March 11, 2015
Issued by Battelle
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Battelle announced today the appointment of Dr. Steven Ashby as Lab Director for Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL) in Richland, WA, effective April 1. Battelle operates the lab for the D.O.E.'s Office of Science.
Ashby has served as PNNL's Deputy Director for Science and Technology since 2008. He has been instrumental in integrating PNNL's science and technology capabilities to address critical challenges in science, energy, the environment, and national security. He was selected following a highly competitive national search.
"Steve's expertise and passion fit well with the demands of the director position at PNNL," said Battelle President and CEO Jeff Wadsworth. "He fully understands PNNL's mission; has a compelling vision for the future of the lab, and has developed strong relationships with senior leaders across DOE, key sponsors, and the entire Lab system. Most importantly, he is committed to driving PNNL forward as one of the top science and technology institutions in the country."
Prior to coming to PNNL, he served as the Deputy Principal Associate Director for Science and Technology at Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL) and held several leadership roles in LLNL's Computation Directorate. He is widely acknowledged as a leader in computational science and has worked to advance it as a discipline throughout his career.
Ashby, 55, holds doctorate and master's degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign and a bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was elected AAAS Fellow in 2013. He was elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences, and serves on the Science Policy Committee of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.
"Steve is a superb choice to lead PNNL, one of the most diverse labs in the D.O.E. system," said Patricia Dehmer, acting director of DOE's Office of Science. "Steve's scientific accomplishments, demonstrated leadership, and familiarity with the breadth of PNNL's research programs make him well suited for this role. As deputy director for science and technology, Steve was central to shaping PNNL's vision, and I look forward to working with him in his new role as Lab director."
Ashby succeeds Mike Kluse, who is retiring after 8 years as PNNL Director.
For more information contact Greg Koller at (509) 372-4864, Katy Delaney at (614) 424-7208 or contact T.R. Massey at (614) 424-5544.
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Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national labs around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. Battelle has managed and operated the D.O.E.'s Pacific Northwest National Lab in Richland, Wash., since the laboratory's inception in 1965.