March 27, 2014
|March 1, 2021
|<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.llnl.gov/news/newsreleases/2014/Mar/ATL-032714_director.html |title=William H. Goldstein named director of LLNL |date=March 27, 2014 |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |access-date=December 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405221855/https://www.llnl.gov/news/newsreleases/2014/Mar/ATL-032714_director.html |archive-date=April 5, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.llnl.gov/article/47331/goldstein-receives-gold-doe-nnsa |title=Goldstein receives the gold from DOE and NNSA |date=January 28, 2021 |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref>
|-
|13
|[[File:Kimberly Susan Budil at the 2023 panel discussion Breakthroughs in Fusion.png|70px]]
|[[Kimberly S. Budil]]
|March 2, 2021
|present
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.llnl.gov/article/47206/kim-budil-selected-director-lawrence-livermore |title=Kim Budil selected as director of Lawrence Livermore |date=January 28, 2021 |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory}}</ref>
|-
|}

==Organization==

The LLNL director is supported by a senior executive team consisting of the deputy director, the deputy director for science and technology, principal associate directors, and other senior executives who manage areas/functions directly reporting to the laboratory director.

The director's office is organized into these functional areas/offices:
* Chief Information Office
* Contractor Assurance and Continuous Improvement
* Environment, Safety and Health
* Government and External Relations
* Independent Audit and Oversight
* Office of General Counsel
* Prime Contract Management Office
* Quality Assurance Office
* Security Organization
* LLNS, LLC Parent Oversight Office

The laboratory is organized into four principal directorates, each headed by a principal associate director:

* Global Security
* Weapons and Complex Integration
* National Ignition Facility and Photon Science
* Operations and Business
** Business
** Facilities & Infrastructure
** Institutional Facilities Management
** Integrated Safety Management System Project Office
** Nuclear Operations
** Planning and Financial Management
** Staff Relations
** Strategic Human Resources Management

Three other directorates are each headed by a principal associate director who reports to the LLNL director:

* Computing
* Engineering
* Physical & Life Sciences

==Corporate management==
The LLNL director reports to the Lawrence Livermore National Security, [[Limited liability company|LLC]] (LLNS) board of governors, a group of key scientific, academic, national security and business leaders from the LLNS partner companies that jointly own and control LLNS. The LLNS board of governors has a total of 16 positions, with six of these governors constituting an executive committee. All decisions of the board are made by the governors on the executive committee. The other governors are advisory to the executive committee and do not have voting rights.

The University of California is entitled to appoint three governors to the executive committee, including the chair. Bechtel is also entitled to appoint three governors to the executive committee, including the vice chair. One of the Bechtel governors must be a representative of Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) or the Washington Division of URS Corporation (URS), who is nominated jointly by B&W and URS each year, and who must be approved and appointed by Bechtel. The executive committee has a seventh governor who is appointed by Battelle; they are non-voting and advisory to the executive committee. The remaining board positions are known as independent governors (also referred to as outside governors), and are selected from among individuals, preferably of national stature, and can not be employees or officers of the partner companies.

The University of California-appointed chair has tie-breaking authority over most decisions of the executive committee. The board of governors is the ultimate governing body of LLNS and is charged with overseeing the affairs of LLNS in its operations and management of LLNL.

LLNS managers and employees who work at LLNL, up to and including the president and laboratory director, are generally referred to as laboratory employees. All laboratory employees report directly or indirectly to the LLNS president. While most of the work performed by LLNL is funded by the federal government, laboratory employees are paid by LLNS, which is responsible for all aspects of their employment, including providing health care benefits and retirement programs.

Within the board of governors, authority resides in the executive committee to exercise all rights, powers, and authorities of LLNS, excepting only certain decisions that are reserved to the parent companies. The LLNS executive committee is free to appoint officers or other managers of LLNS and LLNL, and may delegate its authorities as it deems appropriate to such officers, employees, or other representatives of LLNS/LLNL. The executive committee may also retain auditors, attorneys, or other professionals as necessary. For the most part the executive committee has appointed senior managers at LLNL as the primary officers of LLNS. As a practical matter most operational decisions are delegated to the president of LLNS, who is also the laboratory director. The positions of president laboratory director and deputy laboratory director are filled by joint action of the chair and vice chair of the executive committee, with the University of California nominating the president and laboratory director and Bechtel nominating the deputy laboratory director.<ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/senate/reports/ac.labguide.0807.pdf |last1=Eklund |first1=Bill |last2=Oakley |first2=John |date=August 31, 2007 |title=An Introductory Guide to UC's Ties to LANS LLC and LLNS LLC and their Management of the Weapons Labs at Los Alamos and Livermore |publisher=University of California |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528040814/http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/senate/reports/ac.labguide.0807.pdf |archive-date=May 28, 2010}}</ref>

The current LLNS chairman is [[Norman J. Pattiz]], founder and chairman of [[Westwood One (1976–2011)|Westwood One]], America's largest radio network, who also currently serves on the board of regents of the University of California. The vice chairman is J. Scott Ogilvie, president of Bechtel Systems & Infrastructure, Inc., who also serves on the board of directors of Bechtel Group, Inc. (BGI) and on the BGI Audit Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.llnsllc.com/aboutUs/bog2008.asp|publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC|title=LLNS Board of Governors |access-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025074437/http://llnsllc.com/aboutUs/bog2008.asp|archive-date=October 25, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Public protests==
The Livermore Action Group organized many mass protests, from 1981 to 1984, against nuclear weapons which were being produced by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Peace activists Ken Nightingale and Eldred Schneider were involved.<ref>{{cite book |first=Barbara |last=Epstein |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vYW67obBjSEC&pg=PA125 |title=Political protest and cultural revolution: Nonviolent direct action in the 1970s and 1980s |publisher=University of California Press |location=Berkeley |date=1993 |pages=125–133 |isbn=0520070100}}</ref> On June 22, 1982, more than 1,300 [[anti-nuclear]] protesters were arrested in a nonviolent demonstration.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/22/us/1300-arrested-in-california-antinuclear-protest.html |title=1,300 arrested in a California antinuclear protest |date=June 22, 1982 |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref> More recently, there has been an annual protest against nuclear weapons research at Lawrence Livermore. In August 2003, 1,000 people protested at Livermore Labs against "new-generation nuclear warheads".<ref>{{cite news |title=Nuclear Protest Blooms Again at Lab: 1,000 in Livermore Demonstrate Against New Buster Bomb |url=http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Nuclear-protest-blooms-again-at-lab-1-000-in-2561799.php |first=Diana |last=Walsh |date=11 August 2003 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=23 June 2015 }}</ref> In the 2007 protest, 64 people were arrested.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0626080620070406 Police arrest 64 at California anti-nuclear protest] ''Reuters'', April 6, 2007.</ref> More than 80 people were arrested in March 2008 while protesting at the gates.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2008/03/22/scores-arrested-during-protest-at-livermore-lab-2/ |title=Scores arrested during protest at Livermore Lab |date= March 22, 2008 |work=Oakland Tribune}}</ref>

On July 27, 2021, the Society of Professionals, Scientists, and Engineers – University of Professional & Technical Employees Local 11, CWA Local 9119, went on a three-day strike over unfair labor practices.

==See also==
{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area}}
* [[Center for the Advancement of Science in Space]]—operates the US National Laboratory on the ISS
* [[Dielectric wall accelerator]]
* [[Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory]]
* [[List of articles associated with nuclear issues in California]]
* [[List of US DOE National Laboratories]]
* [[Top 100 US Federal Contractors]]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book |first=C. Bruce |last=Tarter |title=The American lab: an insider's history of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |date=2018 |location=Baltimore |isbn=978-1421425313}}
* {{cite book |title=Nuclear Rites: A Weapons Laboratory at the End of the Cold War |first=Hugh |last=Gusterson |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |location=Berkeley |date=1996 |isbn=0-520-21373-4 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/nuclearritesweap0000gust_u8i6 }}
* {{cite report |title=The Stockpile Stewardship and Management Program: Maintaining Confidence in the Safety and Reliability of the Enduring U.S. Nuclear Weapon Stockpile |publisher=[[U.S. Department of Energy]], Office of Defense Programs |date=May 1995}}
* {{cite report |editor-first=Lauren |editor-last=de Vore |title=Preparing for the 21st Century: 40 Years of Excellence |publisher=Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |id=UCRL-AR-108618 |date=1992}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}{{Library resources box}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.llnl.gov/50th_anniv/history.htm |title=History of the Laboratory |publisher=LLNL |date=July 14, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061012145952/http://www.llnl.gov/50th_anniv/history.htm |archive-date=October 12, 2006}}
* {{cite report |url=https://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/240009.pdf |title=Serving the Nation for Fifty Years: 1952–2002 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory [LLNL], Fifty Years of Accomplishments |publisher=LLNL |year=2002 |id=UCRL-AR-148833 |access-date=August 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015002819/https://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/240009.pdf |archive-date=October 15, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
* [http://www.llnl.gov/IPandC LLNL Industrial Partnerships and Commercialization (IPAC)] (official website)

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