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Laura McGill

Laboratories Director (since May 1, 2025), Sandia National Laboratories

Laura J. McGill is the Director of Sandia National Laboratories, a role Sandia's leadership page describes as providing leadership and management direction for all of the laboratory's missions. McGill became Sandia's 17th Laboratories Director on May 1, 2025, after serving since January 2021 as Deputy Laboratories Director for Nuclear Deterrence and Chief Technology Officer, and before that spent more than 30 years in the defense industry, including engineering leadership roles at Raytheon.12

At a glance

Current role
Laboratories Director (since May 1, 2025)
Sector
Government lab or agency
Education
Johns Hopkins
Work listed
2
Honors
2
Sources cited
2
Profile reviewed

Career

McGill's career before Sandia was in defense systems engineering at Raytheon, where McGill served as chief engineer for the Air Warfare Systems program portfolio, then as vice president of engineering for Raytheon Missile Systems, and later as deputy vice president of engineering at Raytheon Missiles & Defense. In those roles McGill oversaw systems performance, technical execution, test and flight operations, and technology investment.1

McGill joined Sandia in January 2021 as Deputy Laboratories Director for Nuclear Deterrence and Chief Technology Officer, guiding the laboratory's contributions to weapon systems engineering, development and surveillance. Sandia announced in 2025 that McGill would succeed James S. Peery as Laboratories Director, effective May 1, 2025.12

Professional service and teaching

McGill is a Lifetime Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and served as its president from 2022 to 2024. McGill has also taught graduate systems engineering courses as an adjunct faculty member at the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering.12

Work and contributions

Timeline

  1. Was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering.12
  2. Joined Sandia as Deputy Laboratories Director for Nuclear Deterrence and Chief Technology Officer.2
  3. Began a term as president of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, serving until 2024.12
  4. Became the 17th Laboratories Director of Sandia National Laboratories.12

Other documented roles

Roles the sources document that are not confirmed as current.

  • Deputy Laboratories Director for Nuclear Deterrence and Chief Technology Officer (January 2021 to April 2025), Sandia National Laboratories12
  • Deputy Vice President of Engineering; earlier Vice President of Engineering for Raytheon Missile Systems, Raytheon Missiles & Defense1
  • President (2022 to 2024), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics12

Honors and recognition

  • Member, National Academy of Engineering · National Academy of Engineering, 201912
  • Lifetime Fellow · American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics12

Where they work

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References

2 sources · profile reviewed Oct 21, 2026 · data updated Oct 21, 2026

  1. Laura McGill — Leadership, About SandiaSandia National Laboratories · Official page · accessed Oct 21, 2026 · reviewed Oct 21, 2026
  2. National security leader Laura J. McGill named next director of Sandia LabsSandia National Laboratories · Announcement · published Mar 4, 2025 · accessed Oct 21, 2026 · reviewed Oct 21, 2026