Brian Arrington

Chief Human Resources Officer

Chief Human Resources Officer Brian Arrington oversees the lab’s talent recruitment and retention along with HR operations, labor relations, and benefits. Arrington, a highly accomplished executive who is especially skilled in all aspects of successful human resources management and operations, joined ORNL in 2023. Arrington is committed to attracting and retaining top talent. He does this by creating a culture in which team members are empowered with the confidence needed to execute and to succeed.

A passionate and energizing leader, Arrington is dedicated to the development of top talent and has implemented career development and transition plans, created training and apprenticeship programs, and catalyzed succession planning initiatives. He is known for his ability to translate strategy into action, creating rewarding and collaborative work environments, and for “walking the talk.”

Prior to joining ORNL, Arrington served as the Deputy Project Manager for Site Separation with CNS supporting the DoE directive to separate the Pantex Plant and the Y-12 National Security Complex. Additionally, he spent 15 months with Microsoft as a Senior Director for Capacity and Resource Optimization, developing strategies to improve hiring, retention, and training. From 2005 to 2021, he served in various organizations managed by Bechtel, taking on roles guiding overall HR operations, handling employee relations, and overseeing succession planning and employee development. Arrington has also served as Vice President for Kwajalein Range Services, a partnership between Bechtel and another Department of Defense (DoD) contractor, located in the Marshall Islands and Vice President and Industrial Relations Operations Manager for Bechtel’s Construction Services.

Arrington, as SHRM-SCP earned his B.S. in Business Management from the University of Maryland and M.A. in Organizational Behavior and Change Management from the University of Phoenix.