Albuquerque-based nuclear weapons lab to see changing of the guard with president’s retirement

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Head of N.M.-based nuclear weapons lab to retire

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The head of Sandia National Laboratories’ nuclear weapons programs will become the lab’s next president.

Paul Hommert will take over the lab on July 10, the day after the retirement of current president Tom Hunter.

Hunter has been president of the Albuquerque-based nuclear weapons lab since April 2005. He said during a news conference Thursday that he has no particular plans once he retires.

Hommert said the lab will continue its course of diversification and he does not see a shift away from that despite a call from President Barack Obama for a larger nuclear weapons budget next year.