David Gardner
About David Gardner
David Gardner is the R&D Manager at Sandia National Laboratories, with extensive experience in managing high-consequence operations involving directed energy and explosives.
Title
David Gardner is currently the R&D Manager at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico Area.
Company
David Gardner is employed at Sandia National Laboratories, where he has held various positions since 1988. He has accumulated considerable experience within the organization, serving as an R&D Manager, Principal Member of Technical Staff, Senior Member of Technical Staff, and Member of Technical Staff.
Education and Expertise
David Gardner holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and an MS in Applied Mathematics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Additionally, he earned a BSc(Hons) in Materials Science from Monash University. His expertise includes managing high-consequence operations involving directed energy and explosives, with a strong focus on the safe execution of hazardous laboratory and field test operations.
Professional Background
Before his current role at Sandia National Laboratories, David Gardner worked as a Laboratory Engineer at McDonnell Douglas Corporation from 1977 to 1981. His long tenure at Sandia National Laboratories spans multiple roles including Principal Member of Technical Staff from 1997 to 2011 and Senior Member of Technical Staff from 1989 to 1997.
Project Management and Team Building
David Gardner specializes in project planning and management, particularly for technically challenging problems with aggressive schedules and tight budgets. He has been actively involved in team building, coaching, and mentoring as part of his professional roles, ensuring effective collaboration and performance within his teams.