Livermore lab executive takes helm at Los Alamos

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, May 7, 2005 | by Ian Hoffman, STAFF WRITER

With scientists at Los Alamos weapons lab in full-throated rebellion, the University of California is replacing a hard- charging admiral as lab director with a polished, affable executive from a sister lab, Lawrence Livermore.

As rumored for weeks, 38-year Livermore veteran Bob Kuckuck will take the helm of Los Alamos as interim director from May 15 at least until the end of September.

A number of defense and engineering firms and academic institutions are competing for the $60 million-a-year contract to run Los Alamos, but even if the university, as incumbent, were to win, Kuckuck says he will not be the long-term director.

Rather, Kuckuck is widely seen as a measured hand who might calm a scientific staff verging on mutiny.

I think a major tactic is to connect with the people, he said by