Campus executive at Sandia National Labs to help train the next generation

Scott Hutchinson ’88 ’89 ’93 accepted a new role at Sandia National Laboratories that will allow the Electrical Sciences Group senior manager to support the collaborative interests of NMSU and Sandia National Labs. As campus executive, Hutchinson will help guide the next generation of scientists and engineers. In this role, he will represent Sandia’s broad national security research interests and manage key interactions with NMSU representatives. 

“Looking at the current and future challenges facing our nation, I believe we must have a creative and innovative workforce that understands and values the diverse contributions from all fields and individuals,” he says. “Our greatest breakthroughs often occur when different ideas, different disciplines and different perspectives come together to take on a challenge.” 

When he was studying electrical engineering, Hutchinson says the NMSU faculty truly believed in their students’ potential and helped prepare him for the workforce. 

“The confidence they inspired in us, even as they challenged us day in and day out, gave me the confidence to come to a place like Sandia and work side-by-side with some of the most brilliant people in the world,” he says. 

Hutchinson’s family has nearly a century of history at NMSU. His grandfather graduated in 1926 and his grandmother followed a year later. 

“NMSU gave them the opportunity to learn, grow and ultimately expand their horizons in a time and in a state where such opportunities were rare,” he says. “The doors that an NMSU education opened for them has extended to me and my family as well. 

“Sandia is an amazing place to have a career that matters,” Hutchinson continues, “and NMSU is an amazing university that helps prepare the finest scientists and engineers that make a difference at places like Sandia. I look forward to continuing to foster those connections and that legacy.” 

Hutchinson joined Sandia in 1993 and worked as a staff member for more than 12 years in various high-performance computing and algorithmic development projects. He has been a member of the management team since 2005. 

“We look forward to working with Dr. Hutchinson as part of the cross-disciplinary teams we have established in artificial intelligence with our College of Arts and Sciences, our College of Engineering, NMSU’s Vice President for Research office and our graduate programs,” says NMSU Chancellor Dan Arvizu. “NMSU places high strategic value on our relationship with Sandia National Labs, and we expect by placing our resources and capabilities into strategic alignment, we will realize the kinds of technical achievements that not only serve the nation’s interests but will also serve New Mexico in terms of filling an education pipeline with talented and high-performing individuals from underserved communities.” 

Hutchinson