Mike Kluse is Laboratory Director of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). He also is Senior Vice President of Battelle. Mr. Kluse is responsible for setting the vision and strategic direction of PNNL. Since assuming the helm in January 2007, he has focused PNNL on advancing the frontiers of science and solving some of our nation’s most complex challenges in energy, the environment, and national security. He combines excellence in science and technology, management and operations, and community stewardship to ensure PNNL's world-class research and development..
Under Mr. Kluse's leadership, PNNL has been restructured to better deliver on its missions and reduce operating costs. The science and technology impact of this restructure has resulted in a 34 percent increase in business volume to more than $1.1 billion, and the Laboratory's more than 4,900 staff members have a renewed focus on operational discipline. Mr. Kluse also stewarded the largest construction project in the Laboratory's history. Now complete, it makes PNNL among the most mission-ready in the DOE Office of Science national laboratory system to deliver on the nation's challenges.
Mr. Kluse joined Battelle at its Columbus corporate headquarters in 1976 as a defense and space systems research scientist. He quickly moved up through the management ranks, serving as Vice President of Battelle's Defense Engineering business and Vice President and General Manager of Battelle's Navy Sector. Mr. Kluse then moved to PNNL in 1997 to lead PNNL's national security business, which he greatly expanded in scope, impact and the number of clients.
Mr. Kluse serves on the boards of several regional and national organizations: Council on Competitiveness Energy Security, Governor's Higher Education Funding Task Force, Innovation & Sustainability Initiative Steering Committee, Oregon Innovation Council, Washington Roundtable Board of Directors, Washington State University Tri-Cities Advisory Committee, and Washington Technology Alliance Board of Directors. He also is a member of the Institute of Nuclear and Materials Management, the National Defense Industrial Association, the Navy League, and U.S. Air Force Association.
Mr. Kluse holds a B.S. degree in Systems Analysis from Miami University, and a M.S. degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University.
