NNSA’s Sandia Site manager to retire

Patty Wagner

The National Nuclear Security Administration said Sandia Site Office Manager Patty Wagner will retire on Feb. 3 after 31 years of federal service.

As Sandia Site Office manager, NNSA said Wagner was responsible for overseeing the $2.5 billion contract for Sandia National Laboratories and ensuring the safe and secure operations of the laboratories.

From December 2003 to January 2004,  said the agency, she was the lead negotiator on the Sandia contract, which includes innovative new contracting language. In 2008, she led the NNSA's Acquisition Strategy for the agency’s production missions resulting in a decision to conduct a competition resulting in a single contract for the management of the Y-12 National Security Complex and the Pantex Plant, with an option for the phase-in of Tritium Operations performed at the Savannah River Site.  The Oak Ridge , TN Y-12 complex is watches over the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile and provide expertise to other federal agencies. The facility provides secure storage of nuclear material for other governments, including the former Soviet Union.

While serving as the Sandia Site Office manager, Wagner also served as the chair of the Source Evaluation Board responsible for the $1.7 billion nuclear production contract competition.

Prior to coming to the Sandia Site Office, she joined the former DOE/NNSA Albuquerque Operations Office in January 1997 where she served as the assistant manager for Business Operations and in February 2002 was promoted to the deputy manager for Business & Administration and managed approximately 300 Federal personnel. She began working for DOE in 1995 as the chief of staff at the Rocky Flats Field Office in Golden, Colo. Prior to working for DOE, she worked for the Resolution Trust Corporation in Denver from June 1991 to April 1995. She held other senior management positions with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Division of Liquidation dating back to April 1984. Her federal career began in 1978 as a bank examiner for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

According to NNSA, Wagner receivedtwo Presidential Rank Awards reserved for the top senior executives in government who demonstrate exceptional service over an extended period of time. She was awarded the meritorious level in 2001, an award reserved for the top 5 percent of senior executives and the distinguished level in 2008, an award reserved for the top 1 percent of senior executives. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from New Mexico State University. A Santa Fe native, she has lived in Texas, Colorado, and presently resides in Albuquerque, NM, said NNSA.