Brian Anderson named ORNL’s director of the office of institutional strategic planning

The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has named Brian Anderson as director of the Office of Institutional Strategic Planning, a role that will help guide the laboratory's strategic priorities and align research and infrastructure investments with its long-term vision.

In the position, Brian will play a central role in advancing ORNL's strategic priorities, aligning research and infrastructure investments and leading cross-laboratory strategic initiatives. He will oversee the Laboratory Directed Research and Development program and the Research Library and work closely with laboratory leadership to ensure near-term science and technology activities support ORNL's lab-wide strategic plan.

"Brian is a strategic leader with a strong record of translating complex research priorities into executable plans and impact. As Director of Institutional Strategic Planning, his ability to connect people, programs and investments will strengthen how ORNL sets direction and delivers across our science and technology portfolio," said Susan Hubbard, ORNL's deputy for science and technology.

Brian brings extensive experience in nuclear science, national security and research leadership to the role.

Since 2020, he has served as director of ORNL's Enrichment Science and Engineering Division, where he established a mission-focused organization supporting enrichment advancements for the National Nuclear Security Administration and DOE's Office of Science.

During his tenure, he oversaw efforts to reestablish the nation's stable isotope production and uranium enrichment capabilities, including the Stable Isotope Production Facility, the Stable Isotope Production and Research Center and the Domestic Uranium Enrichment Centrifuge Experiment, or DUECE. As ORNL Defense Fuels Program manager, he helped transition DUECE to a baseline NNSA program while developing its long-term research and development plan and a partnership with BWXT to deploy the technology.

Throughout his career at ORNL, Brian has helped strengthen partnerships with private-sector organizations and federal sponsors that support the laboratory's leadership in defense and nuclear programs. From 2013 to 2019, he served as group leader for Nuclear Security Advanced Technologies, where he focused on building interdisciplinary teams and developing future leaders. In that role, he also expanded the Ultra-Trace Forensic Science Center, which he established as a nuclear security scientist in 2011.

"I am excited to serve in the role to help advance ORNL's strategy and deliver high-impact results supporting ORNL's mission," said Anderson.

Brian has also served in laboratory wide leadership roles, including chairing the 2025 ORNL Gives campaign, which raised more than $1 million for local charities.

Before joining ORNL, Brian held leadership and principal investigator positions at Savannah River National Laboratory and worked as a research scientist at Cargill Inc. He earned a doctorate in analytical chemistry from the University of Washington and a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Central Washington University.

UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.