The choice of Beason was announced today by Associate Laboratory Director for Threat Reduction Don Cobb: "I am pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Doug Beason as program director for Threat Reduction Science and Technology. Doug is an outstanding addition to the Laboratory. He has excellent technical credentials and an in-depth understanding of the needs for advanced technology by the defense and national security communities. I am confident Doug will help the Laboratory achieve a new level in meeting these needs."Laboratory Director John Browne noted that "Beason brings a superb background in science and in program management to the Laboratory, building on our institutional strengths in advanced technologies, space research and computational modeling. I look forward to seeing his skilled hand at work in Threat Reduction's science and technology efforts."
Beason's new posting will involve management of defense and national security-related programs within the Threat Reduction directorate. He comes to this position from the Air Force Research Laboratory where he was commander of the Phillips Research Site and deputy director for Directed Energy. Before that he was at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Among Beason's areas of responsibility at OSTP were the National Aerospace Plane project as well as contributions to presidential decision directives on Global Climate Data Information Systems and LANDSAT satellite systems. He was also a research fellow at the National Defense
University, where he wrote a book on science and technology policy that is now a textbook at the National War College. Beason retired in 2001 from a 24-year career the United States Air Force, finishing with the rank of Colonel. He holds a Ph.D. in physics (radiation hydrodynamics) from the University of New Mexico.
Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the United States Department of Energy.
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 the Washington Division of URS 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.