Paula Linnen, who has held key leadership roles at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory over the past two decades, has been named director of External Relations at the Department of Energy laboratory, starting July 1.

In her new role, Linnen will lead PNNL's federal and state legislative interactions and will represent PNNL within the community and Northwest. She will also lead PNNL's science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, education programs. The related functions are coming together in one organization for the first time at PNNL.

"Paula's keen strategic thinking and strong executive skills make her well suited to lead an effort that will result in greater engagement with some of our most important stakeholders," said PNNL Director Steven Ashby. "She is an ideal ambassador for PNNL and will make connections that will further DOE's missions to the benefit of the laboratory, community and region."

Linnen joined PNNL in 1991 and was named director of Human Resources in 1996, a position she held until 2007. Since 2007 Linnen has served as associate laboratory director for Organizational Development. In that role, she directed the national laboratory's human resources, communications and education efforts.

Under her guidance, PNNL was named one of the top ten places to work in Washington for organizations with more than 500 employees, and Fortune magazine recognized PNNL as one of 20 great employers for new college graduates. She oversaw the creation and expansion of PNNL University, a suite of rigorous leadership development and training programs for PNNL executives, managers, project managers, scientists and engineers.

In the community, Linnen helped advance PNNL's and Battelle's foundational roles in the creation of Delta High School, the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center and the Mid-Columbia STEM Education Collaboratory. She also oversaw events celebrating PNNL's 50^th Anniversary.

Linnen is currently a committee member for the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) National Accelerator Laboratory Board of Overseers; a member of the Washington State STEM Education Foundation board of directors; and a board member and academic committee chair for Heritage University in Toppenish, Wash.

She is a past board member of the March of Dimes and the Advisory Council for Washington State University Tri-Cities; past board chair for Columbia Industries; and past vice chair for the Tri-Cities Chapter of the Society of Human Resources Managers.

Linnen has been the recipient of the Benton-Franklin County Volunteer Center's "Golden Heart Award" for volunteer excellence of a board member and the ATHENA Leadership Award for supporting, honoring and developing women leaders, an award recognized nationally through local chapters of the Chamber of Commerce.

Linnen earned a bachelor's degree in business administration/marketing from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.