Laboratory Leadership Team

William Bookless

Assistant Laboratory Director for Policy and Strategic Planning

As the Laboratory’s Assistant Director for Policy and Strategic Planning, William oversees the Laboratory’s business plan, which develops the direction of its scientific programs, as well as the Laboratory Directed Research & Development Program, a competitive program for Lab scientists in which BNL designates funding for highly innovative and exploratory research that fits into its mission.

After earning a B.A. in physics from Southern Illinois University in 1975 and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Wyoming in 1980, Bookless began his career at LLNL in 1980 as a project leader and chief scientist with the task of determining the interactions between high current electron beams – which were being considered for ship terminal defense by the U.S. Navy – and potential targets, primarily nuclear weapons. Over his 32-year career at LLNL, Bookless has held numerous positions, including program leader, Nuclear Weapons Information Project; deputy associate director, Defense and Nuclear Technologies; and associate director, Safety and Environmental Protection. Since 2009, he has been stationed in Washington, D.C., as the senior advisor to the undersecretary of energy for nuclear security.