New Associate Laboratory Director for Defense Protection Program named

Los Alamos National Laboratory appoints Unica Viramontes as head of safeguards, security and emergency management

October 25, 2022

1020 Unica Viramontes
Unica Viramontes

Los Alamos National Laboratory has named Unica Viramontes associate Laboratory director for the newly created Defense Protection Program. In this role, she will be responsible for the leadership, management, oversight, strategic planning and execution of the Laboratory’s safeguards, security and emergency management portfolio.

Viramontes has more than 20 years of professional experience in multiple roles related to security and safeguards. She recently served for four years as senior director for Safeguards, Security and Emergency Management under the Laboratory's former Associate Laboratory Directorate for Environmental, Safety, Health, Quality, Safeguards and Security. She began working at the Laboratory through its high school co-op program and then progressed to become a Security Program specialist, program manager and program director.

Originally from Abiquiu, New Mexico, Viramontes holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of California, Berkeley and a master’s in business administration from the University of New Mexico. She also holds a project management program certification from the Project Management Institute.