Executive Leadership
Lewis Von Thaer
President & CEO
Lewis "Lou" Von Thaer is the President and CEO of Battelle. Lou began his technology career with AT&T Bell Laboratories, spent a number of years at General Dynamics, then joined Leidos, Inc. as President of the company’s National Security Sector. Before joining Battelle, Lou served as CEO of DynCorp International. Lou holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Rutgers University.
Lou serves as board chair of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, UT-Battelle, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, and also serves on the boards of Ambri and American Electric Power. He is a member of the InnovateOhio advisory board and the Ohio Columbus Partnership Executive Committee.
Juan Alvarez
Executive Vice President of National Laboratory Management & Operations
Juan Alvarez is the Executive Vice President of National Laboratory Management & Operations for Battelle. He is responsible for overseeing a portfolio of major research laboratories managed or co-managed by Battelle. Prior to joining Battelle, he served as Chief Operations Officer and Executive Vice President of Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, the management and operating entity for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) from 2005 to 2024.
Prior to joining INL, Juan was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, and later served as Director of Facility Operations at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Director of Internal Audit, Assurance, and Quality at the Pantex Plant, and Manager of Laboratory Operations with EG&G Idaho. He holds a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Miami, and a master’s degree in industrial technology from the University of Idaho.
Juan also serves on the boards of University of Tennessee-Battelle, LLC, Gemstone Holdings, Inc., and Blue Cross of Idaho Health Services, Inc.
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Kristina Arcara
Chief Audit Executive
Kristina Arcara is the Chief Audit Executive and is responsible for directing internal audit activity to support the organization in achieving its strategic and operational objectives. Kristina assists management in identifying and mitigating risk, promoting continuous improvement initiatives, and by providing risk-based and objective assurance, advice, and insight. Kristina recently served as Associate General Counsel for Applied Science & Technology for Battelle.
Prior to joining Battelle, Kristina worked for Northrop Grumman where her practice centered on contracting with the U.S. and foreign governments, compliance and performance issues, international trade, and intellectual property protection. Kristina holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Hiram College and a J.D./M.B.A. degree from Cleveland - Marshall College of Law.
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Russell Austin
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary to the Battelle Board of Directors
Russ Austin is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary to the Battelle Board of Directors. Russ, who joined Battelle in 2001, was formerly a partner in the Columbus office of Arter & Hadden, where he was a member of the Corporate and Securities Law Practice Group. Prior to joining Arter & Hadden, Russ was a partner with the Columbus law firm of Schwartz, Kelm, Warren & Rubenstein, where he practiced corporate and securities law. Russ earned a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and a law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law.
Shannon Bennett
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Shannon Bennett is the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications. She is responsible for leading global marketing and communication strategies as well as brand, community relations and reputation management. Prior to her current role, Shannon served as Vice President of Global Communications at Materion Corporation, where she played a key role in company transformation overseeing internal and external company communications.
Before joining Materion, Shannon held leadership positions at Aleris Corp. as Vice President of Communications and at SUPERVALU as Vice President of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs. Shannon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, from St. Michael’s College, and a Master of Science in Public Affairs from the University of Massachusetts.
Shannon also serves as a Trustee for the Urban Community School in Cleveland, Ohio, contributing her expertise in communication and leadership to community development.
Chris Boynton
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Chris Boynton serves as Chief Financial Officer. He came to Battelle from Raytheon, where he served in leadership roles of increasing responsibilities after joining the company in 2003. Most recently, he was Chief Financial Officer in Raytheon's Missiles & Defense division. Prior to that, Chris served as Vice President for Raytheon’s Enterprise Services organization and Senior Director of Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis. He began his tenure at Raytheon as the Senior Financial Analyst for the Integrated Defense Systems division. Chris holds a master’s degree in finance from Suffolk University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire and is a CFA Charterholder.
Wes Hall
Senior Vice President of Philanthropy and Education
Wes Hall is Senior Vice President of Philanthropy and Education and directs Battelle’s efforts to expand STEM learning opportunities for all students through philanthropy and education initiatives. These efforts include oversight of the partnerships with the Metro Schools, the Ohio STEM Learning Network, the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network, and the national STEMx network. Wes joined Battelle in 2012 as director of the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network and later served as the executive director of STEMx, working with 21 states to advance STEM learning. Wes holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He currently serves on the boards of the PAST Foundation, the YMCA of Central Ohio, and the national STEM Education Coalition and in an advisory capacity for the Friday Institute at North Carolina State University and the Board of Advisors for the University of Tennessee’s Master of Public Policy and Administration program.
Mike Haney
Chief Information Officer
Mike Haney is Chief Information Officer and he and his team are responsible for strategically aligning and advancing corporate application development, infrastructure platforms, development initiatives and cyber security across the enterprise. A key component of this position entails leveraging new and emerging trends and concepts to more cost effectively provide business solutions. Mike is a veteran technology leader with over 30 years of experience in the aerospace, defense, and government services industry. Most recently, Mike served as the CIO at SOSi, the largest private, family-owned and operated technology and services integrator in the aerospace, defense and government services industry. Prior to SOSi, Mike was the Senior Director of Enterprise Systems Delivery with Booz Allen Hamilton. He earned a bachelor’s degree in information systems from James Madison University.
Aimee Kennedy
Senior Vice President of Human Resources
Aimee Kennedy is Senior Vice President of Human Resources and is responsible for the development of talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, employee and leadership development, succession management and organizational effectiveness.
Prior to this role, Aimee served as the Senior Vice President for Education and Philanthropy at Battelle. Before joining Battelle in 2013, Aimee was the Chief Administrative Officer for Metro Early College. She first joined the school in 2007 as a classroom teacher.
Aimee holds a bachelor’s degree from Malone College in Communications, a master’s degree in Education from the University of Akron, and a PhD in Education Policy and Leadership from The Ohio State University. She serves on the boards of Battelle for Kids, KIPP Columbus, COSI (Columbus’s Center of Science and Industry), the Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BSRA), and other National Laboratory Human Resources and compensation committees.
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Matt Vaughan
President, Applied Science & Technology
Matt Vaughan is President of the Applied Science & Technology Group. Matt came to Battelle from Leidos, Inc. where he served as a Senior Vice President within the Health business, and was responsible for growing the company's health products and solutions. In his six years with Leidos, Matt also held senior management positions with the company’s Integrated Systems Group, the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, and the company’s Government Affairs practice. Prior to Leidos, Matt spent 13 years with BAE (Sanders) Systems in program management, quality and government affairs roles. He began his professional career as a legislative assistant and legislative director for former United States Congressman Charles Bass. Matt holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a master’s degree in technology management from the University of New Hampshire.
Connect with Matt Vaughan on LinkedIN
Storm Woods
Vice President, Enterprise Culture and Programs
Storm Woods serves as Vice President, Enterprise Culture and Programs. She previously worked with L Brands and Victoria’s Secret/PINK, where she led efforts to drive positive results by engaging customers and associates, ensuring fair and transparent business practices, and fostering a culture of safety and belonging. Before joining L Brands, she worked with Big Lots and Teavana, a subsidiary of Starbucks.
Storm holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the Ohio State University and earned her master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Franklin University. Storm serves as an Advisory Board Member of the African American Leadership Academy.
Connect with Storm Woods on LinkedIN
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