James F. Koonce, Jr.
Deputy Associate Vice President

James ("Buck") Koonce has been with the University of California for over 30 years. He is currently the Deputy Associate Vice President for Laboratory Operations at the UC Laboratory Management Office at the Office of the President. The office provides management and operational oversight to three Department of Energy Laboratories-Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory. These contracts are for approximately $2.5 billion per year and employ approximately 25,000 people.

Koonce worked at both UC Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory before moving to the Office of the President. His technical career includes work in cell and molecular biology, indoor air-quality and human-health research. He has also had management responsibility for independent internal assessment, quality programs, computing and telecommunications, research engineering, institutional and site planning, environmental planning and technology transfer organizations.

He was one of the lead University of California Office of the President (UCOP) member of both the successful creation of a Limited Liability Company (LLC), comprised of the University, Bechtel, BWX Technologies, and Washington Group International, for the purpose of bidding for the Los Alamos National Laboratory contract and the development of the winning proposal for same.  He was also directly involved in the successful formation of a second LLC and a winning proposal for the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory contract.  He was UCOP’s lead in the transition activities at both LANL and LLNL.  He is a member of the UCOP Laboratory Management Council, which is responsible for UCOP’s oversight of LANL and LLNL contracts.  Also a member of the UCOP Contract Assurance Council, which is responsible for UCOP’s oversight of the LBNL contract. Special assignment for eleven months as the on-site UCOP manager of the restart of LANL operations after Laboratory activities were halted for eleven months.  He has also has a lead role in representing the University in Northern New Mexico and the Tri-Valley area of Northern California.

Koonce transferred to the UC Office of the President in August 1993 to replicate the successes of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory self-assessment, prioritization and quality programs in

He has a bachelor of science degree in computing and mathematics, and a Masters degree in Business Administration.