Mike Kluse is Laboratory Director of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy. He also is Senior Vice President of Battelle. Since assuming the helm in January 2007, Mr. Kluse has focused PNNL on advancing the frontiers of science and solving some of our nation’s most complex challenges in energy, the environment, and national security. He combines excellence in science and technology, management and operations, and community stewardship to ensure PNNL’s world-class research and development.
Under Mr. Kluse’s leadership, PNNL has been restructured to better deliver on its missions and reduce operating costs. Business volume is now approximately $1.1 billion, and its more than 4,600 staff members have a renewed focus on operational discipline. Mr. Kluse also is stewarding the largest construction project in the Laboratory’s history. When complete, it will make PNNL among the most modern in the DOE Office of Science national laboratory system.
Mr. Kluse joined Battelle at its Columbus corporate headquarters in 1976 as a defense and space systems research scientist. His research focused on high-fidelity simulation of aerospace and weapons systems; physical performance modeling of optical, electro-optical, infrared, and radar target acquisition sensors; and variance reduction techniques in large-scale simulations.
He quickly moved up through the management ranks, serving as Vice President of Battelle’s Defense Engineering business, where he led several technical product lines, and operations that spanned several states. From 1996 through 2002, he was the Vice President and General Manager of Battelle’s Navy Sector. Mr. Kluse then moved to PNNL in 1997 to lead PNNL’s national security business, which he greatly expanded in scope, impact, and number of clients.
Before joining Battelle, Mr. Kluse served as an officer in the United States Air Force, where he was assigned to the Freeman Mathematical Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base. There, he was a pioneer in developing new computational methods for the real-time processing of radar and telemetry data for live weapons testing.
Mr. Kluse serves on the boards of several regional and national organizations: Council on Competitiveness Energy Security, Innovation & Sustainability Initiative Steering Committee, Washington Roundtable Board of Directors, Washington State University Tri-Cities Advisory Committee, and Washington Technology Alliance Board of Directors. He is a member of the Institute of Nuclear and Materials Management, the National Defense Industrial Association, the Navy League, and U.S. Air Force Association.
Mr. Kluse is committed to quality-of-life issues on the local front. He spearheaded a group of community and academic leaders to launch the region’s first high school focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. He also serves as co-chair for the Hanford Reach Interpretative Center Capital Campaign, and as a member of the Junior Achievement of the Greater Tri-Cities Advisory Board and Tri-City Development Council.
Mr. Kluse holds a B.S. degree in Systems Analysis from Miami University, and a M.S. degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University.
