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Christopher Deeney appointed new director of the Laser Lab

Christopher Deeney has been named the new director of the聽人妻少妇专区鈥檚听Laboratory for Laser Energetics, the largest university-based Department of Energy research program in the nation. (人妻少妇专区 photo / J. Adam Fenster)

A leader in science and innovation, Deeney brings to the role his extensive experience running complex operations.

Christopher Deeney has been named the new director of the聽鈥檚听, succeeding Michael Campbell, who retired in December.

Deeney was named deputy director of the LLE in October 2021 and has served as interim director since Campbell鈥檚 retirement. He previously served as chief science and technology officer, National Security Directorate, at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and before that at the Nevada National Security Site, the US Department of Energy鈥檚 National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and the Sandia National Laboratories.

Deeney is known as a scientific and innovation leader with direct experience running complex operations.

鈥淭he University is fortunate to have such a visionary leader for our Laboratory for Laser Energetics,鈥 says University President Sarah Mangelsdorf. 鈥淐hris Deeney is internationally known and respected. We鈥檙e looking forward to the creative partnerships and projects he will continue to cultivate with scholars and institutions around the world.鈥

Stephen Dewhurst, vice dean for research at the School of Medicine and Dentistry and associate vice president for health sciences research for the University, who is currently serving a one-year appointment as interim vice president for research, added, 鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled that Chris will be serving permanently as LLE director. He will continue the trajectory of innovation that has characterized the crucial work of LLE.鈥

LLE has a long tradition of innovating and advancing laser and optical technology. As LLE director, Deeney will provide guidance to ensure the development and implementation of LLE鈥檚 scientific and technical mission. He will participate in the day-to-day management of LLE while fostering successful relationships among the University鈥檚 senior leadership, medical center, academic and administrative departments, and students; federal, local, and state government officials; peer organizations and laboratories; the DOE, NNSA, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Defense; and private industry and the local community.

鈥淭he 人妻少妇专区鈥檚 Laboratory for Laser Energetics remains a jewel in the inertial confinement fusion and high-energy-density physics programs,鈥 Deeney says. 鈥淚t is an honor to be selected to work with the exceptional scientists, engineers, technicians, administrators, and students who make every facet of LLE sparkle. Mike Campbell was an exceptional director, and he has left the laboratory in a very strong position.聽I look forward to working with the LLE team, the University leadership, and our sponsors to deliver on opportunities to advance science and technology.鈥

LLE, which recently received $83 million in federal funding as part of the fiscal year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill鈥攁 $1 million increase over fiscal year 2021鈥攊s the largest university-based DOE research program in the nation. The laboratory operates two world-class laser facilities and a number of smaller facilities, powered by a workforce of nearly 400 employees and more than 50 graduate students. As a premier institute for the studies of inertial confinement fusion and high-energy density research, LLE also operates the National Laser Users鈥 Facility, which allows as many as 500 additional scientists from all over the world to probe the extremes of temperature and pressure in laboratory-scale experiments.

Deeney鈥檚 near-term tasks include developing an effective and sustainable approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion鈥攐ne that builds upon LLE鈥檚 efforts to date, is integrated with the University as a whole, and has NNSA and DOE buy-in. He will help develop ongoing University strategy and laboratory-specific strategies, with an emphasis on executability and workforce balance between scientists, engineers, and technical staff.

Deeney received his PhD in plasma physics from the Imperial College in the United Kingdom. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.


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