Ted Wyka/NNSA Photo

Michael Mikolanis/NNSA Photo

BY BRADLEY WILLIAMS
Administrator
NNSA

After a distinguished career dedicated to public service and the safety and security of our nation, Ted Wyka, Manager of the NNSA Los Alamos Field Office (LAFO), has announced his retirement. Ted’s steadfast leadership, deep expertise, and commitment to the mission have been instrumental in advancing critical national security priorities at Los Alamos.

Ted’s career in public service began as a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine officer on the first Trident submarine, the U.S.S. Ohio, and he would later serve as a team leader for the advance planning efforts of the Los Angeles Class submarine refueling overhaul. He has 26 years of total naval service, including 16 as a Reservist.

For the past five years, Ted has served as the Manager at LAFO. There, he is responsible for leadership and oversight of one of NNSA’s most critical facilities. In his time as Field Office Manager, the lab has made significant progress on restoring plutonium pit production capabilities through the Los Alamos Plutonium Pit Production Project (LAP4). This includes “diamond-stamping” the first war-reserve pit for the W87-1 Modification Program in October 2024.

With Ted’s departure, Michael Mikolanis, currently serving as the Field Office Manager at the NNSA Savannah River Field Office, has been selected to serve as the new Manager at LAFO. Michael brings a wealth of executive experience, technical knowledge, and proven operational leadership to the role, making him exceptionally well-suited to guide the office through its upcoming mission milestones. Michael will head to Los Alamos in September to enable a smooth transition.

At Savannah River, Tim Fischer, the Deputy Field Office Manager, will be acting until a new manager is selected.

Please join me in thanking Ted for his outstanding service and dedication, and in offering our congratulations to Michael as he prepares to assume this critical leadership role.

Ted Wyka, left, and Michael Mikolanis at a Los Alamos County Council meeting in 2021. The two have been friends for many, many years. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com