Lisa Gordon-Hagerty at Los Alamos National Laboratory in July for the 75th anniversary of the Trinity Test. Also pictured are LANL director Dr. Thom Mason, center and Rep. Ben Ray Lujan. Photo Courtesy LANL

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, head of the National Nuclear Security Administration and Under Secretary of Energy for National Security, has resigned her position effectively immediately, Defense News reported today. Her resignation was reportedly submitted to directly to the White House and not to Sec. of Energy Dan Brouillette, the Defense News states.

In announcing the resignation, the Department of Energy said Dr. William Bookless, who has been serving as NNSA Principal Deputy Administrator for 18 months is now the Acting NNSA Administrator, “ensuring the continuity of NNSA’s vital mission to sustain the safety, security and effectiveness of our nuclear deterrent and strengthen our national security”.

DOE says Bookless brings more than 35 years of experience in the Nuclear Security Enterprise to the position, including more than 30 years as a senior physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 

The DOE announcement states that as Administrator, Gordon-Hagerty “oversaw the modernization of NNSA’s infrastructure and the strengthening of its world-class workforce”.

“She also made significant strides in improving NNSA governance and management and demonstrated a sincere dedication to the 50,000 men and women serving in the national security workforce,” the statement says.