Big Ideas Lab – "Offsite Assignments"

Podcast: Big Ideas Lab
Host: Mission.org
Episode Air Date: December 16, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode offers a rare, inside look at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Offsite Fellows Program. It explores how LLNL scientists take on pivotal roles in government agencies—far beyond the traditional laboratory—to tackle urgent national security issues. Through the personal journeys of fellows like Stephen Creek, Barry Kuykendall, and Heather Whitley, listeners discover how innovation, collaboration, and adaptability deliver science where it matters most.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Start: From Livermore to D.C. — A Scientist’s Unexpected First Day

• Stephen Creek’s story opens the episode, highlighting the profound impact of 9/11 on science-policy collaboration.
  • Creek, a nuclear chemist, started his National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) assignment on September 11th, 2001 ([00:09]).
  • His efforts helped lay the groundwork for the radiological and nuclear countermeasures program in modern Homeland Security ([02:31]).
• Impact of 9/11: The national security landscape shifted, requiring immediate scientific expertise in federal response efforts:

  “Thousands of utilities, chemical plants, nuclear plants, all being told they could be Al Qaeda targets.” (A, [01:32])

  • Creek collaborated with multiple agencies to assess and mitigate nuclear threats to critical infrastructure ([01:44]-[02:13]).

2. The Offsite Fellows Program: Bridging Science and Government

• Origins: LLNL’s longstanding practice of placing scientists in government roles was formalized into the Offsite Fellows Program in 2018 ([06:00]-[07:30]).
• Purpose & Impact:
  • Provides foremost expertise directly "in the rooms where major decisions are being made” (B, [07:51]).
  • Exposes fellows to policy, raising both their technical and strategic leadership skills ([08:09]-[08:23]).
  • The program has grown from ~15 to ~45 annual assignments since its formalization ([15:44]).
• Roles & Requirements:
  • Fellows must have a deep LLNL network and strong communication skills to translate complex science for policymakers ([08:32]).

  "It’s so important...to really connect with their host offices...taking a really technical and scientific concept and translating it into something that someone that does not have a scientific background at all can really understand and utilize." (B, [08:32])

3. Fellowships in Action: Transformative Assignments

• Barry Kuykendall: Led Space Portfolio at Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) ([09:09]-[13:39])
  • Connected the DoD (now Department of War) with commercial space firms, unlocking rapid, cost-shared innovation ([11:22]).

  “When you mix in space with commercial, now you can start affording it, because...the government doesn’t have to foot all the money.” (C, [11:22])

  • Initiated the Hycat hypersonics project to push boundaries in national security ([12:51]).
  • Unified government and private-sector test bed programs, enabling high-frequency, low-cost hypersonic testing ([13:39]).

  “There’s a program called Mock TB...a government test bed set up to use commercial equities to drop the cost of testing and increase the cadence...” (C, [13:39])

• Heather Whitley: Navigated remote work during COVID-19, supporting experimental programs at the NNSA ([13:56]-[14:50]).
  • The segment emphasizes adaptability and the critical need to synthesize and convey scientific findings clearly to non-scientist policymakers ([14:50]).

4. Training, Challenges, and Growth

• Preparing for Government Roles:
  • Not all fellows have prior policy experience; assignments often require tailored training ([15:02]-[15:17]).

  “With the Pentagon, we find that folks just don’t have as much exposure to that world while they're at the lab...” (B, [15:05])

• Navigating Bureaucracy:
  • Fellows may liaise with up to 10 different agencies, adapting to varying priorities and cultures ([15:35]).
  • The program’s reach now includes agencies such as the Executive Office of the President, Homeland Security, the State Department, and the Governor’s Office of California ([15:44]-[16:30]).
• Continuous Opportunity:
  • Program managers continuously evaluate new placement opportunities to align with LLNL’s mission ([16:30]).

5. Legacy & Impact: What Fellows Bring Back

• Upon returning, fellows possess enhanced strategic thinking, leadership skills, and insights that benefit both the Lab and the agencies they served ([17:19]-[17:56]).

  “I’ve come to see that it’s critical thinking that the government really needs...There’s a million things I could do, what should I do? And that ability. What we do here, we critically think.” (C, [17:19])

  • Direct feedback from federal supervisors underscores how pivotal fellows are to their host agencies ([17:42]).

    “You have no idea how impactful his time in our office has been. We could not have done any of the things we wanted to do this year without having him here.” (B, [17:42])

  • Case in point: Stephen Creek’s post-fellowship trajectory included leading lab-wide hybrid work initiatives and implementing technology transformations in personnel management ([17:56]).

Memorable Quotes

• “First responders have to be prepared for just about anything these days, including nuclear emergencies.” (A, [02:15])
• “The Offsite Fellows program is this gem of a program at the Lab. We help connect the Lab with agencies, mostly in Washington D.C. through these short term fellowships.” (B, [05:50])
• “We’re helping the government respond better to threats and maintain its security.” (B, [07:51])
• “Federal collaboration is a maze full of twists, turns, and hidden challenges that require careful navigation.” (A, [14:22])
• “It’s a way to share ideas, perspectives and purpose, clarity for the agencies, perspective for the scientists, and real technical knowledge at the heart of America’s critical national security decisions.” (A, [17:56])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:09–02:31 – Stephen Creek’s first day—9/11, crisis response origins for the Offsite Fellows program
• 05:50–07:30 – Katie Shaper explains program structure and impact
• 09:09–13:39 – Barry Kuykendall’s commercial innovation in space and hypersonics
• 13:56–14:50 – Heather Whitley’s pandemic remote placement and adaptation
• 15:02–15:44 – Training and multi-agency assignments
• 15:44–16:30 – Growth: Expansion to 45 annual placements, broader agency reach
• 17:19–17:56 – Reflections: Lasting impact for agencies and returning fellows

Tone & Style

The episode blends urgency (post-9/11), optimism (innovation in government), and inspiration—emphasizing the adaptability, expertise, and mission-driven spirit of scientists who shape policy and security from behind the scenes. The hosts and guests maintain a tone of both reverent seriousness and hopeful ambition, reflecting the dual nature of national security and scientific exploration.

Summary

This episode of Big Ideas Lab demystifies the Offsite Fellows Program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory—a unique initiative sending scientific minds into government agencies to secure the nation, advance technology, and ensure critical decisions are rooted in expertise, not guesswork. With first-hand stories and a keen look at both the challenges and triumphs, listeners gain an appreciation for how collaborative science is shaping America’s future at the highest levels.