W. Robert Nettles
About W. Robert Nettles
W. Robert Nettles serves as the Operations Manager for the SPRUCE Project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he oversees technical staff and coordinates research efforts focused on carbon dynamics in peatlands. He has a strong educational background in forest resources and project management, with over 20 years of experience in scientific operations and research management.
Work at Ridge
W. Robert Nettles serves as the Operations Manager for the SPRUCE Project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He has held this position since 2012, contributing to the management of research campaigns and overseeing the installation, maintenance, calibration, and inventory of instrumentation at the SPRUCE facility. His role includes developing operational and safety protocols, as well as monitoring health and safety issues on site. Nettles is responsible for supervising and mentoring technical and scientific staff, ensuring effective collaboration among research teams focused on ecosystem responses to environmental changes.
Education and Expertise
W. Robert Nettles has a strong educational background in forest resources and environmental conservation. He earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Forest Resources from Mississippi State University, completing his studies from 1995 to 1999. He continued his education at the same institution, obtaining a Master of Science (M.S.) in Forest Management/Forest Resources Management from 1999 to 2001. Additionally, he studied project management at the Project Management Institute and achieved his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2015.
Background
Before his current role at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, W. Robert Nettles worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory from 2005 to 2012. There, he held the position of FACE Experiment Operations Manager and Science Associate III for seven years in Durham, NC. His experience at Brookhaven included assisting with the design, construction, and management of the BNL FACTS-1 FACE facility located at Duke University, which contributed to his expertise in managing complex scientific projects.
Achievements
Throughout his 20-year career, W. Robert Nettles has dedicated himself to supporting scientific efforts aimed at understanding carbon dynamics within various ecosystems. His responsibilities at the SPRUCE project include contract development, budget oversight, and accounts management. Nettles has played a key role in providing a quality platform for collaborative research teams investigating the ecosystem-level responses of high carbon peatlands under environmental warming and elevated atmospheric CO2 levels.