Mike Bebon Named Brookhaven Lab's Deputy Director for Operations
May 6, 2004
Upton, NY - Mike Bebon has been selected as the Deputy Director for the U.S. Department of Energy_s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, effective April 1.
In this new post, Bebon is responsible for leadership and management of nine major operating divisions, the Lab's Environmental Restoration Program, and two senior level staff offices with a combined annual budget of $150 million and a staff of 820 employees - in total, about one third of the Lab's total resources.
The organizations he heads provide the bulk of support services for the Lab, including operation and maintenance of more than 400 buildings — some of which are unique, world-class scientific facilities — and central utility plants and systems, construction of new facilities, fabrication of experimental components, fire protection and emergency planning, security, transportation services, housing, property management, procurement of goods and services, and the counterintelligence program. In addition, he is responsible for managing the Laboratory_s environmental, safety, health and quality programs.
"I am honored to have been selected for this key position at Brookhaven, and I look forward to supporting Lab Director Praveen Chaudhari in achieving his vision for Brookhaven as the best Lab in the world," Bebon said. "Since coming to Brookhaven Lab in 1980 I have always been in awe of the staff's incredible talent across the spectrum of scientists, craftspeople, managers, technicians, administrators, engineers and others."
Bebon considers his most significant near-term challenge to be driving further improvements in worker safety and health. "I am committed to an injury-free workplace. My goal is for all who work at the Lab to accept safety as a personal value and consider it in all that they do every day, both on and off the job," he said.
Bebon also hopes to continuously improve efficiency in operations at the Lab. Last year, he headed a group that led a reorganization of the Lab's support operations and developed a multi-year operational improvement plan to achieve excellence in operations.
Another key focus for Bebon will be on providing employees and future managers, in particular, with broader opportunities to develop and expand their capabilities. He plans targeted education and training programs as well as special assignments and projects to develop the skills people will need to advance through their careers at the Lab. These programs will also help with another of Bebon_s high priority goals, that of increasing the diversity of the Lab's workforce at all levels.
Bebon earned a B.E. in mechanical engineering from New York University in 1972 and an MBA from the University of Utah in 1975. An ROTC student, he was commissioned as an Air Force officer upon graduation in 1972 and served on active duty from 1972 to 1975. In 1975, he joined the New York Air National Guard and served over 23 years with the 106th Rescue Wing in Westhampton Beach rising to the rank of colonel.
His civilian career included positions in engineering and construction with Brooklyn Union Gas Company, the Long Island Lighting Company, and the Plum Island Animal Disease Center prior to joining DOE_s Brookhaven Area Office in 1980 as a project engineer. He subsequently held the positions of Chief of Engineering & Facilities, and Assistant Area Manager before leaving DOE in 1987 to join the Lab.
At Brookhaven, he initially served as Special Assistant to the Associate Director for Management and Physical Plant. In 1989, he became Manager of the Plant Engineering Division, and in 1991, was selected as Deputy to the Associate Director for Management and Physical Plant. In 1994, he became the Assistant Director for Management and Physical Plant, and, in 1997, he took on the role of Deputy Director during the transition of the Laboratory from Associated Universities, Inc., to Brookhaven Science Associates.
In 1998, Bebon resumed his prior Assistant Director role, re-designated Assistant Laboratory Director Facilities & Operations (ALD, F&O), and was charged with expanded responsibilities. Except for a six-month period during which he served as Interim Assistant Director for Environmental Management, he held the ALD, F&O role until 2003 when he took on the Interim appointment as Deputy Director for Operations.
Bebon is active in community affairs, serving on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Little Flower Children's Services. He is also the President of the Little Flower Union Free School District.
2004-10173 | INT/EXT | Newsroom
