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Donald J. Sandstrom, recently retired from the Los Alamos National Laboratory where he had been employed for the past thirty seven years, is one of the Consulting Technical Advisors for Manhattan Scientifics, Inc. During Don’s career at the Lab he had been involved in the development of materials and processing technologies that were applied to virtually all of the technical and scientific programs of the Laboratory where materials and/or materials processing expertise were required. Don’s tenure at the Laboratory showed a steady progression from a "hands-on" staff member to the Leader of the Materials Science and Technology Division at the Laboratory. In this latter capacity Don was required to ensure that the Laboratory developed and maintained the requisite technical competencies that would enable it to accomplish the diverse missions of the Laboratory.
Sandstrom has always had a very strong interest and involvement in Technology Transfer and he has been a leader in the promotion and encouragement of the transfer of Laboratory developed technologies into the privilege sector. In response to the demands placed upon materials and manufacturing technologies by the Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Program at the National Laboratories, Sandstrom assumed a lead role in the development of new processes for the manufacture of precision microminiature components. This technology involved a radical departure from traditional manufacturing processes and established new standards for net shape fabrication. These new fabrication techniques depended heavily on various deposition processes, usually from either vapor or liquid phases, to yield finished components that required no further processing. One of the most important developments in materials and processing technology that evolved from the ICF Program was the development of polymer thin films and the synthesis of special "doped" polymer films that had specialized chemical and mechanical properties.
In the three years immediately proceeding his retirement from Los Alamos, Don was given a special assignment to serve as the Principal Technical Advisor to the President of EG&G/Rocky Flats. In this capacity he assisted the EG&G/RF Management in the definition of appropriate planning and management of the cleanup of the former nuclear weapons production plant at Rocky Flats, Colorado.
After completing his assignment at Rocky Flats, Sandstrom returned to Los Alamos where he was asked by the Laboratory Director to head up a program aimed at developing the Necessary and Sufficient Standards for the safe management, operations and conduct of work at the Laboratory. For his efforts in this capacity he was recognized with citations from both the Vice-President, Alvin Gore, and the Sec’y of Energy, Hazel O’Leary, for his contributions to both the Laboratory and National Programs aimed at the reengineering of the federal government.
Don's most recent assignment at the Laboratory was to lead an effort aimed at the Revitalization and Replacement of the aging infrastructure of the Laboratory. In less than one year, he was able to define the scope of the problem, prepare a priority listing and plan for accomplishing the revitalization and to define a budget and funding sources to accomplish the plan. This plan is now being implemented by the Laboratory.
Don Sandstrom hold a Bachelors of Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Illinois (1958) and a M.S. in the Engineering Science of Materials from the University of New Mexico (1968). He is a Fellow ASM International. | 