Dear colleagues,

Before we break for the winter holidays, we want to share two pieces of exciting news.

First, the contract to manage the Lab between the Department of Energy’s Office of Science and the University of California has been extended for five years, effective June 1, 2025.  This extension affirms the strong partnership and collaboration among the Lab, the University of California, the Berkeley Site Office, and the Department of Energy developed over the past 90-plus years. The extension reinforces our partners’ trust in us to ensure that we efficiently deliver on the Lab’s mission. Our continued partnership will enable the Lab to continue to expand the frontiers of knowledge and deliver solutions for science and humankind.

UC National Laboratories (UCNL), led by Vice President June Yu, and Paul Golan, who leads the DOE Berkeley Site Office, have both been instrumental in strengthening the partnership with the federal government by ensuring sustained excellence and integrity in the Lab’s work and performance.

In other exciting news, for the fourth year in a row, the Lab has received all A- or above grades in the eight areas the Office of Science uses to grade the national laboratories. In the 19-year history of these grades, only two labs have achieved this standard in two consecutive years, and none has done it more than twice. Two areas, Mission Accomplishment and Security, received “A” s. This could only be accomplished through the dedication of everyone who is a part of the Lab. You can learn more about the assessment process and see details on the LBNL grades.

Our continued and consistent success depends on the excellence and teamwork of everyone at Berkeley Lab. No matter your role in contributing to our mission, we want to thank you for all you do and for your commitment to caring for the people, research, and resources that make the Lab’s mission possible, a responsibility we call stewardship. It is a privilege to lead this Lab. Please have a safe and restful holiday break.

Michael Witherell
Laboratory Director

Carol Burns
Deputy Lab Director for Research
Chief Research Officer

Michael Brandt
Deputy Lab Director for Operations
Chief Operating Officer