Heather W. Hooks

Heather Hooks is the Administrative Services Manager (ASM) for the National Security Sciences Directorate (NSSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). With more than 30 years of professional administrative experience, she provides leadership and strategic support to administrative staff, focusing on enhancing their skills and fostering professional growth in alignment with ORNL’s mission.

Heather began her career at ORNL in 2019 as a Group Administrative Assistant for the Nuclear Security and Modeling Group within the Nuclear Nonproliferation Division (NND). She later advanced to the role of Division Administrative Assistant, where she supported the division’s leadership and operations. In 2024, she embraced the rewarding opportunity to manage the NSSD Administrative Team as Administrative Services Manager, where she continues to drive excellence and collaboration across the directorate.

She holds a degree in Business and Office Management. Her background includes extensive experience providing executive-level administrative support and managing high-performing teams.

Prior to joining ORNL, Heather worked for Discovery, Inc. and Scripps Networks Interactive as a Research Coordinator for their flagship lifestyle brands—HGTV, DIY Network, and Great American Country (GAC). Her broad experience, leadership, and commitment to professional development continue to strengthen the mission and success of the National Security Sciences Directorate.