Paul Cloessner
Associate Laboratory Director, Weapons Production Technology
Savannah River National Laboratory
Education: Florida State University, Ph.D., Nuclear Chemistry
Louisiana State University, B.S., Chemistry
Position
Paul is the Associate Laboratory Director for Weapons Production Technology at Savannah River National Laboratory. In this role, he is responsible for delivering on all SRNL weapons program components of the National Security Initiative, leading SRNL’s R&D efforts to deliver more efficient tritium-based processing technologies, leading materials research to improve the understanding of gas/metal interactions, establishing technical competencies supporting plutonium pit production, and supporting new technologies for more efficient production of helium-3.
Experience
Paul is a Laboratory Fellow and has spent more than 36 years in various leadership roles at Savannah River Site. Prior to his current role, Paul served as the Manager for Product Definition and Engineering, Weapons Technology where he led the Savannah River Site collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for future pit production technologies. He has also served as VP and Chief Business Officer for Tritium Programs, Deputy Laboratory Director for National Security Programs, Director for Nonproliferation Technology, and Director of Defense Programs Technology.
Recent Noteworthy
He is a member of the American Nuclear Society, Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, American Physical Society, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness.