FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 4, 2002

UC President's Office Contact:
Michael Reese (510) 987-9179
michael.reese@ucop.edu

Livermore Lab Contact:
Susan Houghton (925) 422-9919
houghton3@llnl.gov

Michael R. Anastasio named director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

The University of California Board of Regents today (June 4, 2002) named Dr. Michael R. Anastasio, currently deputy director for strategic operations of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and a research scientist nationally recognized for his leadership in the design and safe stewardship of nuclear weapons, as director of the UC-managed national laboratory.

Acting on the recommendation of UC President Richard C. Atkinson, the Regents appointed Anastasio the ninth director of the Livermore lab during a special meeting conducted by telephone conference call. Anastasio will take office July 1, replacing departing Director C. Bruce Tarter.

"This was a very competitive search, with many fine candidates," Atkinson said. "Mike Anastasio emerged as the right person for this very important position. Throughout a 22-year career at Lawrence Livermore, he has distinguished himself as both a brilliant scientist and skilled administrator with the right combination of theoretical and practical experience to maintain the Laboratory's historic place on the cutting edge of science."

Anastasio, 53, began his lab career focused on the design, evaluation, and understanding of nuclear systems. Recently, he has been a leader in the national Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP) designed to sustain the safety, security and reliability of America's nuclear weapons stockpile.

He also has served in Washington as a scientific adviser at the Department of Energy, providing advice to senior members of the department on a variety of SSP issues.

"Mike Anastasio is an exceptional appointment as director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory," said Gen. John A. Gordon, Administrator of the National Nuclear Security
Administration. "I have the highest confidence in his leadership in helping our nation create the technology so necessary to advance security during this crucial time in our history. Mike has demonstrated an understanding of the importance of our national labs working in collaboration with each other, and provides continuity for an already exceptional team at Livermore as it marks its 50th year of contributing to science in the cause of security."

In nominating Anastasio, Atkinson was advised by a committee of Regents, research scientists and research administrators, which in turn was advised by an application screening committee consisting largely of the scientific leaderships of the Livermore lab and several UC campuses.

"I am honored to accept this appointment," said Anastasio. "I have spent nearly 22 years at Livermore and I feel enormous pride in this institution and the people who work here. As Livermore is among the nation's top scientific institutions, we must continue to make innovative contributions to advance national security and all areas of science and technology. I will continue our strong collaborations with the other national laboratories and with the Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration, and the University of California to meet the exciting challenges that await us."

Anastasio began his career at the lab in 1980 as a physicist in the B-Division, one of the two nuclear weapons design physics divisions. He later was named leader of the division before serving as Associate Director for Defense and Nuclear Technologies, responsible for all activities in the Laboratory's nuclear weapons program. In that capacity, he was instrumental in the development and execution of the national Stockpile Stewardship Program.

For the last year, Anastasio has been the Deputy Director for Strategic Operations - responsible for all laboratory and national security operations.

Anastasio graduated from The Johns Hopkins University with a bachelor's degree in physics. He went on to the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where he earned his master's degree and Ph.D. in theoretical nuclear physics. He is the recipient of the 1990 DOE Weapons Recognition of Excellence Award for technical leadership in nuclear design. The award acknowledged Anastasio's outstanding theoretical and experimental contributions to understanding boost physics.

Anastasio and his wife Ann are residents of Livermore. They have two daughters in college - Alison and Alexandra. A sports enthusiast, Anastasio also plays the cello.

Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a national nuclear security laboratory, with a mission to ensure national security and apply science and technology to the important issues of our time. The University of California manages the laboratory for the National Nuclear Security Administration/Department of Energy.

As director, Anastasio will oversee an operation with 7,500 employees and a $1.5 billion budget. He will earn $315,700 per year as director, the same as Director Tarter's salary.

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