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Top technology officer named VP of Sandia's California lab
Steve Rottler to succeed Rick Stulen, who is retiring

by Jeb Bing

Chief Technology Officer Steve Rottler has been named vice president of Sandia's Livermore laboratory, moving into the top post at Sandia's California facility on Feb. 1. He replaces Rick Stulen, who is retiring after 36 years at Sandia National Laboratories.

In his new role, Rottler will lead Sandia's Energy, Climate and Infrastructure Security Strategic Management Unit. He also will continue as vice president of Sandia's Science and Technology Research Foundations division.

"This management change will maintain continuity and operational stability during the pending contract competition and help ensure a leadership team that supports the workforce as we continue to deliver on our commitments," said Paul Hommert, Sandia president and labs director at its headquarters laboratory in Albuquerque, N.M.

Rottler has held a number of increasingly important leadership roles since he joined Sandia as a member of the technical staff in 1985, including vice president of Weapons Engineering and Product Realization and chief engineer for Nuclear Weapons.

He also led nuclear warhead system engineering, the integration and development of high performance electronic systems and organizations and programs responsible for the research, development and application of advanced computational and experimental techniques in the engineering sciences.

Rottler received his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees, all in nuclear engineering, from Texas A&M University.

"Everyone at Sandia owes a tremendous debt of gratitude and appreciation to Rick Stulen for his significant contributions to the laboratories and the nation," Hommert said. "I wish him the very best in his retirement."

Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Co., for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque and Livermore, Sandia has major R&D responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies and economic competitiveness.