Argonne’s Leadership

Paul K. Kearns has served as director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory since 2017. Argonne is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center with a $1.1 billion diversified research portfolio and nearly 4,000 employees, approximately 2,000 visiting researchers, and more than 7,000 facility users in average year. Under his leadership and the stewardship of the DOE Office of Science, the laboratory drives advancements in fundamental science, energy solutions, and high-performance computing that are key to U.S. economic and national security. Kearns sets the laboratory’s strategic vision to deliver pivotal discoveries, realize dynamic collaborations, and provide powerful scientific tools and facilities. He also establishes policies that support its world-class community of talent in achieving transformative innovations and operational excellence.

Sean L. Jones is the deputy laboratory director for science & technology. As Argonne’s chief research officer, Jones works with laboratory leaders and staff to implement a laboratory-wide science strategy and develop Argonne’s $1.1 billion multidisciplinary science and technology portfolio that is comprised of 21 research divisions, six national scientific user facilities, and over 1,700 research and technical personnel.

Raeanna Sharp-Geiger is the deputy laboratory director for operations and chief operations officer. With over 25 years of experience at U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories, Rae leads Argonne’s operational strategy, excellence, modernization, and innovation. She partners with research and operations leaders across the Lab to continuously improve the services that enable Argonne’s world-leading science, technology, and engineering advancements.

As General Counsel, Nadine Lacombe is the chief legal counsel for Argonne National Laboratory, supporting the Laboratory in pursuit of its goals. With over 30 years of experience as an attorney, Nadine has a depth of experience working with government agencies across legal disciplines and representing a range of private and public sector clients.

Chief of Staff Sarah Higgins coordinates with leaders across the laboratory to advance strategic collaborations. She also serves as an advisor to Laboratory Director Paul Kearns.

Laurent Chapon is Argonne’s Associate Laboratory Director for Photon Sciences. He also directs the Advanced Photon Source (APS), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science user facility at Argonne, and the Advanced Photon Source Upgrade (APS-U) project.

Megan C. Clifford is Associate Laboratory Director for Science and Technology Partnerships and Outreach. Her focus areas in this role include: maximizing outcomes of existing collaborations and partnerships; supporting the creation of new collaborations and partnerships; and support of lab-wide strategy and program development – all with the goal of increasing the impact of Argonne’s work.

Claus Daniel is Associate Laboratory Director for Advanced Energy Technologies (AET). He leads an organization of scientists, engineers, and analysts working to develop breakthrough solutions to grow the economy through a reliable and secure energy system and strong workforce.

Kawtar Hafidi is the associate laboratory director for Physical Sciences and Engineering. She oversees five Argonne research divisions and two U.S. Department of Energy user facilities conducting fundamental and applied research in nuclear and high energy physics, materials science, chemical science and engineering, and nanoscience and technology.

Dr. Laurin-Kovitz is Associate Laboratory Director for Nuclear Technologies and National Security. She leads an organization that supports a secure and resilient society by advancing nuclear energy and delivering innovative, objective science- and engineering-based solutions to inform decision making.

Rick Stevens is responsible for ongoing research in the computational and computer sciences from high performance computing architecture to the development of tools and methods for bioinformatics, cancer, infectious disease, and other challenges in science and engineering. He has significant responsibility in delivering on the national initiative for exascale computing and developing the national initiative in AI. His research is focused on developing artificial intelligence methods for a variety of scientific and biomedical challenges.

Michael Cain is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Senior Director for Argonne’s Financial Management and Procurement Services (FMPS) directorate. As CFO, Mike leads the FMPS team in providing meticulous oversight of Argonne’s financial operations, including comprehensive accounting, reporting, budgeting, and procurement functions. 

Joseph ​“Mike” Edelen is Senior Director of Infrastructure Services (IS) at the Argonne.

Prior to his role with IS, he served as Director of the Advanced Photon Source Engineering Support Division. Additionally, Mike led the PSC Energy Efficiency Committee and participated in the Building Executive Leaders of Tomorrow (BELT) program.

Stu Hannay is Chief Information Officer and Senior Director of Argonne National Laboratory’s Business Information Services (BIS) Directorate. BIS provides information resources, technology, tools, and consulting to ensure that Argonne National Laboratory stays at the forefront of scientific discovery. Services include technology infrastructure, telecommunication, library services, knowledge management, cyber security, and artificial intelligence.

Dan Raker is Argonne’s senior director, Human Resource Services, and chief human resources officer, and the laboratory’s deputy general counsel. As chief human resources officer, Dan oversees the laboratory’s talent strategy, seeking to attract, retain, and develop the people the lab needs to excel, and sustains a welcoming and respectful culture that helps the lab succeed and thrive.

Daniel Walsh is the Chief Security Officer and Senior Director of the Security & Emergency Services (SES) Directorate at Argonne National Laboratory. In this role, Daniel oversees the safety of our people, visitors, facilities, and information. He leads a matrixed, cross-functional security organization comprised of classified programs, nuclear materials safeguards, emergency management, physical security, personnel security, cyber security, and the Argonne Fire Department, in partnership with counterintelligence, and national security field intelligence.

Katie Yurkewicz is the Chief Communications Officer and Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Argonne. As Chief Communications Officer, Katie ensures that internal and external audiences understand Argonne’s mission and how the lab’s science and technology changes the world for the better.

Nazia Zakir provides leadership and vision in managing Argonne’s environment, safety, and health (ESH) initiatives to support the Laboratory’s mission and enable exemplary safety performance. She leads a laboratory-wide environmental, safety, and health program encompassing best practices, certifications, standards, guidance, procedures, and management systems.