Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS-2024) Plenary SPeaker

Richard Griffith

Sr. Campaign Manager,

Resilient Energy Systems Mission Campaign

Sandia National Laboratories

Richard Griffith serves as the Energy & Homeland Security Portfolio Sr. Campaign Manager for the Resilient Energy Systems Mission Campaign which is a portfolio of Lab Directed Research and Development focused on fundamental research aimed at improving the Nation’s energy and related infrastructure resilience to intentional and man-made threats.

Richard also serves as Program Manager for Nuclear Energy Safety and Security and the Senior Manager of the Nuclear Energy Safety Technology organization, which enhances energy security and nuclear fuel cycle viability by leading cutting-edge research and development in energy conversation, safety, security, and safeguards.

Richard began his Sandia career in 1990 as a developer for the CONTAIN reactor safety analysis code. In 1998, Richard joined Sandia’s management team in the Engineering Sciences Center. He managed several technical departments, including Plasma and Aerosol Sciences, Microscale and Non-Continuum Sciences, Thermal Sciences, and Vulnerability Technologies. Richard also served as Deputy for the Chem/Bio National Security Program and as Deputy for Safety and Security in Nuclear Weapons Engineering Campaign 6, where he created and funded technology projects to develop nuclear weapon qualification capabilities.

In 2010, Richard became the Senior Manager of the Complex Systems for National Security organization. While serving in this role, Richard accepted additional responsibilities as Laboratory Lead for the Resilience in Complex Systems Research Challenge; Program Manager for the Disaster Management and Resilience Program in the International, Homeland, and Nuclear Security (IHNS) Program Management Unit; and IHNS Laboratory Directed Research and Development Investment Area Lead.

Richard has a master’s degree and PhD in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M University. He also received a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Arizona State University. Since 2017, Richard has served as an external advisory board member for Texas A&M University’s Department of Nuclear Energy and for University of New Mexico’s Department of Nuclear Energy.