Deb Gracio - PNNL, AI, and the Future of National Security Science

Deb Gracio, Director of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), sits down with us to discuss the laboratory's remarkable evolution from its Hanford roots to its current role as a leader in scientific innovation, nuclear security, and national security research.

With more than 35 years at PNNL, Gracio shares her journey from researcher to laboratory director and reflects on the history and mission of one of the Department of Energy's premier national laboratories. The conversation explores PNNL's contributions to nuclear security, nonproliferation, homeland security, and deterrence, as well as the growing role of artificial intelligence, data analytics, and advanced computing in accelerating scientific discovery and supporting national security decision-making.

Gracio also discusses workforce development, the importance of knowledge transfer across generations of scientists and engineers, and how national laboratories are preparing the next generation to tackle complex security and scientific challenges.

Whether you're interested in deterrence, emerging technologies, scientific innovation, or the future of the national laboratory enterprise, this episode provides an insightful look inside one of America's most influential research institutions.

Deborah (Deb) Gracio is the Director of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy. She oversees a $1.7 billion research and development portfolio and a workforce of more than 6,000 staff advancing innovations in science, energy, and national security. A nationally recognized leader in data science, engineering, and national security, Gracio has held numerous leadership positions throughout her distinguished 35-year career at PNNL and is a Fellow of both the Washington State Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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