LIVERMORE, Calif. — Sandia National Laboratories’ California site will celebrate 60 years of laboratory achievements at a Dec. 17 commemorative event at Sandia’s Livermore campus. News media are invited to attend the event, which kicks off at 10 a.m.

Sandia President and Laboratories Director Tom Hunter will be among the speakers. Hunter and others will reflect on the lab’s many achievements and inform key community and government leaders about Sandia’s evolving mission. Sandia scientists and executive leadership will showcase a wide range of technologies and programs developed from Sandia’s national security mission.

Sandia’s first leaders were tasked by President Truman to “render an exceptional service in the national interest.”  Throughout its history, Sandia has developed science-based technologies that support national security in the areas of energy, transportation, homeland security, nonproliferation, defense programs and the safety, security and reliability of our nation’s nuclear stockpile.

“This is a unique opportunity to recognize the role that our researchers have played throughout the years in scientific innovation and national security,” said Rick Stulen, vice president of Sandia’s California site.

Sandia National Laboratories grew out of the Manhattan Project during World War II where it played a key role in the development of the first atomic bomb. Sandia became an independent laboratory in 1949 and continues to play a critical role in ensuring the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile is safe, secure and reliable and effectively deters our adversaries.

Sandia National Laboratories is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, Calif., Sandia has major R&D responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies, and economic competitiveness.

Sandia media relations contact: Mike Janes, mejanes@sandia.gov (925) 294-2447