LIVERMORE, Calif. — Sandia National Laboratories has appointed Andrew McIlroy the new associate laboratories director responsible for managing and leading Sandia’s California site in Livermore, effective immediately.
McIlroy succeeds D.E. “Dori” Ellis, who was named deputy laboratories director at Sandia in late June. He has been leading the California site on an interim basis since her departure.
McIlroy also oversees Sandia’s Energy and Earth Systems Center, which includes staff in New Mexico, Texas and Alaska. In addition, he has primary responsibility for Sandia’s Energy and Homeland Security mission portfolio, as well as for weapon systems engineering at Sandia’s California site.
“Andy brings a wealth of technical expertise and strategic leadership to his new role,” said Sandia Laboratories Director Steve Younger. “I look forward to Andy’s continued strong leadership and believe that Sandia will greatly benefit from his keen insight and experience.”
“I am excited to lead the diverse activities at Sandia’s California site, Energy and Earth Systems Center and Sandia’s Energy and Homeland Security mission portfolio,” said McIlroy. “I am especially pleased to work with and lead a dedicated workforce who are committed to meeting the needs of the nation.”
McIlroy first joined Sandia in 1991 as a postdoctoral researcher in chemical kinetics and laser diagnostics at the Combustion Research Facility. In 1997, after working at the Aerospace Corporation for four years, he returned to Sandia, where he has served in several leadership roles in both New Mexico and California.
Since May 2017, McIlroy has been the director of the Energy and Homeland Security Program Management Center, a labswide business unit that focuses energy and homeland security activities on threat-driven national security issues.
Under McIlroy’s leadership, Sandia collaborated with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in developing the physical and operational infrastructure for the Livermore Valley Open Campus, which creates a transparently accessible, common campus to foster enhanced interactions with domestic and international industrial and academic partners.
McIlroy holds a doctoral degree in chemical physics from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s in chemistry from Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. He co-chaired the Department of Energy’s Basic Research Needs Workshop for Clean and Efficient Combustion of 21st-Century Transportation Fuels, coordinated the DOE Workshop on Predictive Simulation for Internal Combustion Engines and has authored 40 peer-reviewed journal articles.