LANL: The Corporate Story

I suspect you're right, Pat. The official explanation didn't pass the smell test. But then you're a dog, and you already know that.

Perhaps the FBI is already involved, and we just don't know about it. If so, I would not hold your breath. If you recall, it took months for the FBI report on DX's non-missing disks to be released back in 2004. Recall also that a number of "high-level" LANL managers, as well as Linton Brooks participated in covering up the truth of that unhappy episode while we were all waiting for the FBI report, and look what happened to them. Except for Brooks, they all got golden parachutes or promotions.
 

Can we really belive what we are told by our Management?
 

Cover up...what cover up, we are told the truth and we belive every word, after all All of our senior managers are crediable right?.....
I know ...lets ask Mitchell..hmmmm
 

Lab management has repeatedly demonstrated that it is willing to crucify staff who commit, or who are even perceived as having committed security infractions.

When it comes to one of their own, though, it is a different story. Plus, we wouldn't want word of this to get out, would we? It might make LANS and Bechtel look bad.
 

Enough of the "conspericy"therory,what did Tom say at the meeting.....Im afraid that from now rumors, lies,half truths and plain old bull-shit will rule the day at LANL.One can only imagaine what's really going on.....Oh well back to the future....Don't belive what you think.....and only half of what you see......
 

Anonymous commenter 1/23/2007 11:19 AM might wish to refer to

http://lanl-the-corporate-story.blogspot.com/2007/01/request-for-report-on-dagostinos-talk.html

for information on D'Agostino's talk. He may also want to investigate the use of a spell checker for his next contribution.

As for myself, I interested in learning what the real story is behind Mitchell's departure.
 

Lets not forget the NNSA Service Center covering up their mistakes. They have sent Ma Ma Boardman to the site office reporting to Dan Glenn.

Looks like its the end of the road for the good old girls in Albuquerque
 

This is a telling reflection on LANL, NNSA, and DOE. Through past experience, there is no way that anybody is going to believe anything that comes out of the LANL Public Affairs office, nor from NNSA or DOE, either. We have the number two executive of the lab, a former Bechtel VP, suddenly and unexpectedly leaving the lab just 6 months after his parent corporation won the contract after a bitter and contentious fight with their enemy, Lockheed-Martin. The only lame explanation that LANL PA can come up with is that Mitchell "wanted to spend more time with his family."

What utter bullshit!

Yet LANL PA is sticking to their version. I suppose this tells us one of two things. Either the spinmasters in the LANL PA office are truly out of ammunition, and this feeble story is all they can dredge up, or

the story is true.

Nope, can't buy that. LANL/LANS has been backed into a corner, and is going to try to bury this little indiscretion under an SCI classification. Special Compartmentalized Intelligence. Need to Know Only. Codeword access required.

Who knows, without an official FBI investigation, they might actually get away with it.
 

How about firing the losers who surf things like Ebay or this blog from lanl.gov? There is absolutely no reason for surfing to be taking place while people are on the taxpayer dollar, yet rumor has it that Ebay is the #1 destination from lanl.gov. 20% of the hits for this blog are coming from lanl.gov. Do these people not have anything to do at work? There’s a shortfall on the horizon and we got people goofing off when they should be working.

Here’s a piece of technology for you. Consider a computer application that can sift through all the anonymous postings of blogs such as this. It then compares the writing signatures (misuse of grammar, misspellings, dumbass attempts at clever poetry, etc.) to files residing on LANL fileservers and email databases. Handwriting recognition has been around for years; dumbass recognition should be relatively easy.

So why can’t we trim a little excess by ridding the lab of such deadweight?
 

Here's another possible explanation. Maybe Mitchell left to be with his wife and family. Would that be so strange? Maybe it's as simple as that. This blog is full of way too much paranoia. Get a grip, people. LANS and the highly qualified managers they've chosen are good people. They're here to help save this place, not to destroy it. The hatred and suspicion I see on this blog have no place at LANL. How about giving our new crew a little trust? They've already promised us we won't have a RIF. What more do you people want?
 

Poster(s) of 6:21Pm:

Poster # 1 -- You sound like a Republican. Off with our head.

Poster # 2 -- A reasonable hypothesis, except for one little flaw: it requires that we believe the Official Lab Version of the Mitchell events. I'm afraid that's just not going to happen. History is not on your side on this one. Not going to start believing a proven bunch of liars now, just because you say we should.
 

Poster of 7:16 PM , If I could only grant your wish...
 

Poster 7:19:

I agree. Who wants to live in a world filled with Republicans.
 

Hmm, I’m not a reburpican, but surfin Ebay or lickin yer ballz at work should get ya fired!

Scuze me whilst I yack up a fur ball

Bill the Cat
 

When the much anticipated Stupak hearings finally take place and nothing ever comes up about this so-called Mitchell affair, will the nay-sayers on this blog be willing to admit they were all wrong? Will there be any apologies for besmirching the integrity of Mr. Mitchell with your lies and innuendos? I doubt it. If I were Mr. Mitchell, I would consider having my lawyers slap a big legal suite on this blog for slander and defamation. Most of the posters on this blog only care about whining and bringing shame to LANL.
 

Poster at 1/23/2007 6:51 PM wrote, "LANS and the highly qualified managers they've chosen are good people..."

Puh-lease. People in C-Division could tell you a few things about the AD for CLES, who had absolutely no real management experience prior to getting the promotion from TSM to AD. Basically, you know what you are talking about...
 

OK, so poster 1/23/2007 6:51 PM really is a comedienne - "LANS and the highly qualified managers they've chosen are good people. They're here to help save this place, not to destroy it... How about giving our new crew a little trust? They've already promised us we won't have a RIF."

Yeah, I can really tell that you are here to save LANL with all the new policies that make working here a real joy. But, hey, those new rules coming down only apply to the worker bees who are not worthy. For example, I certainly do not have the huge salary that my AD does. In fact, I have never seen my AD walk my lab space or visit my building. However, I am told that I cannot hire good people that I need for my programs from outside the Lab, but my ADCLES can hire her buddy from the UK to run her research program on Pu chemistry and she forced the EES DL to hire one of her PDs to keep her research going! See my AD is using her lofty position to build her own research kingdom. So yeah, there is lots of trust that the new team is honest, trustworthy,and has my best interests at heart. I am somehow not feeling the love...
 

"Will there be any apologies for besmirching the integrity of Mr. Mitchell..."

I imagine there will be exactly as many apologies as were made by lab management after they had thoroughly besmirched Todd Kauppila's reputation. LANL management has made their bed, they might as well get used to sleeping in it.
 

Assuming that the incident did occur, a successful cover up is possible, likely, even. I bet that if the FBI had not gotten involved in the DX mess in 2004, we would never have learned that the supposed missing disks had never even existed. LANL managers have clearly demonstrated a willingness to lie to cover up their own screw ups.
 

If there is an investigation of Mitchell he likely can't respond to these comments. Can we lighten up for a few more days? Even if you don't like him, please for his family.
 

Right, his family. I remember how solicitous LANL was of Todd's family.
 

Read My Lips: cThere will be no lay offs? Tell us again loud and clear..There will be no layoffs? Then tell us by what magic you take almost 22million and counting and magically disappaer? Or is this another "Trust the good people in management" we are here to save you bullshit, hey you better start trying to save your our ass's caused you have wrecked this place.
 

I think the earlier posters are being way to harsh towards the AD for CLES. Mary is an inspriration to many - the way she climbed the LANL ladder is because she cares for people and not because she stabs people in the back. She is self-less to her core.

And with respect to her management qualifications she is more than qualified to serve at one of the top posts at the Lab. She developed the mentor awards program at LANL. She was hand-picked from an internal-only-to-C-SIC pool of candidates as part of a succession planning program to serve as 1/2-time Deputy Group Leader and she did a spectacular job for the 6 months she held that post.

After stepping down as DGL, she selflessly took time out from her internationally recognized research efforts to serve as the laboratory liason to DOE for environmental remediation science projects (mostly her own).

Furthermore, she is a graduate of the DDP and as part of her rotation she spent a couple of weeks in the ADTR office and quickly shuffled over to the ADSR office where she was hand-picked this time from an internal pool of candidates by Mike to serve as Acting ADCLES. She is a rising star and I for one am grateful for the leadership and experience that she brings to this laboratory.
 

It has been amply demonstrated that guilt is not a requirement for becoming a scapegoat at LANL. In Mitchell's case, however, it would be a bonus.
 

OK you gotta my curisoity up...Who is this Mary? that you speak so highly of? From the last post I kinda think yhat the poster is on the level...if so maybe she can help explain how :A 22 million defict goes away, without anyone being layed off? With an overhead rate of almost 400K per person adding up faster than the National deficit clock....I guess it could all be in how you expalin it, or how you don't..?????
 

"Here's another possible explanation. Maybe Mitchell left to be with his wife and family. Would that be so strange? Maybe it's as simple as that. This blog is full of way too much paranoia. Get a grip, people. LANS and the highly qualified managers they've chosen are good people. They're here to help save this place, not to destroy it. The hatred and suspicion I see on this blog have no place at LANL. How about giving our new crew a little trust? They've already promised us we won't have a RIF. What more do you people want?"

1/23/2007 6:51 PM

Ever see John Wayne in "The Green Berets"? - "Ha Ha You funny!"

Was that promise about no RIF before after the RIF in October? And as to the hatred I assume it's only a problem when it's not directed at non-white or the less than doctoral educated.
 

"If I were Mr. Mitchell, I would consider having my lawyers slap a big legal suite on this blog for slander and defamation."
1/23/2007 9:01 PM

It's not slander if it's an opinion. In my opinion you're an idiot - so sue me!

Yes. More hate and discontent on "LANL: The Corporate Story"
 

The poster at 1/24/2007 1:47 PM asked: "OK you gotta my curisoity up...Who is this Mary? that you speak so highly of?"

Well, I don't know what the other poster was thinking but I can tell you that she (Mary Neu) just appointed her husband Wolfgange Runde to a high-level porgram manager position in her directorate. But this is ok with the LANS management who refuses to address any nepotism issues. The ADs can do anything they please even if it is illegal at other companies.