Marianne Walck Explained

Marianne Walck
Director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory
Term Start:2024
President:Joe Biden
Predecessor:Sean Plasynski (acting)
Brian J. Anderson
Module:
Embed:yes
Fields:Geophysics
Thesis Title:Teleseismic array analysis of upper mantle compressional velocity structure
Thesis Url:https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/7986/
Thesis Year:1984
Doctoral Advisor:Don L. Anderson

Marianne C. Walck is Director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory. She previously served as Vice President of the Sandia National Laboratories, where she led nuclear weapons stewardship, and as the Chief Research Officer at the Idaho National Laboratory.

Early life and education

Walck studied physics and geology at Hope College, which she graduated in 1978.[1] She earned master's and doctorate degrees in geophysics at the California Institute of Technology. For her doctorate (1984), Walck worked on teleseismic array analysis of upper mantle velocity structure with Robert Clayton and Don Anderson.[2] Her subsequent research considered subsurface energy sources and treaty verification.[3]

Research and career

Walck joined Sandia National Laboratories in 1984. After 6 years as a research scientist, she served as manager of the Geophysics Department. Her group conducted geophysical R&D, including monitoring subsurface processes using microseismic monitoring. In 2003, she was named Senior Manager for Nuclear Energy Safety Technologies, where she was responsible for five research and development groups, working on a range of topics including civilian nuclear power and the transportation of nuclear waste.[4] This involved studies for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, where she assessed the vulnerabilities of nuclear power plants to terrorist attacks. Her group's efforts were used during the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Starting in 2011, she also served as Associate Director of the United States Department of Energy Center for Frontiers of Energy Security.[5]

While Vice President for Sandia's California Laboratory (2015-2017), she was responsible for a 1300-person site in Livermore, CA that performed research and development in nuclear security and energy. She also led Sandia's Energy and Climate program, which looked at renewable energy, transportation energy systems and the nuclear fuel cycle. She was Associate Director of CFSES, the Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security, a collaboration between the University of Texas at Austin and Sandia National Laboratories.[6] In 2015 she was named a Vice President of Sandia National Laboratories.

Walck retired from Sandia National Laboratories in 2017. She was announced as the Deputy Director for Science and Technology of the Idaho National Laboratory in 2018.[7] In this capacity, she leads research, science and technology. She is a Distinguished Expert for the California Council on Science and Technology.,[8] and serves on a variety of advisory panels.

Personal life

Walck is married with two children.[9] She is a violinist in her local community orchestra.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Marianne Walck '78. 2018-08-06. News from Hope College. en-US. 2019-06-03.
  2. Web site: Present and Past Students of Robert W. Clayton . web.gps.caltech.edu. 2019-06-03.
  3. Web site: Geophysicist Marianne Walck named VP of Sandia's California laboratory. staff. 2015-03-12. insideHPC. en-US. 2019-06-03.
  4. Web site: Global Conference 2008 - Speaker: Marianne Walck. www.milkeninstitute.org. 2019-06-03.
  5. Walck. Marianne C.. Altman. Susan J.. 2015-03-01. The Science of CO2 Management: The Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security (CFSES) a DOE Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC).. English. 1244470.
  6. Web site: Sandia researchers are sharing a four-year, $12 million Department of Energy research contract on the long-term geologic sequestration of carbon. The contract from the department's Office of Science funds research by the Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security.. www.newswise.com. 2019-06-03.
  7. Web site: Idaho National Laboratory names Science and Technology Director. Staff Writer. 2018-11-12. KIFI. en-US. 2019-06-03.
  8. Web site: Marianne Walck. California Council on Science & Technology (CCST). en-US. 2019-06-03.
  9. Web site: Marianne Walck INL. en-US. 2019-06-03.
  10. Web site: APO sounding, looking good at 40. Writer. David Steinberg Journal Staff. www.abqjournal.com. en-US. 2019-06-03.