PNNL

Dawn Wellman, a scientist and manager of PNNL’s Environmental Health and Remediation market sector, completed the Department of Energy’s Oppenheimer Science and Energy Leadership Program in the spring of 2017.

Wellman was chosen to serve as a member of the inaugural program based on her record of professional and scientific accomplishment, demonstrated leadership, commitment to service, and potential for continuing contributions to society.

The goal of the Oppenheimer Science and Energy Leadership Program is to bring together emerging leaders from diverse disciplines within the DOE national laboratories to build a network of future leaders poised to tackle the nation's energy challenges.

Wellman and her fellow program members were able to meet with policy-makers, government and industry leaders, scientists, and others to develop the knowledge necessary for future leadership roles within the national laboratory system. The leadership program curriculum consisted of five workshops taking place between June 2016 and April 2017 that provided members with first-hand experience in federal policymaking, energy regulatory and policy framework. Members gained a holistic understanding of the national laboratory system and the unique attributes of each laboratory, as well as the critical roles they serve the nation in energy, national security, economics, public health, and the environment.

Wellman spoke highly of the Oppenheimer Science and Energy Leadership Program, stating, "This program provided an outstanding forum to gain a broad understanding of the vastly different strategic approaches and execution models that each laboratory uses, the underlying drivers, and identify synergies and opportunities for improvement within the laboratory network through best practices. Additionally, having worked extensively with the larger, multipurpose laboratories across the complex, this program greatly improved my awareness and understanding of the value the smaller laboratories within the complex bring to the mission. The knowledge we have gained through this program is invaluable for our group of emerging leaders and our ability to help move the complex forward and address the nation's challenges."

About Wellman

Wellman joined PNNL in 2002. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Washington State University and her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of North Dakota. Currently, Wellman is a staff scientist and manager of the Environmental Health and Remediation market sector, which deploys PNNL's capabilities in subsurface science, nuclear waste processing, and the environment. In addition to the Oppenheimer Science and Energy Leadership Program, Wellman has completed leadership courses from the Global Institute for Leadership Development as well as PNNL's Management Skills Development Program and Scientist and Engineer Development Program.