How did this date change the position of national and homeland security work at PNNL?
Kluse – We were already focused on national security, and much of our research and development could have been termed homeland security before 9/11. As a science laboratory, we have a long history of being able to shift our R&D focus to meet changing national needs. This was another time when we needed to apply our expertise to new and emerging challenges. Immediately following the attacks, I sat down with my team and we crafted, over several weeks, the scope of an internal Homeland Security initiative around two challenges: 1) Information Analysis and 2) Advanced Separations of Nuclear, Chemical and Biological materials. We drew on capabilities from across the Laboratory. Our team made great technical strides through this initiative. 9/11 also was a catalyst for getting better organized. We established an organization-wide office for homeland security and sent staff to D.C. to help stand up DHS. I was impressed with people throughout PNNL. They wanted to know what they could do to hel
