National security laboratory selects Jill Hruby as director, first woman to lead lab

The largest U.S. national security research and development laboratory is poised to have a woman run its operations for the first time.

Jill Hruby will become the president and director of Sandia National Laboratories next month.

With main facilities in Albuquerque and Livermore, California, Sandia's responsibilities cover nuclear weapons, energy and environmental technologies, and economic competitiveness.

Hruby most recently served as a vice president overseeing Sandia's efforts in nuclear, biological and chemical security.

She will begin July 17, replacing Paul Hommert, who announced his retirement recently.

The laboratory is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp. and a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.