PNNL

Three staff at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) were selected to be part of the 2022 Oppenheimer Cohort. They are: Bill Pike, Tracy Spooner, and Ram Devanathan.

The Oppenheimer Science and Energy Leadership Program (OSELP), established in 2017, is a distinguished fellowship program that brings together exceptional leaders to explore the complexities, challenges, and opportunities facing the national laboratory system and the Department of Energy (DOE).

As the premier leadership development program of the National Lab Director’s Council (NLDC), the Oppenheimer program is building the national lab leaders of tomorrow. Throughout the year, the fellows develop think-pieces that address major organizational, policy, scientific, or other challenges within the national labs’ mission space. Think-pieces are presented to the NLDC and other senior leaders at a capstone event that closes the program in December in Washington, D.C.

The fifth OSELP cohort consists of 33 individuals representing all 17 of the DOE national laboratories, with professional backgrounds spanning technical, operational, and strategic domains. Selection as an Oppenheimer fellow is a highly competitive process. Candidates are nominated by national lab directors, assessed by a committee of former national lab directors and former senior DOE officials, and accepted into the program by the NLDC.

Bill Pike, PhD, is the director of the Computing and Analytics Division in the National Security Directorate at PNNL. His division leads research and development activities in computer science, data analytics, software engineering, and cybersecurity. Pike is a passionate advocate for data-driven decision-making and has helped organizations enhance their performance and strategic planning processes through new analytics and data products. “I’m excited to partner with other S&T leaders across the country to increase the impact of the laboratory system,” said Pike. “These partnerships can build stronger collaborations between the scientific and operational elements of lab management.”

Tracy Spooner, MS, is the director of the Campus Development Division in the Operational Systems Directorate at PNNL. She leads a team responsible for the development and implementation of the 10-year campus strategy, as well as understanding future scientific mission needs to make data-driven, risk-informed investment decisions that form and optimize the near-term and long-term campus development strategy. “I am honored to be selected for this prestigious fellowship,” said Spooner. “I look forward to learning about the other national labs across the system as well as meeting with senior leaders to discuss the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the national lab system today.”

Ram Devanathan, PhD, is the director of the Energy Processes and Materials Division in the Energy and Environment Directorate at PNNL. He is passionate about advancing the clean energy revolution through decarbonization, electrification, and energy-efficient advanced manufacturing. Devanathan’s technical interests include the design of materials for extreme environments, multiscale modeling, and machine learning for materials discovery. “I am grateful for this opportunity to learn from senior DOE lab leaders,” said Devanathan. “I look forward to working with peers across the system to envision the future of the national lab enterprise.”

Former OSELP cohorts included PNNL staff members Dawn Wellman, Suresh Baskaran, and Wendy Shaw.