Wade Crosson has been appointed as Berkeley Lab’s Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective Oct. 1, 2024.
With over 25 years of progressive strategic and operational HR management and leadership experience in the public and private sector, Wade’s experience covers virtually all of HR’s functional areas. He began his career in the technology industry, and in 2003 arrived at the Lab to take on the role of senior HR division partner. In 2010 he became the Senior Manager for HR Shared Services, Policy, Compliance and Assurance, and in 2021 he was promoted to HR Division Deputy. For the past six months, Wade has served as Interim CHRO, leading the HR Division, including Employee and Labor Relations, Compensation and Benefits, Talent Management, HR Business Systems, HR Solutions Center, and HR Division Partner Services. In this and other roles, he has built a reputation as a trusted and knowledgeable advisor to HR and Lab leadership.
Over the last two decades, Wade has effectively led diverse multi-functional teams and complex HR initiatives in support of Berkeley Lab’s people and mission. For example, he has led HR service optimization initiatives, worked with research and operations areas to develop strategic staffing objectives, and delivered people management strategies to meet the Lab’s developing needs. A subject matter expert for the HR system elements of the Lab’s DOE contract, Wade is also fluent in Lab policy and contract assurance, and has been instrumental in leading improvements to policies related to employee well being, including collaborating with various groups to implement the Lab’s first ever Paid Parental Leave policy and also amend the Lab’s Absence from Work policy to explicitly call out support for mental health.
In addition, Wade has developed very productive relationships with DOE, and has been invaluable as a liaison to DOE’s Berkeley Lab Site Office. On the UC side, he has assisted in navigating the intricacies of the Lab’s M&O contract requirements for HR programs and policies, and is a champion of the Lab with UCPath Center leadership and with UC’s Office of National Laboratories. He adeptly manages the UC-DOE-Lab relationship for HR-related issues.
Wade is also highly engaged in both the IDEA Senior Leadership Council and the Employee Experience Working Group, and is a vocal advocate of the Lab’s Stewardship and IDEA principles. He was appointed to roles on both the UCPath Advisory Board and Steering Committee, where his contributions are highly regarded. Wade earned a B.S. in Business Management from San Francisco State University, summa cum laude.