OUR PURPOSE

Science and Technology on a Mission

Our Mission

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL's) mission is to enable U.S. security and global stability and resilience by empowering multidisciplinary teams to pursue bold and innovative science and technology. 

One Mission, Many Domains. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory serves a wide variety of national security missions, but our enduring purpose is to ensure nuclear deterrence. Established in 1952 in the early days of the Cold War to advance nuclear science and technology, we recently celebrated 70 years of addressing the challenges of strategic deterrence and nonproliferation in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.

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Our defining responsibility has given us state-of-the-art facilities, world-class competencies and a talented workforce, fostering our reputation as a global resource for questions of deterrence and stockpile stewardship. 

Through that lens of national security, we’ve transformed many of the tools and approaches that were brought to bear on our original national security mission to meet the pressing issues of our time. We apply cutting-edge science and technology to produce fundamental science discoveries and faster innovation cycles. 

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Our People

Our inclusive teams bring together exceptional scientific, technical, administrative, business and operational experts to accomplish our important missions.

Our Work Matters. The Lab counts more than 9,000 employees across the country: no matter what team, department or division they belong to, they all contribute to our vital national security mission. By acting as good stewards of all available resources — time, effort, knowledge and taxpayer dollars — we continue to enhance and adapt our core mission for the betterment of the broader scientific community and our changing national needs and priorities.

Our Vision

We fearlessly and relentlessly pursue big ideas to solve the most important security challenges facing the nation and the world.

The “Big Ideas” Lab. Enabled by operational and business excellence, we anticipate, develop and deliver solutions to the world’s most challenging problems. Since dangers ranging from nuclear proliferation and terrorism to energy shortages and climate change continue to threaten national security and global stability, we count on our talented workforce to think bigger. With exceptional work in preeminent areas of science and operations, the Lab’s influence doesn’t stop at our country’s borders — our innovations make the world a better place to live.

our vision

From Innovation to Transformation

Leadership in applying mission-directed science and technology (S&T) to national security challenges is part of LLNL's DNA. Learn how we're seizing this transformational opportunity with an ambitious strategy built upon four pillars: expediting mission and program delivery, driving S&T innovation, delivering operational excellence and nurturing our people and culture.

Get LLNL's Strategic Direction