PNNL

Blake Kluse joined Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in 2005, starting as a project controls professional in the National Security Directorate before advancing to roles in project, program, and operations management across multiple research directorates and the Laboratory’s management and operations. Notably, he served as the program manager for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Radiological Security, leading the safe and secure execution of security upgrades at facilities in over 80 countries. During this time, he oversaw PNNL's support of source recovery from Harborview Medical Center. 

Before becoming chief operating officer in 2025, Kluse served as the portfolio manager for the Operational Systems Directorate, responsible for the integration and execution of projects at the PNNL-Sequim campus and as the lead for PNNL's NZERO Laboratory Initiative. Prior to joining the Operational Systems Directorate, Kluse was assigned as the deputy of operations for the Coastal Observations, Mechanisms, and Predictions Across Systems and Scales (COMPASS) project, an effort led by the Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate aimed at enhancing the predictive understanding of coastal systems, including their responses to short- and long-term changes.

Kluse holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a specialization in business management. He is also a graduate of Battelle’s Leadership Exchange and Advancement Program and the Laboratory Operations Leadership Academy. He earned his Project Management Professional certification in 2011.

• Project Management Body of Knowledge 
• Operations Management
• Institutional Strategy Development/Execution
• Operational Transformation
• Risk Management Plans
• Systems Engineering and Integration
• Team Development
• Technology Commercialization 

• BA in business administration and management, Linfield University
• Project Management Professional Certification, Project Management Institute