Los Alamos Lab gains DoD-approved status for SkillBridge hiring

Los Alamos National Laboratory announced Jan. 16 that it is now a Department of Defense-approved industry partner for the SkillBridge program, formalizing a pathway that lets active-duty service members take paid internships with civilian employers while remaining on military pay. Internships can run up to six months, and the designation could make it easier for transitioning service members to move into Los Alamos County’s high-skill workforce.

The lab has participated in SkillBridge since 2022 and has hosted service members in a range of roles, including accelerator operator work at LANSCE, project management, engineering, paralegal duties and human resources generalist positions. One concrete example from the lab’s program showed a Navy nuclear electrician mate who completed an assignment at LANSCE and then accepted full-time employment after leaving the Navy. That individual transition illustrates how on-the-job experience at the lab can convert into local, permanent hires.

LANL program managers said the DoD approval formalizes the relationship and supports a predictable pipeline of trained candidates who already hold security clearances or technical certifications. For Los Alamos County, that pipeline matters because it channels veteran talent into positions that support both the lab’s mission and the regional economy. Technical hires can raise household incomes and support demand for housing, services and local businesses in a county with a specialized labor market.

From an employer economics perspective, SkillBridge participation reduces upfront hiring costs and shortens time-to-productivity. Service members arrive with discipline, technical training and often relevant certifications, which lowers training burdens and can reduce turnover compared with external hires. For the lab, converting interns to full-time employees can improve retention of mission-critical skills in areas such as accelerator operations and nuclear systems support.

Active-duty personnel interested in participating and local employers seeking placements should contact LANL’s SkillBridge program managers or the lab’s workforce development office for details on eligibility and application steps. LANL began hosting participants in 2022 and will now operate with formal DoD industry partner status, which may enable a larger and more steady flow of candidates.

For Los Alamos residents, the change means more structured opportunities for veterans to transition into high-paying, technical jobs at the lab, while helping employers fill specialized roles that underpin the county’s economic base. As the lab implements the approved partnership, expect to see more SkillBridge placements translate into long-term local hires.