Sarah ‘Ellie’ Gilbertson, second from right, has been named acting manager of the DOE EM-LA Field Office as Michael Mikolanis, second from left, moves on to manage the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Savannah River Field Office. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

DOE/EM-LA NEWS

Sarah “Ellie” Gilbertson has been named acting manager of the EM Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) effective March 24.

Gilbertson served as acting EM-LA Deputy Manager from June 2022 until her appointment as the permanent deputy in February 2023. Prior to her appointment as Deputy Manager, Gilbertson served as EM-LA’s Office of Health, Operations, Safety, and Security (OHOSS) Director. In this role, she was responsible for nuclear safety operations, including safety basis, readiness, criticality safety, safety system engineering, and the facility representative team, as well as all health and safety oversight. Additionally, she managed the oversight of all safeguards and security execution, including facility and emergency management.

Prior to joining the EM-LA Field Office, Gilbertson worked in nuclear safety at the National Nuclear Security Administration Los Alamos Field Office and as a contractor with Los Alamos National Security.

She has an Associate Degree in Psychology from Labette Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in physics from Kansas State University with a secondary teaching certificate in physics, astronomy, and geology, a Master’s Degree in condensed matter physics from Kansas State University, and is completing a Doctorate in mechanical engineering at the University of New Mexico.

Gilbertson will take the reins from Michael Mikolanis who has been selected as the new Manager of National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Savannah River Field Office.