Steven Loucks joined LLE in 1990 as Division Director of the Administrative Division. In 1994 he also became the Director of the Engineering Division and Director of the Omega Facilities Division and led the successful completion of the OMEGA Upgrade laser project on cost and on schedule. In 1997 he was assigned the concurrent responsibility of Deputy Director of the Laboratory. He has been inspirational in improving the operational and administrative efficiency and effectiveness of the Laboratory. During his tenure, the shot rate on OMEGA increased to over 1400 shots per year to provide additional shots to the National Laboratories in support of the National Stockpile Stewardship Program. Concomitantly the OMEGA system availability and experimental effectiveness have increased to greater than 90%. Subsequently he led the successful completion of the OMEGA EP laser project on cost and on schedule. He is the recipient NNSA’s Defense Programs Award of Excellence and the NNSA Silver Medal. In 2008 he retired to part time and relinquished his Division Director responsibilities and assumed the position of Associate Director for Operations.
Before coming to the Laboratory, Loucks was a career naval officer in the nuclear submarine program. During his career he commanded the University of Rochester’s Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and commanded a fast attack nuclear submarine, the USS Flying Fish (SSN 673). He retired from the Navy as a Captain in October 1990. He received numerous awards and commendations including the Legion of Merit.
Mr. Loucks received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1964 from the University of Virginia and was elected to the Tau Beta Pi honorary engineering fraternity. He graduated from the Navy’s nuclear propulsion training program with distinction in 1966 (considered equivalent to an M.S. in Nuclear Engineering). He received an M.B.A. degree from the University of Rochester in 1990 and was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma, the national honor society in business administration.
