Raeanna Sharp-Geiger is the deputy laboratory director for operations and chief operations officer (COO) for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. In this critical role, Rae leads Argonne’s operational strategy, excellence, modernization, and innovation.
She partners with research and operations leaders across the Lab to continuously improve the services that enable Argonne’s world-leading science, technology, and engineering advancements. Additionally, she fosters culture and talent development to advance the Lab’s position as a premier international research center.
Rae comes to Argonne from more than 25 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she served as the COO for Physical Sciences. She oversaw the advancement, improvement, and direction of operational activities that enabled fundamental and applied science and engineering for the laboratory’s national security mission.
At Los Alamos, Rae championed research operations, occupational health and safety, project execution, and risk management. She led integration efforts that resulted in operational and mission execution improvements.
Prior to becoming COO, Rae held several leadership and program management positions at Los Alamos. She served as the Chief Operating Officer for Physical Sciences, deputy associate director for operations for Global Security; deputy associate director for Environment, Safety and Health; facility operations director for Weapons Facilities; deputy/facility operations director for Environmental Waste Management Operations; and deputy facility operations manager for Materials and Chemistry Facility Operations.
Rae holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from New Mexico State University, a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of New Mexico, and a Master of Science degree in environmental health and industrial hygiene from Colorado State University. She is published in the field of applied occupational and environmental hygiene, and she has been recognized for outstanding performance and leadership.