PNNL

Sharon Adams is a technical advisor and manager at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's (PNNL’s) National Security Directorate, where she is the Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics division leader. In this role, she leads a 400-person team in advancing the theory, practice, and deployment of advanced data science and engineering techniques for national security missions. She also helps to foster the PNNL culture in the Washington, DC area, developing staff and managing a facility that highlights PNNL’s technical capabilities.

Previously, Adams served in multiple group manager roles, as a cyber security subsector manager for Department of Homeland Security and Special Programs, and as a project manager. She co-developed a national laboratory cyber research and development vision and road map. In this role, she participated in a multi-lab cybersecurity strategy mission and fostered the recognition and growth of the cyber capability areas.

Before PNNL, Adams was a federal operations manager at the Battelle Memorial Institute, where she was selected to serve as the Washington, DC group manager for the intelligence analysis capability. She helped create a high-performance culture, enhancing the diversity of the demographics and positively affecting morale and retention rates. Her background also includes experience as an environmental policy manager for the American Chemistry Council and a chemical engineer with International Paper. 

• ME in chemical engineering, University of Buffalo
• MS in nuclear chemistry, University of Rochester
• BA in biophysics, Binghamton University