Professional Experience

Anantha is the former Associate Director for the Engineering Directorate. In this role, he is responsible for leading a diverse organization of 1400 personnel that provides the engineering science and technology capabilities to enable successful execution of the Laboratory’s programs and institutional initiatives. These efforts include both large- and small-scale systems and components engineering, computational code development and simulation, establishment of engineering design standards, specialty manufacturing, prototyping and assembly, and the operation of critical engineering facilities. He is also responsible for engineering research and development activities in computational engineering, micro- and nanotechnologies, pulsed power, precision engineering, advanced diagnostics, and knowledge management systems. Prior to assuming this position, he was the Director of the Office of Mission Innovation and was responsible for strategic program development for institutional initiatives that exploit advanced and emerging technologies at the Laboratory, such as advanced manufacturing, biomedical technologies, and biosurveillance. Prior to this role, he was the Program Director for Biosecurity in the Office of Strategic Outcomes (OSO). In this position, he worked with his colleagues in OSO as well as program leaders in the Global Security Directorate to strategically diversify the program. Anantha also served as the Director of R&D in the Center for Micro- and Nano- Technology (CMNT) in the Engineering Directorate. During this tenure, he helped seed key initiatives in additive manufacturing, biomedical engineering, and several advanced sensor devices/systems.

Before coming to LLNL, Anantha was a Program Manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) from 1999 to 2005. He managed several programs in the area of nanobiotechnology for the Defense Sciences Office (DSO) as well as programs in the area of high performance microelectronic circuit design for the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO). In recognition of his efforts at DARPA, he was awarded the Medal for Exceptional Public Service by the Secretary of Defense in 2005. From 1989 to 1999, he held various positions, including Vice President for Advanced Technology, at Computational Fluid Dynamics Research Corporation (CFDRC), where he managed several programs in the areas of semiconductor processing technology, MEMS/bio-MEMS, supercritical fluid technology, crystal growth, and aerospace/rocket propulsion.

Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 1989

M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, 1986

B.S., Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, India, 1984