LIVERMORE, Calif., May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS), today announced the mobilization of its senior leadership team to prepare for the transition to manage and operate Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) selected LLNS to manage and operate Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The contract begins Oct. 1, 2007.

The new management team includes Bechtel National, University of California, BWX Technologies (BWXT), Washington Group International, and Battelle. The team also includes Texas A&M University.

"We are honored and excited that the Department of Energy has selected our team and given us the opportunity to lead this vital national security science laboratory," said LLNS President George Miller, designated director for Lawrence Livermore Lab and the Lab's current director. "As our country continues to respond to threats at home and abroad, our new team will ensure that the employees at Lawrence Livermore are able to continue enhancing our nation's security. LLNS will apply world-class science and technology, business and operation capabilities to the challenges that lie ahead."

As one of his first actions as president of LLNS, Miller announced Dr. Steve Liedle, a Bechtel principal vice president, would serve as deputy director at LLNL. Liedle has more than 24 years experience with DOE/NNSA, most recently as deputy general manager of the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

"LLNS was created to deliver the best combination of scientific and management expertise," said Gerald Parsky, chairman of the LLNS board of governors and a member of the UC Board of Regents. "Our team is eager to apply our expertise and capabilities to further benefit the Laboratory and the security of our nation."

"We are ready to serve," said LLNS Vice Chairman Tom Hash. "George Miller and his team have been preparing for months to assume this tremendous responsibility and provide as smooth a transition as possible for the employees, their families and the community." Hash is chairman and president of Bechtel Systems and Infrastructure, Inc., Bechtel Corporation's government services unit.

The LLNS team was formed to manage and operate Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory by entities renowned for their expertise and accomplishments throughout the DOE nuclear weapons complex and beyond. Bechtel is the largest project management contractor in the United States. The University of California is the world's largest academic research institution. BWX Technologies and Washington Group International are the top two DOE nuclear facilities contractors and between them manage and operate four of DOE's five safest sites. Battelle is a global leader in science and technology and commercializes technology, performs contract research and manages laboratories for government and industry. The team also includes Texas A&M University, which provides an important academic alliance.

The LLNS office currently is located in the Sunset Plaza Building C, 1658 Holmes St., Livermore, or phone 925 960-1485.

Information updates on Lawrence Livermore National Security, including biographical profiles of Miller and Liedle, are available at http://www.llnsllc.com/ or by calling (925) 960-1485.

Background on the organizations that formed LLNS: BECHTEL

Bechtel is a global engineering, construction and project management company with more than a century of experience mastering complex projects in challenging locations. Privately owned, with headquarters in San Francisco, the company has 40,000 employees working in 50 countries. Bechtel National, Inc. (BNI) is supporting national security and U.S. intelligence and defense efforts, developing new technologies to fight terrorism, monitoring the consequences of terrorist acts, designing emergency response programs, and training both military and civilian responders nationwide. Additionally, BNI has broad capabilities and extensive experience in the management of complex, multisite, environmental programs, including environmental cleanup projects at several DOE sites in the United States.

BNI's national security work includes managing and operating facilities for the National Nuclear Security Administration. BNI also is a partner in management of NNSA's Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee and the Pantex Plant in Texas, as well as the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Among its Department of Defense contracts, BNI manages the Kwajalein missile range and supports nonproliferation efforts in the former Soviet Union for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. BNI's portfolio also includes more than 15 years of government laboratory management and support experience.

For more news and information about Bechtel National Inc.: http://www.bechtel.com/ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

The University of California, founded in 1868, is a system of 10 campuses with a mission of teaching, research and public service. With 208,000 undergraduate and graduate students, UC is the world's premier public research university. UC has five medical schools, three law schools and the nation's largest continuing education program. Forty-nine researchers affiliated with UC have been awarded Nobel Prizes; 16 of theses prestigious awards have been won since 1995. UC also has 358 members in the National Academy of Sciences, and UC-affiliated researchers have received 48 Medals of Science since Congress created the award in 1959.

UC is involved in the management of three national laboratories on behalf of the Department of Energy - Lawrence Berkeley, Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.

For more news and information about the University of California: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/

BWX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT), headquartered in Lynchburg, Va., is the nation's premier manager of complex, high-consequence nuclear and national security operations. Responsible for the operations at the Pantex Plant in Texas and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee, along with nuclear operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory, BWXT has a long history in nuclear manufacturing and operations, both in the Department of Energy and at its unique, highly secure, privately owned and operated nuclear manufacturing and laboratory facilities. A supplier of nuclear products and services to the U.S. government and commercial clients for more than 50 years, BWXT has unparalleled experience in nuclear safeguards and security and has been recognized as a model by DOE. BWXT has more than 11,000 employees in 11 states and is a subsidiary of McDermott International, Inc., an engineering and construction company with specialty manufacturing and service capabilities, focused on energy infrastructure.

For more information about BWXT: http://www.bwxt.com/ or contact Regina W. Carter, BWXT Communications, 1-434-522-5158 or rwcarter@bwxt.com.

WASHINGTON GROUP INTERNATIONAL

Washington Group International, with headquarters in Boise, Idaho, provides the talent, innovation and proven performance to deliver integrated engineering, construction and management solutions for businesses and governments worldwide. A contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy and its predecessor agencies since 1942 with the Manhattan Project, Washington Group is a leader in providing safe, disciplined operations, risk management and comprehensive environmental services for its customers. Its long history of successful DOE operations continues today with: management and operation contracts at the Savannah River Site (including the Savannah River National Laboratory), the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, the West Valley Demonstration Project and its partnerships in the Battelle Energy Alliance for operation of the Idaho National Laboratory and the Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS) partnership to manage Los Alamos National Laboratory. Washington Group also is involved in the Hanford River Closure and Idaho Cleanup Project as well as technical support and consulting projects at Lawrence Livermore and Sandia national laboratories, DOE's Hanford Site, Pantex Plant and Oak Ridge complex.

For more news and information about Washington Group International: http://www.wgint.com/ or contact Jack N. Herrmann of Washington Group International Inc., 1-803-502-9791.

BATTELLE

Battelle is the world's largest non-profit independent research and development organization, with 20,000 employees in more than 120 locations worldwide, including five national laboratories Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle conducts $3.8 billion in R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization. Battelle provides innovative solutions to some of the world's most important problems including global climate change, sustainable energy technologies, high-performance materials, next-generation healthcare diagnostics and therapeutics, and advanced security solutions for people, infrastructure and the nation. Battelle has a long history of developing successful commercial products in collaboration with its clients, ranging from products to fight diabetes, cancer, and heart disease to the development of the office copier machine (Xerox). As a non-profit charitable trust with an eye toward the future, Battelle actively supports and promotes science and math education.

For more information visit http://www.battelle.org/ or contact National Media Relations Manager Katy Delaney at (410) 306-8638 or at delaneyk@battelle.org.

CONTACT: Lynda Seaver, +1-925-960-1485, or cell, +1-510-205-6433, or
fax, +1-925-960-1689

Web site: http://www.llnsllc.com/