William Madia appointed vice president for SLAC

William Madia, a former director of two national laboratories and senior executive overseeing research laboratories for Battelle, has been appointed to the position of vice president for the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), President John Hennessy announced today.

The vice presidency is a new position created to provide direct linkage between the university and the laboratory, enhance collaboration and ensure coordination between the laboratory, Stanford and the Department of Energy (DOE).

SLAC is a national science laboratory managed and operated by Stanford University on behalf of the DOE. Madia will report to Hennessy and will chair the SLAC Board of Overseers, a group composed of senior Stanford University officials and knowledgeable external laboratory managers.

"Bill Madia's knowledge and experience in this area is without parallel," Hennessy said. "He brings tremendous insight about the importance of research at national laboratories as well as real-world expertise in managing the work. He is a perfect fit for this new position, which will build the working relationship between the university and SLAC and ensure continued collaboration with DOE. Working hand-in-hand with SLAC Director Persis Drell, we expect SLAC to build on its history of scientific innovation and accomplishment that serves the nation's research agenda."

Working closely with Drell, Madia will provide university oversight and support to SLAC, helping to ensure that laboratory management is conducting its work and operations as promised.

"As we move SLAC forward into a new era of scientific discovery and ever closer ties to the main campus, I am delighted we will have the benefit of Bill's experience and wise counsel," Drell said. "I've benefited from Bill's advice ever since I started as acting director and I am thrilled to have him here at Stanford."

Madia has extensive experience in managing organizations that contract with the DOE, including nine years as the executive vice president for laboratory operations at Battelle, an international science and technology firm that develops and commercializes technology and manages laboratories for both industrial and government clients. In that position, Madia provided management oversight for all six national laboratories managed or co-managed by Battelle for the DOE and one Department of Homeland Security laboratory. He recently retired from Battelle after a career spanning 33 years.

In addition to numerous positions at Battelle, Madia is the former director of two national laboratories: Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Among his many awards, Madia received the Secretary of Energy's Gold Award, honoring him for his achievements, contributions and service to the department. He also was named Laboratory Director of the Year by the Federal Laboratory Consortium and was awarded the Sigma Xi Research Award in Chemistry.

Madia earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in chemistry from Virginia Tech.

He assumed the new vice president's position Jan. 3.

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