Steve Porter becomes Los Alamos' new chief legal counsel beginning Monday, January 8. Porter, who has vast experience throughout the Department of Energy's scientific complex, replaces Frank Dickson, who retired.
A nationwide search resulted in the selection of Porter, currently legal counsel for the laboratory operations sector at Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio.
Dickson informed Laboratory management of his retirement plans about a year ago. He has been the Laboratory's general counsel since 1997 and has been at the Laboratory since 1990. Dickson earned his law degree from Baylor University in 1965.
"Frank's solid understanding of the legal issues associated with a large, complex institution like Los Alamos has greatly contributed to the Laboratory and he will be missed," said Laboratory Director Michael Anastasio. "We wish him well as he retires to begin the next chapter of his life."
Porter has more than 30 years experience as a practicing attorney, 10 of those in legal management, with a particular expertise in the identification, management, and mitigation of business risks, with primary emphasis on risks arising in a government setting.
Porter earned his law degree from Louisiana State University and his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Louisiana Tech.
"Steve brings a valuable level of legal expertise to the Laboratory," said Anastasio. "His current practice of law at Battelle focuses on the operations of its five DOE labs. This experience, coupled with his work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and DOE, makes him uniquely qualified to head the legal counsel's office at Los Alamos."
