Dorothy McKibbin was responsible for welcoming new recruits to the Manhattan Project.

Known by many as the "Gatekeeper to Los Alamos," McKibbin ran the Santa Fe office at 109 East Palace for the Los Alamos National Laboratory during World War II. She checked in the many scientists who came through Santa Fe on their way to work on the development of the atomic bomb, issuing passes and briefing them about life in the Manhattan Project.

McKibbin worked for the laboratory from 1943 until 1963. She was involved in community work after retirement.