July 3, 2000
UC President writes to lab managers and employees
By Jeff Garberson
UC Office of the President
The President of the University of California sent letters to all UC managers and employees at the Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos national laboratories in late June, discussing his thoughts, concerns and expectations on the role that the laboratories play in national security (read letters).
President Richard C. Atkinson sent the letters to the directors of the laboratories
who in turn distributed it to managers and employees. It is the first time that Atkinson
has written directly to managers and employees. The UC system has operated the laboratories
for the U.S. Department of Energy for more than 50 years.
In the letter, Atkinson told managers, "The recent security incident at Los
Alamos is a stark reminder to managers at all levels of the seriousness of the national
security endeavor entrusted to your supervision." He wrote, "We need the
commitment of every manager to ensure that all aspects of security related to your
respective areas of responsibility are appropriately designed, effectively implemented
and consistently practiced.
"Over the coming months, we will assess carefully our security practices
and how the culture of our workplaces affects security. We must have your participation
and leadership in support of timely and effective security improvement."
He concluded, "I have enormous confidence in your ability to identify and change
any practice or attitude that is not fully consistent with the protection of classified
material. We must quickly reinvigorate our security posture in order to regain the
nation's full confidence in the University's and the laboratories' role in national
security."
In a separate letter to employees, Atkinson said, "I believe that it is important
for each of us to demonstrate now more than ever that the nation's trust has been
well placed."
He continued, "The University, through you, can continue to perform a critical
national mission in a matter unmatched by any other institution."
Atkinson noted, "No one should assume that security is someone else's responsibility.
It is essential that everyone bear this responsibility, especially those of you who
have firsthand knowledge of the importance of the laboratories' national security
mission."
Letters from both C. Bruce Tarter, director of the Livermore Laboratory, and John
C. Browne, director of the Los Alamos Laboratory, were also sent to all employees.
Under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, UC manages Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California and
Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. The laboratories conduct broad and
diverse basic and applied research in nuclear science, energy production, national
defense, and environmental and health areas.
The letters were sent only to the Livermore and Los Alamos national laboratories
because they are specifically charged with protecting the nation through advanced
research in national security.
