Largest active-shooter exercise improves emergency response
Sandia’s largest-ever active shooter exercise was held at Sandia/New Mexico in July 2018 after months of planning and collaboration among internal and external agencies. What started as a multiple-casualty exercise quickly escalated into an incident involving hostages and explosives. More than 200 Sandia personnel worked with local law enforcement, emergency medical services and explosives experts to evacuate personnel, treat and transport victims and mitigate the shooter and explosive threats. Collaborative efforts such as this are crucial in helping Sandia improve its emergency response activities and preparedness.
Security officers aid travelers
A new Regional Security Officer role was established to ensure the security of anyone travelling internationally on official Sandia business. The officers perform in-country security advances to investigate hotels, transportation systems and emergency facilities; conduct pre-travel security briefings; and, when necessary, offer personal protection in-country. They work closely with Counterintelligence to monitor global threats and maintain extensive networks with U.S. embassies and military assets abroad. With experience that includes diplomatic security and military special forces, RSOs play an important role in Sandia’s global mission.
New battery test facility designed
A new battery test facility was designed to house operations for power systems testing. The 7,600-square-foot, mixed- occupancy building completed construction in October 2018 and contains testing and assembly labs, offices, a break room, loading dock and exterior hazardous materials storage. The new building is dedicated to testing performance and electromechanical analysis of energy-storage devices and was constructed to LEED Gold standards.
Liquid nitrogen safety upgrade protects key building
Working with Sandia facilities organizations, the remote sensing systems team completed a liquid nitrogen safety upgrade for a key building. Should sensors detect an oxygen deficiency, the system automatically stops the flow of liquid nitrogen. The system also has fail safes, e.g., valves close if power to the building is lost. The system is monitored by the Facility Control System, which would notify Sandia’s Emergency Operations Center, which in turn would notify lab owners and managers and safety personnel. Further processes are being developed. (4000, 6000)
Strategy sets priorities for future investments
The Infrastructure Investment 2040 Strategy communicates a single Sandia vision for the highest priority major capital investments through the year 2040 and beyond. Site planning and partnerships, line representatives, program offices and government relations developed the 2040 Strategy collaboratively. The document impacts decisions regarding facilities and infrastructure investments, with a more holistic view of the Labs’ future needs. The strategy resulted in better communication of Sandia’s needs internally and with NNSA partners.
Labs campus first in NM with green building certification
Sandia achieved the first LEED v.4 for campus effort as a DOE lab, the largest site to date and the first in New Mexico. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design v.4 is a framework for achieving sustainability measures that will contribute to LEED certification for Labs buildings, giving Sandia the opportunity to improve metrics and apply green practices to building design and construction. The new high-performance computing facility is anticipated to be Sandia’s first building certified under the LEED campus effort.
New facilities system increases efficiencies
Sandia’s facilities organizations had a transformative year with the implementation of the Facilities Management System. By strategically embedding facilities personnel across the Labs’ diverse sites, the approach provides better visibility of each facility’s needs and addresses customer requests more quickly by reducing the number of square feet each individual manages. To increase efficiencies in completing the average of 136 work orders received each day, IT enhancements and a new work coordination and control department have improved the workflow between the planning and execution organizations.