According to Thomas J. Meyer, Associate Laboratory Director for Strategic Research, "Los Alamos is truly fortunate to have Ray joining the Laboratory. His record of technical and managerial accomplishments at both PNNL and INEEL, along with his knowledge of the DOE's Office of Science operations, will go a long way toward strengthening the Los Alamos Office of Science programs and forging a solid working relationship with DOE's Office of Science.
Stults accepted the job saying, "I am excited to join Los Alamos and to have the opportunity to work with the extraordinarily talented staff at the laboratory. I believe there is tremendous opportunity to develop new programs with DOE's Office of Science (OSC) by matching Los Alamos' scientific talents with the program needs of the OSC. I look forward to working with the current science programs and Laboratory researchers to develop new programs that will strengthen the scientific stature of the laboratory and support DOE missions."
Stults has been Associate Lab Director for Environmental and Energy Sciences at Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory since August 2000. Prior to that, he served as Technical Resource manager in the Environmental Technology Division at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. While at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Stults played a key role in developing and constructing the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, which opened for full operations in the 1997.
As the local Office of Science manager, Stults will be responsible for leadership, communication, and coordination of Office of Science operations at Los Alamos. He will work closely with the Associate Directorate for Strategic Research, the Los Alamos Office of Science Board of Directors, and Laboratory program managers to build on current Office of Science successes. His primary duties will be to maintain the Laboratory's connection with DOE's Office of Science, to formalize and document the operations of the Office of Science operations at the Laboratory, to help identify program development opportunities and needs, and coordinate scientific and technical program development efforts.
Stults has a doctorate in inorganic chemistry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and did his postdoctoral research at Texas A&M University. His appointment concluded a nationwide search that carefully considered the numerous critical requirements of the Los Alamos Office of Science program director position.
Stults replaces Bill Tumas, who served as interim Los Alamos leader of the Office of Science programs after L. Scott Cram retired from that position in June 2002. Tumas will continue his position as leader of the Laboratory's Actinide, Catalysis and Separations Chemistry group.
Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and Washington Group International for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.
Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.