Rich DeGraff, Chair, Board of Managers | Sandia National Laboratories
Rich DeGraff, Chair, Board of Managers | Sandia National Laboratories
Sandia National Laboratories reported a significant economic impact of $5.2 billion in 2024, marking the largest contribution in its history. This figure represents an increase of over $423 million from the previous year and includes salaries for 16,900 employees, payments to small business suppliers, and taxes paid to New Mexico.
The year also marked Sandia's 75th anniversary. "For 75 years, Sandia National Laboratories has been a leader in strengthening national security and advancing technology," said James Peery, Sandia Labs Director. He emphasized the importance of partnerships with diverse suppliers for driving economic growth and innovation.
A notable portion of Sandia's expenditure was directed towards small businesses. Of the $1.7 billion spent on subcontracts, $1.08 billion supported small enterprises including those owned by women, veterans, and disadvantaged groups. Louis Griego, director of Integrated Supply Chain Management at Sandia, highlighted their role in achieving national security missions: “Our commitment to these collaborations makes our supply chain stronger and more versatile.”
To foster relationships with small businesses, Sandia hosted two forums attended by 570 companies and participated in various events that brought on board 381 new small businesses. Zach Mikelson, program manager for Sandia’s small business initiatives stated: “Sandia’s small business forums are truly a one-stop shop for local, regional and national small business suppliers interested in working with the Department of Energy.”
Sandia also provided support through programs like the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program (NMSBA) and TRGR Technology Readiness Initiative. These initiatives benefited numerous projects such as Remote Well Solutions' collaboration to improve water access on the Navajo Nation.
Additionally, mPower Technology Inc., benefitted from TRGR assistance to advance its DragonSCALES photovoltaic arrays technology for space applications.
In terms of intellectual property development in 2024, Sandia secured 123 patents and filed 202 patent applications while maintaining over 500 active licenses.
Beyond economic contributions quantified in their report, Sandia employees engaged in community service activities such as volunteering at food banks and supporting educational initiatives aimed at introducing children to STEM careers.
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