A Conversation with Dr. Thom Mason, Director of the Los Alamos National Lab

Dr. Mason will discuss the role of the national laboratories in advancing U.S. national security, the evolving challenges of nuclear deterrence and global nuclear security, and how cutting-edge science and technology—from computing to materials science—are shaping the future of energy and defense. The conversation will also explore leadership at scale: what it takes to guide one of the nation’s premier scientific institutions in an era of rapid technological and geopolitical change.

Speaker

Dr. Thom Mason became the 12th Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and President of Triad National Security, LLC in November 2018. LANL is a principal contributor to the U.S. Department of Energy’s mission to maintain the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile and strengthen global nuclear security through innovative science and technology. Over a 30-year career, Dr. Mason has led the design and construction of major scientific facilities and applied nuclear, computing, and materials science to critical challenges in energy and national security. Prior to joining Los Alamos, he served as Senior Vice President for Global Laboratory Operations at Battelle, overseeing governance and strategy across six national laboratories. He previously spent 19 years at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, including a decade as Laboratory Director, and began his career in academia as a faculty member in physics at the University of Toronto. Dr. Mason holds a PhD in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics from McMaster University and a BSc in Physics from Dalhousie University.

Moderator

Neil Narang is a political scientist and Associate Vice President for National Laboratory Management at UCOP. He also serves as Co-Director of the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC) and professor in at the UC Santa Barbara. His research focuses on international security, nuclear stability, and the impact of emerging technologies on global alliances.

About the Herb York Memorial Lecture Series