Organizational development director will head national laboratory's government affairs, education, community and regional relations
June 18, 2015 
RICHLAND, Wash. - Paula Linnen, who has held key leadership roles at Pacific Northwest National Lab over the past 2 decades, has been named director of External Relations at the D.O.E. laboratory, starting July 1.
In her new role, Linnen will lead PNNL's federal and state legislative interactions and will represent PNNL within the community and Northwest. She will also lead PNNL's science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, education programs. The related functions are coming together in one organization for the 1st time at PNNL.
"Paula's keen strategic thinking and strong executive skills make her well suited to lead an effort that will result in greater engagement with some of our most important stakeholders," said PNNL Director Steven Ashby. "She is an ideal ambassador for PNNL and will make connections that will further DOE's missions to the benefit of the laboratory, community and region."
Linnen joined PNNL in 1991 and was named director of Human Resources in 1996, a position she held until 2007. Since 2007 Linnen has served as associate Lab director for Organizational Development. In that role, she directed the national laboratory's human resources, communications and education efforts.
Under her guidance, PNNL was named one of the top 10 places to work in Washington for organizations with in excess of 500 employees, and Fortune magazine acknowledged PNNL as one of 20 great employers for new college graduates. She oversaw the creation and expansion of PNNL University, a suite of rigorous leadership development and training programs for PNNL executives, managers, plan managers, scientists and engineers.
In the community, Linnen helped advance PNNL's and Battelle's foundational roles in the creation of Delta High School, the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center and the Mid-Columbia STEM Education Collaboratory. She also oversaw events celebrating PNNL's 50th Anniversary.
Linnen is currently a committee member for the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) National Accelerator Lab Board of Overseers; a member of the Washington State STEM Education Foundation board of directors; and a board member and academic committee chair for Heritage University in Toppenish, Wash.
She is a past board member of the March of Dimes and the Advisory Council for Washington State University Tri-Cities; past board chair for Columbia Industries; and past vice chair for the Tri-Cities Chapter of the Society of Human Resources Managers.
Linnen has been the recipient of the Benton-Franklin Co. Volunteer Center's "Golden Heart Award" for volunteer excellence of a board member and the ATHENA Leadership Award for supporting, honoring and developing women leaders, an award acknowledged nationally through local chapters of the Chamber of Commerce.
Linnen earned a bachelor's degree in business administration/marketing from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Tags: Operations, Staff Appointments
Interdisciplinary teams at Pacific Northwest National Lab address many of America's most pressing issues in energy, the environment and national security through advances in basic and applied science. Founded in 1965, PNNL employs 4,300 staff and has an yearly budget of in excess of $1 billion. It is managed by Battelle for the D.O.E.'s Office of Science. As the single biggest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, the Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information on PNNL, visit the PNNL News Center, or follow PNNL on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter.
