Dr. Caren Wenner is the Senior Manager for Technical Capabilities for Mission Assurance. This group is responsible for providing specialized technical expertise, such as Statistical Science and Human Factors Engineering, to support mission execution across the laboratories. Caren was previously the Manager for the Nuclear Weapons Program Management Unit Rapid Response Department, supporting the executive office and Nuclear Weapons program office.
Caren has more than 15 years of experience in providing human factors support within the DOE/NNSA complex, including various efforts relating to human performance, safety culture, human error prevention and mitigation, and usability assessment. Caren was previously the manager of Sandia’s Human Factors Department. In that role, she led a team of industrial engineers and cognitive psychologists performing diverse human factors work across Sandia, including support for the nuclear weapons enterprise, safety and security organizations, and other programs. Her department also provided significant support for safety culture efforts across the laboratories.
In recent years, Caren has participated on the Accident Investigation Board for the Site 9920 accident at Sandia National Laboratories, participated on a safety culture assessment at WIPP, supported the development of the DOE’s Consolidated Report for DNFSB Recommendation 2011-1 Actions 2-8 and 2-9, supported the joint Sandia/NNSA Safety Culture Review, participated on a joint Sandia/Pantex Casual Analysis related to the W76-1, and was a member of the Independent Review Board formed at Sandia in response to Sled Track accident.
Caren has previously supported Sandia’s Safety Basis Department as the Readiness Review Project Lead, and was responsible for conducting readiness assessments at both nuclear and industrial facilities throughout the laboratories. She has a Ph.D. and an M.S. in Industrial Engineering/Human Factors and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.
