UC Laboratory Management Office

Background on the LMO

The University formed the Laboratory Management Office (LMO) as part of its plans for expanded and restructured DOE laboratory management in January 1991. Robert W. Kuckuck was appointed to direct the new office in mid-1992. In its first year, the LMO completed "ad hoc" assessments of the laboratories' performance. Since then, working with the laboratories and DOE, the LMO staff has established performance measures and conducted formal performance appraisals for the three laboratories. Kuckuck, a senior manager at the Livermore laboratory before joining the University, returned to Livermore in 1994 as its deputy director for operations. Kuckuck was succeeded by Robert Van Ness, UC assistant vice president for laboratory administration, who served until June 2001, when UC created the position of vice president for laboratory management (VPLM). Van Ness, associate vice president for laboratory operations and administration, and John Birely, associate vice president for laboratory programs, currently report to Executive Vice President Bruce Darling.