[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 152 (Friday, December 12, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S6785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         REMEMBERING BRET KNAPP

 Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. President, in New Mexico we are 
very proud to be the home of Los Alamos National Laboratory. LANL 
employs some of the finest scientists and researchers in the world. 
Each day, these brilliant public servants go to work and make vital 
contributions to our national security and to cutting-edge scientific 
and innovative advances.
  The dedicated men and women of LANL are a credit to my State and to 
our Nation. It is with regret that I rise today to remember Bret Knapp, 
a valued member of the LANL team, who passed away last month.
  Mr. Knapp received his B.A. in mechanical engineering at the 
California Polytechnic State University and his M.S. in mechanical 
engineering at the University of California, Davis.
  In a career that spanned over three decades, Mr. Knapp demonstrated 
valued expertise and leadership. His commitment to excellence was a 
defining element of his career, and, even as we mourn his passing, we 
are grateful for his service.
  Over the years, Mr. Knapp established an outstanding reputation for 
programmatic achievements, as well as for technical depth, honest and 
open communication, and fostering a strong sense of partnership and 
collaboration. He was the principal associate director for the weapons 
program at LANL, which plays a crucial role in supporting our country's 
defense, energy, and environmental needs. He also served as acting 
director at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
  Among his many accomplishments at LANL, Bret Knapp integrated the 
planning and execution of the stockpile stewardship program, which is a 
critical mission for the Nation. He received the NNSA Defense Program 
Individual Award for Excellence in 2000 and two NNSA Defense Program 
Awards for Excellence in 1998 and 1999.
  Those are, of course, the public and well-deserved accolades of an 
exemplary career. But for those who worked closely with Bret Knapp, 
they recall an inspiring colleague, a good friend, and someone who will 
be greatly missed.
  I offer my sincere condolences to Mr. Knapp's wife Sheryl and their 
sons, Trevor and Cameron. I hope that, for all of Bret Knapp's friends 
and family, your memories of his life will offer a measure of comfort 
now in your loss.

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