George H. Miller to lead competition team

The University of California today (July 20) named George H. Miller as the team leader in preparations for the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) contract competition.

A national security and nuclear weapons expert and a leader in large-scale facilities management, Miller has worked at LLNL for more than 34 years and currently serves as its interim director. He will lead the University’s efforts through the upcoming Department of Energy (DOE) competition for management and operations of the laboratory.

The final decision regarding the University’s participation in the contract competition for the future management of LLNL will be made by the UC Regents at a later date. If the Board votes to compete and UC is awarded the contract, Miller will be named laboratory director.

"George Miller is an excellent choice to lead UC through this important competition and to lead the laboratory into the future,” said Gerald L. Parsky, chairman of the UC Board of Regents. "George has the skills, knowledge and experience to ensure that Livermore Laboratory continues to make incredible scientific, technological and homeland security contributions to our nation."

“It is a tremendous honor to lead the University’s efforts in this historic competition,” said Miller. “The men and women at Livermore have been on the front lines of ensuring our national security for more than 54 years. We have a tremendous future ahead of us and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to lead the laboratory.”

Miller joined the Livermore laboratory in 1972 as a physicist, and during his early career, he served in a number of senior technical positions. In 1980, he was named A-Division leader and program leader for all thermonuclear design and computational physics development. He was named associate director for defense systems in 1985.

Miller left LLNL in 1989 to serve as the special scientific adviser on weapons activities to then-Secretary of Energy Admiral James D. Watkins, and returned to the laboratory a year later to serve as associate director for defense and nuclear technologies. He then went on to serve as associate director for national security and associate director for National Ignition Facility programs.  

Miller was named associate director at large for the laboratory in June 2005 and was appointed LLNL’s interim director by the Regents in March 2006.

Miller will continue to serve as the laboratory’s interim director throughout the competition process.

As team leader, Miller will be eligible to receive a $50,000 bonus if the UC Regents decide to compete and UC is awarded the new management contract. Miller will receive an $8,916 auto allowance per year as the future lab director. In addition, Miller will be eligible to earn a performance incentive bonus of up to 20 percent of his annual base salary, if such a program is approved in the future. Any expenses associated with Miller’s work on the development of UC’s proposal or the competition itself will be paid out of separate, non-DOE funds.

As interim director, Miller currently receives an annual salary of $369,700, which he will continue to receive should he assume the director position under the new contract. As the lab’s interim director, Miller will continue to receive the benefits afforded those in the University of California Senior Management Group, such as the 5 percent of salary contribution to one or more of the university's retirement plans on his behalf.

BACKGROUND ON THE COMPETITION PROCESS

The contract to manage Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory expires Sep. 30, 2007. On July 14, 2006, the DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) released the final request for proposals (RFP). The deadline for submitting bids is Oct. 12, 2006. According to DOE, a source evaluation board made up of DOE technical and business experts will review the proposals submitted and provide recommendations to the source selection official. The NNSA Service Center has established a web page for information associated with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Management and Operating (M&O) Contract Competition at http://www.doeal.gov/llnlCompetition/Default.htm.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

The University of California, chartered in 1868, is a 10 campus public university system with a mission of teaching, research and public service. With 208,000 students, UC is the world's premier public university. UC has five medical schools, three law schools and the nation's largest continuing education program. Forty-nine researchers affiliated with UC have been awarded Nobel Prizes; 17 of which have been won since 1995. UC also has 372 members in the National Academy of Sciences and538 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, while UC-affiliated researchers have received 48 Medals of Science since Congress created the award in 1959.

UC currently manages Lawrence Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories on behalf of the Department of Energy. The University, working with Bechtel National, BWX Technologies and Washington Group International, also manages Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The national laboratories are major sources of scientific and technical strength for the nation in fields ranging from national security to basic physics, biotechnology, climate studies, computer development, materials science, energy and the environment. The laboratories contribute to the country's economic competitiveness through research partnerships with industry and engage in math and science education for students and teachers at all levels.

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