National energy labs executive and scientist to lead global not-for-profit

MITRE announced today that Mark Peters, Ph.D., will become the company’s 10^th president and chief executive officer effective Sept. 3, 2024. He will succeed Jason Providakes, Ph.D., who previously announced his intention to retire after 37 years with the not-for-profit research and development (R&D) company and seven years as president and CEO.

Peters is a recognized expert in nuclear fuel cycle technologies, nuclear waste management, and national security with more than 25 years of leadership and scientific discovery for federally funded R&D centers (FFRDC). He currently serves as executive vice president, laboratory management and operations, at Battelle Memorial Institute, who with other strategic partners operates eight FFRDCs for the government, with responsibility for governance and oversight of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security national laboratories. Prior to joining Battelle, Peters was the director of Idaho National Laboratory and president of Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, a large, multipurpose laboratory whose mission focuses on nuclear energy, national and homeland security, and energy and environmental science and technology.

“With a deep commitment to our government sponsors, our mission, and our people, Mark brings a technical curiosity and a systems-thinking mindset,” said Rodney E. Slater, chairman, MITRE Board of Trustees, and a former U.S. secretary of transportation. “He will lead our nearly 10,000-strong MITRE team to accelerate innovation and enhance creative problem solving on a range of technology challenges including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, transportation safety, public health, and national defense.”

Peters succeeds Providakes, whose visionary leadership propelled MITRE from its early roots developing advanced air-defense systems to expanding its national and global impact in the fields of health, cyber, veterans’ affairs, social innovation, government modernization, security, and intelligence. Slater added: “During his MITRE tenure, Jason demonstrated a commitment to MITRE’s diverse culture and mission-driven teams, whose world-class expertise and technical capabilities drive innovation and accelerate solutions on behalf of our sponsors, partners, and nation.”

“Mark has a clear record of success building collaborative partnerships with industry, academia, and other partners,” said Providakes. “Because of that, he will continue to advance MITRE’s technical expertise and unbiased outlook across government.”

Previously, Peters was Argonne National Laboratory’s associate laboratory director for the Energy and Global Security directorate, which included Argonne’s programs in energy research and national security. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Additionally, he served two terms as chair of the National Laboratory Directors’ Council, representing the interests of the 17 DOE national labs.

“I’m honored and humbled to serve the public interest and build on MITRE’s entrepreneurial spirit and record of success in federal and collaborative R&D on consequential technology like AI, cybersecurity, data analytics, and nuclear communications, command, and control systems,” said Peters. “I look forward to being part of the MITRE community and continuing Jason’s legacy of transformation to deliver on MITRE’s mission of solving some of the most vexing challenges facing the nation in our lifetime.”

Peters was awarded the 2023 Henry DeWolf Smyth Nuclear Statesman Award, which recognizes individuals for outstanding service in developing and guiding the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In 2021, he was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering and in 2015 was named a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society for outstanding accomplishments in nuclear science and technology. He also serves on several boards and councils, including the Idaho Power Board, the National Academies Board on Human-Systems Integration, and several that support innovation and economic development.

Peters received his doctorate in geophysical science from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in geology from Auburn University. He has completed management and leadership training, including the Strategic Laboratory Leadership Program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

About MITRE

MITRE’s mission-driven teams are dedicated to solving problems for a safer world. Through our public-private partnerships and federally funded R&D centers, we work across government and in partnership with industry to tackle challenges to the safety, stability, and well-being of our nation.

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