Argonne’s leadership guides our researchers and encourages break-through discoveries in science and technology, ensuring our science has continuing societal impact.
Our leaders have decades of experience within the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratory system and are devoted to expanding Argonne’s mission as a science and energy laboratory.
Paul K. Kearns has served as director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory since 2017. Kearns manages a growing multidisciplinary science and engineering research center with a $1.4 billion diversified research portfolio and nearly 4,000 employees, over 7,000 facility users, and more than 2,000 visiting researchers. Kearns served as Argonne chief operations officer from 2010 to 2017.
Deputy Laboratory Director for Science and Technology
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.
Deputy Laboratory Director for Operations/Chief Operations Officer
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 25 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.
Lee Zachos is Chief of Staff at Argonne National Laboratory. He serves as an advisor to Laboratory Director Paul Kearns to drive forward the laboratory’s vision and stakeholder relationships.
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.
Associate Laboratory Director for Science & Technology Partnerships and Outreach
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 globally needed solutions to deeply decarbonize the economy.
Kawtar Hafidi is 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.
Jim Kerby is the Project Director of the Advanced Photon Source (APS) Upgrade at Argonne. Kerby oversees the planning, construction, and implementation of the upgrade. The APS is a DOE Office of Science User Facility. This $815 million project will create the world’s most advanced three-dimensional hard X-ray microscope and enable researchers to view and manipulate matter at the atomic level to solve complex science problems across multiple disciplines.
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.
Associate Laboratory Director and Argonne Distinguished Fellow
Rick Stevens is Associate Laboratory Director for Computing, Environment and Life Sciences (CELS). He oversees a research program that connects computing to several areas of inquiry, and heads Argonne’s research initiatives for both exascale computing and computational biology.
Chief Diversity Officer/Director, Leadership Institute
As Chief Diversity Officer, Dr. Philip T. Anderson is a member of the Laboratory’s leadership team. His work focuses on the development and implementation of a Lab-wide diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility strategy; assessing the climate and culture of the laboratory; employee and leadership development; and organizational development strategies.
Michael Cain is the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Director for Financial Management and Procurement Services. A certified public accountant with over 25 years of experience building, leading, and advising companies, Mike has worked for Argonne since 2019. His directorate collaborates with internal stakeholders to understand their financial and sourcing needs, providing tailored solutions that enable research teams to thrive.
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.
Karen Hellman is Senior Director of Argonne’s Infrastructure Services directorate, which provides strategic site stewardship through infrastructure planning and modernization; project management; facilities management, including nuclear facilities; waste management; and site services.
Julie Nuter is Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Director of Argonne National Laboratory’s Human Resource Services Directorate. HRS oversees the laboratory’s talent strategy, seeking to attract and retain the people the lab needs to excel; sustain a diverse and inclusive culture that helps the lab succeed and thrive; and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers through educational programs.
Acting Chief Human Resources Officer/Deputy General Counsel
Dan Raker is the Argonne’s acting senior director, Human Resources Services, and chief human resources officer, and the laboratory’s deputy general counsel. As acting 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 diverse and inclusive 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.
Interim Chief Communications Officer/Senior Director of Communications & Public Affairs
Katie Yurkewicz is the interim Chief Communications Officer and Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Argonne. As interim 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. She has nearly 20 years of experience in science communications at DOE national laboratories.
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. She also manages Argonne’s Fire Department, Office of Emergency Management, and Health and Wellness Program, which includes the Occupational Medical Clinic.