Jill
Hruby

Jill Hruby was NTI’s inaugural Sam Nunn Distinguished Fellow, completing her year-long term in November 2019. Before joining NTI, she served as the director of Sandia National Laboratories from July 2015 through May 2017. Sandia is a Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration national laboratory with diverse national security missions that include nuclear weapons, cyberspace, energy, non-proliferation, biological defense, and space.

During her 34 years at Sandia, she served as vice president of the Energy, Nonproliferation, and High-Consequence Security Division; leader of Sandia’s International, Homeland, and Nuclear Security Program; technical director in Materials and Engineering Sciences and in Homeland Security and Defense Systems; and held several leadership positions in materials science, weapon components, and micro-technologies.

Hruby has authored numerous publications and holds three patents.  Her awards include an R&D 100 Award, the Suzanne Jenniches Upward Mobility Award from the Society of Women Engineers, the US Department of Energy Secretary’s Exceptional Service Award, the National Nuclear Security Administrator’s Distinguished Service Gold Award, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. In 2017, Business Insider named Hruby the second most powerful female engineer.

Currently, in addition to serving on NTI’s Board of Directors, Hruby’s a member of NTI’s Science and Technology Advisory Group and advisor on national security issues; she is a spokesperson for women in engineering, and a mentor for emerging leaders. Hruby participates in engineering advisory councils for Purdue University and University of California at Berkeley.

Hruby holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley, both in mechanical engineering.