About Joan Woodard

Dr. Joan Woodard served as Executive Vice President and Deputy Laboratories Director for the Nuclear Weapons Program at Sandia National Laboratories. In this role, she oversaw engineering support and design for the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, research, development, and testing services for national security customers, and the manufacture of specialized non-nuclear products and components for defense and security applications. She also chaired Sandia’s Nuclear Weapons Management Council, composed of laboratory vice presidents, supporting safe and secure deterrence through excellence in science, engineering, and management.

From 1999 to 2005, Dr. Woodard served as Executive Vice President and Deputy Director of Sandia National Laboratories, acting as Chief Operating Officer. She was responsible for Sandia’s programs, operations, staff, and facilities, as well as strategic planning, policy development, and ensuring high quality program performance aligned with national laboratory mission objectives.

Prior to this role, Dr. Woodard served as Vice President of the Energy Information and Infrastructure Technology Division, where she directed programs spanning fossil and renewable energy technologies, geosciences, nuclear power safety and severe accident analysis, environmental remediation and waste management, information technology systems, and national security initiatives related to nuclear materials transportation and commercial aviation safety.

Dr. Woodard joined Sandia National Laboratories in 1974 and conducted research across a wide range of technical areas, including economic analysis of energy technologies, combustion heat transfer, waste management, and pollution prevention. As Director of the Environmental Programs Center, she managed research and development efforts in site characterization and remediation technologies, radioactive material transportation, and mixed-waste separation processes. She also held leadership roles in national security and weapons programs, managing materials support activities and directing the Neutron Generator and Explosives Component Center.

Throughout her career, Dr. Woodard served on numerous external advisory boards and national panels, including the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, the Congressional Commission to Assess the Vulnerabilities of U.S. Infrastructure to Electromagnetic Pulse, and the Defense Science Board Task Force on Nuclear Capabilities. She contributed to studies on homeland security and national security space programs for the Department of Defense and the CIA.

A lifetime member of the Society of Women Engineers, she served in leadership and advisory roles with organizations including the New Mexico Women’s Forum, the Kirtland Honorary Commanders Advisory Council, and the Family Security Group Board of Advisors for the Center for Security Policy. She also served on the Board of Directors of Bosque School and as a corporate director for PNM Resources, Inc., serving on its Finance and Human Resources and Compensation Committees. She completed the Stanford Directors’ College program.

Dr. Woodard earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (Thermal Sciences) from the University of California, Berkeley; an M.S. in Engineering Economic Systems from Stanford University; and a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Missouri-Rolla, graduating magna cum laude. She was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

At Missouri S&T, Joan has served on the Dean's Board of Visitors for Arts and Sciences and the Dean's advisory Council for the Campaign Organizing Committee as well as the Board of Trustees. She received an Alumni Achievement Award in 1997 and Robert Y. Wolf Alumni Service Award in 2007. Joan and her husband, James, joined the Order of the Golden Shillelagh in 2004.

The Woodard’s have two sons, including one who is an Electrical Engineering graduate of University of Missouri-Rolla.