Podcasts about nnsa

Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. Journalist Ian Masters discusses health, other impacts of House-passed “Big Beautiful Bill” UN previews next month's “2025 Oceans Conference”, not clear whether US will attend National Nuclear Security Administration holds hearing on plan to expand production of plutonium triggers for nuclear weapons State Assembly considers bill that would disrupt homeowners' solar panel contracts US and Israel-backed aid distribution plan in Gaza devolved into chaos and gunfire on its second day of operation today Federal judge suggests Trump administration “manufacturing” chaos about efforts to deport migrants to South Sudan The post Assembly considers bill that would disrupt homeowners' solar panel contracts; NNSA holds hearing on plan to expand production of plutonium triggers for nuclear weapons – May 27, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Just a few days ago, on May 9 th , the Department of Energy (DOE) and itsNational Nuclear Security Administration announced that virtual public “scoping”meetings would be held next week about their plans to prepare a nationwideProgrammatic Environmental Impact Statement for Plutonium Pit Production (PEIS).DOE and NNSA are working to turn Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) into amanufacturing facility for plutonium triggers, or pits, for nuclear weapons.

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Ethan Klein, an emerging technology policy adviser during the first Trump administration, has been nominated to be the White House's chief technology officer, the Office of Science and Technology Policy confirmed Tuesday. After serving in the first Trump White House, Klein completed a PhD in nuclear science and engineering at MIT, where he worked to develop nuclear tech for arms control and nonproliferation with funds from a fellowship through the National Nuclear Security Administration. Klein also spent time at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which is operated for the NNSA and focuses on weapons development, stewardship and national security. Klein has been pursuing an MBA at Stanford, while working as a summer associate for the Aerospace and Defense group within Lazard, a financial advisory and asset management firm. If confirmed as CTO, Klein would fill the same role that Michael Kratsios did during the first Trump administration, which went unfilled for the entirety of the Biden administration. The Department of Government Efficiency's increasingly vast power across the government likely makes it subject to U.S. records law, a federal judge said Monday in a ruling that ordered the Elon Musk-led group to begin processing requests on an expedited timeline. In a 37-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper concluded that DOGE — the rebranded U.S. Digital Service — “is likely exercising substantial independent authority much greater than” other components within the Executive Office of the President that are covered by the Freedom of Information Act, subjecting it to the same rules. Cooper noted as examples that the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Council on Environmental Quality are both covered by FOIA due to the substantial independent authority they wield when it comes to the evaluation of federal programs. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Among the agencies trying to reform themselves, the National; Nuclear Security Administration. Reform requires certain best practices to be in place, including metrics and measurements. The NNSA needs a little work. That's among the finding from a Government Accountability Office audit. Details now from GAO's director of natural resources and environment, Allison Bawden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Among the agencies trying to reform themselves, the National; Nuclear Security Administration. Reform requires certain best practices to be in place, including metrics and measurements. The NNSA needs a little work. That's among the finding from a Government Accountability Office audit. Details now from GAO's director of natural resources and environment, Allison Bawden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

일론 머스크의 정부효율부(DOGE)가 연방정부 공무원 해고 / 인력 감축 / 퇴직 유도를 계속 이어가는 가운데, 국가핵안보국(NNSA) 직원 350명을 해고했다가 부랴부랴 다시 복직시키는 웃지 못할 일이 벌어졌습니다. 피트 헥세스 국방장관은 앞으로 5년 동안 국방 예산 8%를 감축하겠다고 밝혔는데, 트럼프 대통령의 성에 찰지 모르겠습니다. 조류독감(H5N1) 바이러스가 계속 퍼지는 가운데 치명적인 팬데믹이 또 오는 것 아니냐는 우려도 커지고 있습니다. H5N1 바이러스 때문에 살처분 또는 폐사한 가금류가 1억 5,900만 마리나 되면서 산란계 숫자가 줄어 계란값이 치솟고 있습니다. 정부가 방역 강화 대책을 내놓았는데, 실효성을 둘러싸고 의문이 듭니다.

In this edition of We're Just Not Over Trend, Jack and Miles discuss their respective weekends, the numerous plane crashes in North America, DOGE firing over 400 at the NNSA, Elon Musk's new baby mama, the Russian influence on Trump's takeover, Luigi Mangione's statement to his fans and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you still support Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after the NNSA debacle? Written and Narrated By Rev. Renaldo McKenzie, Editor-in-Chief, The Neoliberal, and Author of "Neoliberalism" and "Neoliberal Globalization".Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have touted their restructuring efforts as rooted in "competence and care." Yet, their recent handling of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) layoffs reveals a stark contradiction—one of incompetence and recklessness.According to reports from the Los Angeles Times and MSN, the Trump administration, under DOGE's guidance, mistakenly fired a large portion of NNSA employees last Thursday, only to scramble the following day to rehire them after realizing their error. While most workers were reinstated, 28 employees were permanently dismissed. This misstep, labeled a mere "mistake" by the White House, raises serious concerns about the competence of those overseeing these cuts (MSN).Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, criticized DOGE's apparent lack of understanding:“The DOGE people are coming in with absolutely no knowledge of what these departments are responsible for,” Kimball said. “They don't seem to realize that it's actually the Department of Nuclear Weapons more than it is the Department of Energy” (Los Angeles Times via MSN).CNN further reported that the layoffs affected NNSA staff responsible for overseeing nuclear weapon production and ensuring compliance with safety standards. One insider revealed that the firings happened because “no one has taken any time to understand what we do and the importance of our work to the nation's national security” (CNN).The backlash was swift. Journalist Molly Jong-Fast sarcastically remarked:“Accidentally firing the people in charge of the nukes! Whoops!”A self-described Army veteran went even further, calling it “embarrassing to be an American” and asserting that “Trump and Musk are making America weaker, not stronger” (MSN).Musk has repeatedly claimed that DOGE operates with “sensitivity and care,” but the agency's record tells a different story—one of hasty, uninformed decisions that jeopardize national security. Despite mounting evidence of incompetence, DOGE continues its aggressive cost-cutting approach, often dismissing criticism with a simple “we are human” excuse. However, national security is not an area where trial and error should be acceptable.This latest blunder underscores the urgent need for congressional oversight. If Trump and Musk cannot ensure competence in their governance, then external checks must be put in place before more reckless decisions threaten American security.Sources: MSN News: "‘Embarrassing to be an American': Trump Administration Under Fire After Accidentally Firing Workers Overseeing Nation's Nuclear Power Then Scrambling to Rehire Them" CNN (for additional context on NNSA layoffs)Published in The Neoliberal Journals by The Neoliberal Corporation at https://theneoliberal.com The Neoliberal Round is a production of The Neoliberal Corporation by Renaldo McKenzie.Email us at info@theneoliberal.com or renaldocmckenzie@gmail.comCall us 1-445-260-9198 and check out our Store page: https://store.theneoliberal.com.Subscribe to the podcast on any stream: https://anchor.fm/theneoliberalDonate: https://anchor.fm/theneoliberal/support$renaldomckenzie

In this special 200th episode of NucleCast, Jill Hruby, the Administrator of NNSA and Undersecretary of the Department of Energy for Nuclear Security, discusses the achievements and challenges faced by NNSA during her tenure, including the modernization of nuclear weapons, strengthening international partnerships, and the importance of infrastructure projects. Jill shares insights on the Strategic Posture Commission's recommendations, the plans for pit production, and the significance of the National Ignition Facility (NIF). She emphasizes the need for a renewed focus on nuclear IQ and offers advice for future leadership in the nuclear enterprise.Administrator Jill Hruby was Senate confirmed as the Under Secretary for Nuclear Security of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration in 2021.Administrator Hruby leads NNSA in achieving our Nation's nuclear security missions to sustain and fully understand our nuclear weapons stockpile; provide new technologies and procedures to lower cost and reduce the time to deliver all mission requirements; staying ahead of our adversaries; and developing advanced capabilities to enhance nuclear security, arms control, and Navy reactors.Prior to her nomination as Administrator, Ms. Hruby served as Director of Sandia National Laboratories from 2015-17 and has an extensive background in science and engineering spanning more than 40 years.Chapters00:00 Introduction to NNSA and Jill Hruby01:31 Reflecting on Achievements and Challenges04:34 Infrastructure Projects and Challenges10:18 Strategic Posture Commission Insights12:30 Pit Production Plans and Timelines16:31 NIF and Its Significance19:41 Increased Activity Across NNSA22:17 Advice for Future Leadership26:08 Wishes for the Nuclear Enterprise29:53 Parting Message and Future OutlookSocials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.org

In an embarrassing turn of events, independent scientists Bernd Franke and Dr. Arjun Makhijani have provided Tewa Women United and the public with the analyses that the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Environmental Protection Agency would not – that the four flanged waste tritium containers may not need to be vented because they may not contain explosive materials. DOE, NNSA and LANL did not follow the regulations to determine whether the venting was necessary and EPA, as a regulatory agency, did not either. Community members downwind and downstream of the proposed venting have been traumatized by four years of maybe yes, maybe no, mixed DOE messages. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ccnsupdate/support

Most of us have probably dealt with landlords at one time or another in our personal or business lives.  But did you know that Department of Energy sites around the country also have landlords--DOE offices that are responsible for operation and maintenance of the site as a whole?This week's episode covers the recent change of DOE landlord at the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina. After nearly three decades, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is taking over landlord responsibilities from the Office of Environmental Management (EM). What does this change mean for SRS and its current and future missions? We talk with SRS EM Site Manager Mike Budney and NNSA SRS Field Office Director Michael Mikolanis. Visit the Gone Fission Nuclear Report channel on youtube.com for a videocast of episodes since November 7, 2022.

On Monday, September 30th, United States District Court Judge Mary Geiger Lewis ruled that the Department of Energy (DOE) and its National Nuclear Secrurity Administration (NNSA) violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) because the federal agencies failed to take a “hard look” at the alternatives to fabricate plutonium pits, or the triggers, for nuclear weapons at two of its sites. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) was created to design and fabricate the atomic bombs used during World War II. The Savannah River Site in South Carolina has never fabricated pits for nuclear weapons --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ccnsupdate/support

Fusion Future - The Plan What if I told you there was a plan to eliminate the effects of inflation, maintain King Dollar as the global benchmark in currency, onshore manufacturing back to the United States, and launch the Western hemisphere into a new era of prosperity and peace? And what if I told you all this could be accomplished with one technological program executed by the incoming Trump Administration? All the pieces to our Fusion Future are in place. Lawrence Livermore Labs created fusion ignition in December of 2022. The test produced more energy output than was input. The long theorized fusion technology was proven. However, a national strategy has eluded the current Biden Administration. The Technology Media oxygen for ideas and scientific breakthroughs is tough to come by in a narrative driven world that moves information hour to hour. One large factor in the hidden nature of Lawrence Livermore Labs fusion ignition is a parallel competing fusion technology that has the media power of corporate and foreign interests. There are two types of fusion energy technologies being developed. One is a smaller form factor reactor that uses magnets, coils, and kinetic motion. The other uses lasers to create inertial fusion energy.. Many entities across the globe are racing to develop the first functioning Tokamak reactor - the type of technology that uses magnets and coils. China, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and even the Vatican are developing a Tokamak reactor. Here in Washington State, Microsoft recently invested in a local company, Helion, that is at the forefront of private commercial development of fusion energy using magnets and coils in design. The Fusion Future plan for a national fusion project uses the laser based system developed by the Department of Energy at Lawrence Livermore Labs. It's natural that the numerous commercial and foreign government projects get all the attention, while the laser based system is relegated to internal DOE press releases. To be clear, the Lawrence Livermore Labs fusion ignition is the most significant proof of concept test in energy production history. The Fusion Future plan will develop industrial scale giant lasers to create a thermonuclear fusion reaction. This method has been proven, and can be scaled to industrial size capabilities. Think of one industrial fusion reactor powering the entire Pacific Northwest with clean sustainable energy. The Tokamak design using magnets and coils is being developed for small form factor use, like powering tech data centers. This is a battle of commercial interests versus a big idea for national interests. The Money In 2022 John Podesta was put in charge of $370 billion in clean energy investments as part of the Green New Deal. That program morphed into the Inflation Reduction Act. The act created a jobs program based on debt, to supposedly fight inflation, while tackling the climate crisis. $370 billion is a lot of money already budgeted for green new technology. This year that program morphed into the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act. This act allocated $230 billion to change-over all public housing into zero carbon high efficient homes. Meanwhile, just recently congressional representatives and Lawrence Livermore Labs announced a $16 million boost in funding to achieve the Department of Energy goal of fusion energy commercialization within a decade. Yes, $16 million was touted as a boost in funding to a $630 million fusion budget. And yes, remember the US taxpayers through their representatives budgeted $370 billion in Green New Deal funding that prioritizes windmills, jobs programs based on foreign sourced resources like solar, and high efficiency homes, over advanced laser technology that could change the world. Under current leadership, the United States fusion energy program receives less than two tenths of one percent of the Green New Deal budget. The majority of funding for plasma fusion labs is run through the NNSA: National Nuclear Security Administration. The NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. 77% of the funding for Lawrence Livermore Labs comes from the NNSA. Lawrence Livermore Labs states they are aiming for commercialization of fusion energy, but they are funded by a “semi-autonomous agency” with “military application” as its directive. The money, paths, and mechanisms are in place, but currently politicians fund pet projects and turn a blind eye to “semi-autonomous” DOE efforts. America First Follow me into a thought experiment. Please think of sovereign nations and regional cultures across the globe as competitors instead of enemies. Partners instead of allies. This concept falls inline with the national identity philosophy Donald J Trump laid out in his UN speech in September 2018. A prosperous globe respects the cultural identity and sovereignty of all nation states. The United States has been a global leader in freedom and self governance in the past. The Fusion Future plan allows the United States, and its citizens, to take that lead once more. For decades the United States has tinkered, repressed, and built foreign nations across the globe. The US economy has been transformed from the quality brand of “Made in America” to a service economy fueled by the underlying activity of foreign nations. These competing economies have risen to a level where cooperation and competition can raise prosperity across the globe like never before, but a strong and prosperous US economy is necessary in this equation. Our Fusion Future will see the United States regain its brand status as a global manufacturer of innovation and quality. This plan is created out of necessity. Reliance on competitors for foundational ingredients has created an insecure supply chain. The virtue of the Green New Deal only survives with the ignorance of environmental effects in foreign lands. The push to build US competitors in the past several decades has created this insecure national security situation; but it also has created an opportunity for decoupling without economic collapse. These economic competitors can survive through new partnerships while the US rises to a new level of economic power. What may seem like a dangerous situation now, will be the building blocks of a thriving multilayered global economic structure in the future. All this is only created with a global leader that ascends to a new level of economic power. With the Fusion Future plan, once again, the United States will tap its DNA as an innovator and builder within a free society. The Results Inflation is eroding the prosperity of the citizens of the United States. The pernicious nature of inflation cannot be destroyed, but instead must be swallowed by an economy. The Fusion Future plan allows the US economy to grow into the current inflationary environment instead of succumbing to it. This current economic mess was created by the global search for lower cost structures. The United States became too expensive to manufacture within, and consumers became drunk on cheap goods. Global partners were built-out raising the prosperity of their citizens to eventually become competitors. Abundant clean energy could transform the landscape of economic activity all while satisfying the environmental concerns of global citizens. Manufacturing will find a home again within the borders of the United States. The cheap abundant clean energy will be the cost savings to not only attract corporate manufacturing, but to also grow the US economy into the current inflationary environment. Leadership Born out of the divisive chaos our country is experiencing are selfless citizen volunteers grabbing the wheel of a runaway autonomous electric vehicle. The Fusion Future plan is part of the New Red Deal, developed by Eric Jon Boerner.  The structure of US governance has become bulbous with too many factions competing for a slice of the tax pie instead of the prosperity of citizens. The bureaucracy splintered into “semi-autonomous” structures lacking guidance and oversight to maintain mission focus and coordination. The Fusion Future plan takes advantage of a strong leader like President Trump. This plan gives the Trump Administration the positive turn necessary to galvanize the citizenry behind national pride and ascension. The New Red Deal is a modern Manhattan Project and Moon Landing wrapped into one clear objective - Industrial Fusion Energy. Eric Jon Boerner ran for US President in 2023 to highlight ideas that can create a prosperous future for the United States outside of special interests. His volunteer spirit leads the way to focus the Federal Government once again on the national interests of its people. With a strong leader like Donald J Trump as President, and citizen volunteers like Eric Jon Boerner leading within the bureaucratic structure, the United States can vault itself from a Super Power to a Hyper Nation. American exceptionalism will return, and the shining city on the hill will be empowered once again for the entire world to see. EP Q&A - Timestamp 15:42 Listen in for the Q&A section in the second half where more details are flushed out. The Fusion Future Plan is comprehensive, technological details and project specifics are reserved for the project team.

Greg Mello, Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group and John Wilks Vice President of the Albuquerque Chapter of Veterans for Peace join us to discuss how the EPA, DOE, NNSA, and DOD are continuing to spend money fouling New Mexico while aggravating a Nuclear Conflict and creating a national nuclear waste catastrophe. However, there might be good news along the way as there may be cracks in the empire and crack in the military-industrial complex.

Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester wrote a statement for last Monday's Town Hall concerning plutonium pit production at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) hosted by National Nuclear Security Administrator Jill Hruby and the Department of Energy (DOE) Senior Advisor of the Office of Environmental Management, Candice Robertson. Jay Coghlan, of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, read the Archbishop's statement aloud. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ccnsupdate/support

In this episode of NucleCast, host Adam interviews Pat Rhodes and Dave Jonas, who have been writing a series of articles on nuclear issues. David S. Jonas is a partner at the law firm of Fluet, Huber & Hoang (FH+H). His practice includes corporate transactions, employment law, government contracts, trial and appellate litigation, international law, administrative/regulatory compliance and investigations. He has extensive experience in national security issues and is recognized as one of a handful of experts worldwide in nuclear nonproliferation law. He was a career member of the Senior Executive Service and served as General Counsel of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) where he negotiated numerous multilateral and bilateral international agreements to include the U.S. – India Civil Nuclear Agreement. He also served as General Counsel of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.Prior to his civilian service, he was a career Marine Corps officer where he held a wide variety of command and staff billets. He served as nuclear nonproliferation planner for the Joint Chiefs of Staff negotiating multiple international agreements and has worked extensively with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Conference on Disarmament, and the United Nations. He is one of the only judge advocates to have commanded two units, including a company in an infantry regiment, the 5th Marines. He argued the case of Davis v. United States, 512, U.S. 452 (1994) at the U.S. Supreme Court becoming the first judge advocate in the history of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force to do so. He received the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces Award for Excellence in Legal Writing and was selected as the Outstanding Career Judge Advocate in the Marine Corps. He concluded his military service as a lieutenant colonel. Patrick Rhoads had a thirty-eight-year career as an engineer with the National Nuclear Security Administration. He started with Naval Reactors as an ensign in the Navy and worked his whole career in the uses of nuclear energy for national security missions. His career included nuclear design, construction, and operations. Late in his NNSA career, he led many nuclear construction activities, including billion-dollar acquisitions, and served as the Chief of Staff in three different organizations. After retiring from NNSA in 2020, he joined the National Strategic Research Institute as the Director of Nuclear Research. NSRI is a University Affiliated Research Center, chartered by STRATCOM, whose mission is to address Weapons of Mass Destruction.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.org

A follow-up to the Department of Energy (DOE) town hall in April 2023 at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center that nearly 500 people attended in-person or virtually, will be held Monday, July 22 nd from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at the Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder, 13 miles north of downtown Santa Fe on U.S. 84 / 285. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ccnsupdate/support

This episode topic is deterrence. We'll explore the meaning of deterrence and how the national labs help keep our country safe. We'll also bring you some audio from a deterrence conference that our team attended. To hear more about deterrence and the role Los Alamos plays, check out our latest National Security Science magazine at lanl.gov/magazine. This issue includes feature stories on what deterrence is and how it's used, weapons effects, and some perspectives from people involved in the air- and sea-based deterrents. Labcast: Los Alamos National Laboratory is exceeding expectations in radiological and hazardous waste disposal. Highlights from the Hill: Los Alamos National Laboratory is helping bring indigenous college students into the field of physics.

This week, CCNS highlights portions of a recent press release by Nuclear Watch New Mexico, Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment (Tri-Valley CARES), and the Savannah River Site Watch about the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Their piece suggests NNSA does not have its priorities straight in neither producing up-to-date information on the way plutonium appears to age nor providing this information in a timely manner to the public. The entire press release is posted at nuclearactive.org --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ccnsupdate/support

Dr. William Conwell, Deputy Associate Administrator for Budget at the National Nuclear Security Administration, discusses the importance of the budget and the challenges of managing the nuclear security enterprise. The budget is allocated to five major national security endeavors, including maintaining the nuclear weapons stockpile, reducing global nuclear threats, and strengthening science and technology capabilities. Modernizing the nuclear security infrastructure is a key focus. The budget is divided into four appropriations, with the largest portion allocated to weapons activities. The budgeting process involves working closely with the Nuclear Weapons Council and other agencies to determine requirements. Challenges include workforce recruitment and retention, accurate cost estimation, and managing organizational changes. Dr. Conwell is the Deputy Associate Administrator for Budget at the National Nuclear Security Administration. He is responsible for the Planning, Programming, Budget Execution, and Evaluation of NNSA's $24 billion budget and support to the NNSA programs with cost estimating, business case analysis, and Analysis of Alternatives. His team of over 130 professionals in budget analysis, accounting standards, and general engineering and physical science are the backbone of NNSA's efforts to maintain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear weapons stockpile; to reduce global nuclear threats; and to provide the U.S. Navy with safe, militarily-effective naval nuclear propulsion plants.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.org

In this episode of NucleCast, Adam interviews Polly Keim and Caleb Yip, program analysts at NNSA, to gain insights into the perspectives and experiences of young professionals in the field. The conversation covers topics such as the fellowship program, career paths, the role of non-engineering professionals, changing perspectives in NNSA, recruiting and retaining young talent, challenges faced by young workers, and the wishes of the guests for workforce development in NNSA. Paulina "Polly" Keim is an early-career nuclear weapons professional in the Office of Production Operations at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). In her role, she supports production specific multi-tail workload at seven NNSA sites. She started her career in the NNSA Graduate Fellowship Program, working in the Office of Domestic Uranium Enrichment and has since joined the Federal service. Polly is also a part of the CSIS PONI Nuclear Scholars Initiative where she is engaging with senior experts on nuclear weapons issues and researching the workforce needs of the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) as it transitions from stockpile stewardship to a more responsive enterprise for the 21st century. Polly holds a Bachelor's in Political Economy and a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Virginia (go Hoos!) In her free time, she enjoys yoga, reading, hiking, going to concerts, and playing with her cat Oppie.Caleb Yip is a program analyst with the Office of Stockpile Sustainment (NA-122) at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, which works to maintain and surveil the U.S. stockpile to ensure that the Nation's nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure, and effective. Prior to joining NNSA as a Fed, Caleb was an NNSA Graduate Fellow in the Office of Defense Programs, where he supported front-office correspondence and strategic messaging for the Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs. Caleb was a member of the CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues scholars cohort last year, and is expected to publish his paper on Russian nuclear escalation dynamics in the coming months. Caleb received his Bachelor's in Foreign Service and Master's in Security Studies from Georgetown University. Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.org

In this episode, Adam interviews Marcus Lea, the Deputy Associate Administrator for Management at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), about the importance of human capital and growing the workforce in the nuclear security field. They discuss recruitment and retention strategies, promoting the mission to potential candidates, inspiring youth to pursue STEM fields, partnerships with minority serving institutions, mentoring and guidance for students, and addressing challenges in federal hiring. Mr. Lea provides management, leadership, and day-to-day guidance in the NNSA administrative functions, including budget, NNSA Human Resources, Business Services, Audit and Internal Affairs, Learning and Career Management, and International Operations, providing guidance and assistance to the Administrator in all administrative areas. He is also responsible for developing and implementing Working Capital and related business policies, systems, procedures, and practices of the Department and the NNSA to ensure that they are responsive to the requirements for effective, efficient, and economical achievement of all programmatic goals and program objectives, and that they are fully supportive of the NNSA legislation and strategic plans.Prior to joining NNSA, Mr. Lea was Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center's Office of Human Capital. He led the entire scope of the Center's workforce strategy and planning, organization and leadership development, academic affairs, training and incentives, federal labor relations and employee services and operations. Prior to serving at NASA, Mr. Lea was Director for the Office of Human Capital Management at NNSA. He also served as DOE's Deputy for the Office of Human Resources and as Director of Human Resources Operations. Before joining DOE, Mr. Lea was a Civilian Personnel Officer for the United States Air Force District of Washington. Mr. Lea began his professional career as an Allowances and Differentials Analyst for the United States Department of State and progressively served in leadership roles spanning all of the Human Resources disciplines for the Office of Personnel Management; the United States Air Force Materiel Command; the Defense Information Systems Agency; and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.org

Road trip to Vegas. As part of an NGO transparency visit, NNSA opened up the Nevada Test Site to a group of international nuclear weapons experts, including one Dr. Jeffrey Lewis. Jeffrey goes through what he saw: P Tunnel, The BEEF, and the crown jewel, U1a. This was an NNSA exercise in transparency, aimed at showing the community and world that the U.S. stockpile stewardship and treaty verification exercises are separate from nuclear explosive tests. It was also, and we cannot underline this enough, extremely cool. Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!

The year is 1957 and the space race is underway.  The major powers around the world, mainly the Soviet Union and the United States, are all striving to develop the technology that will allow them to reach outer space. The Soviet Union's Academy of Sciences prime aim was to beat the Americans into Earth orbit and their top secret Sputnik project was about to reward all the efforts put in by a generation of scientists and engineers.  Sputnik 1 was soon to be placed atop an R-7 rocket and launched into a low orbit to become the first artificial Earth Satellite. But what if they hadn't been the first?   Sputnik was fired into a low earth orbit on the 4th of October 1957 atop an R-7 rocket   Some months before the Sputnik launch the US were conducting nuclear tests   The Pascal I underground test caused a huge blue flame to erupt from the desert   Very high speed cameras were used to film the tests   The Horizons spacecraft   People wonder what became of the manhole cover and if anything was written on it?   Images under a Creative Commons licence with thanks to the Atomic Heritage Foundation, the Federal Government of the United States, NNSA and NASA.

For more on this discussion visit https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federaldriveIt didn't last very long, but scientists at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) did run a test that resulted in nuclear fusion late last year. Fusion means the reaction put out more energy than the input to produce it. The proof of concept got lots of acclaim. And it produced finalists in the Service to America Medals program. Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with those Sammies finalists: Dr. Sarah Nelson, Director of NNSA's Defense Programs Office and Dr. Samantha Calkins, Program Manager for High Density and Ignition Science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For more on this discussion visit https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federaldrive It didn't last very long, but scientists at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) did run a test that resulted in nuclear fusion late last year. Fusion means the reaction put out more energy than the input to produce it. The proof of concept got lots of acclaim. And it produced finalists in the Service to America Medals program. Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with those Sammies finalists: Dr. Sarah Nelson, Director of NNSA's Defense Programs Office and Dr. Samantha Calkins, Program Manager for High Density and Ignition Science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has a difficult mission. It must constantly assess the condition of the nation's nuclear warheads. Explosive testing has been banned under international treaties for decades. It's been spending billions on new instruments deep underground. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the NNSA needs to tighten up its program management. For more, Tom Temin spoke with the GAO's Director of Natural Resources and Environment, Allison Bawden. GAO Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has a difficult mission. It must constantly assess the condition of the nation's nuclear warheads. Explosive testing has been banned under international treaties for decades. It's been spending billions on new instruments deep underground. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the NNSA needs to tighten up its program management. For more, Tom Temin spoke with the GAO's Director of Natural Resources and Environment, Allison Bawden.GAO Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Frank Lowery is the Associate Administrator for Management and Budget, National Nuclear Security Administration, where he oversees the offices of Budget and Financial Management, Human Resources, Business Services, Employee Empowerment, Learning and Career Management, and International Operations. A member of the Senior Executive Service in NNSA since March 2012, he has also served as the Department of Energy's Acting Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer; NNSA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Management; and Deputy Associate Administrator for Defense Nuclear Security. Prior to entering Federal service, he served in the U.S. Navy.Mr. Lowery has over three decades of experience in national security, much of it associated with nuclear-powered submarines and nuclear weapons. His submarine experience includes service in the Atlanticand Pacific fleets on fast attack as well as strategic deterrent submarines.A certified professional engineer, he developed specialized skills in technical, business, and personnel management through his integral involvement in submarine delivery programs and oversight of the 25 nuclear-powered fast attack submarines that operate in the Atlantic Fleet.Mr. Lowery earned his bachelor of science degree in marine engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and his master's degree in engineering management from Old Dominion University.EPISODE NOTES:Follow NucleCast on Twitter at @NucleCastEmail comments and story suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.orgSubscribe to NucleCast podcastRate the show

Photo:1938. TVA.  No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #NNSA: The US (and NATO) nuclear weapon arsenal is over budget and ten years late in the planning and execution Henry Sokolski, NPEC. https://www.gao.gov/blog/over-budget-and-delayed-whats-next-u.s.-nuclear-weapons-research-and-production-projects

Photo: 1906. No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow TONIGHT: The show begins in Primm, Nevada and ranges to Lancaster, PA, to Philadelphia, PA, Atlantic City, NJ, then overseas to Australia. PRC, Italy, and Scotland.  Attention to the NNSA of the nuclear weapons arsenal, and to the related saber rattling by the Kremlin. a stop on Nepture to ask of a correlation between sunspots and Neptune' atmosphere..

This is the first episode in ANWA Deterrence Center's Legacy Series where we look back at the Manhattan Project and the evolution over 80 years of the U.S. strategic nuclear deterrent. Darwin Morgan retired as Director, Office of Public Affairs, Nevada Field Office, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) In March 2021. In retirement he serves as the President of the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation. This Non-Profit organization oversees the Atomic Testing Museum, a Smithsonian affiliated museum dedicated to the history of atmospheric and underground nuclear weapons testing. In addition, he is a Historian with the NNSA's Nevada National Security Site's (NNSS's).As the former Director, Office of Public Affairs, he served as the advisor to senior management for public and congressional affairs and oversaw Freedom of Information/ Privacy Act and all outreach activities for the NNSA Nevada Field Office. He has also served as the Deputy Assistant Manager, Office of Public and Institutional Affairs, where he was responsible for quality leadership and diversity, public affairs and information, and economic diversification.Morgan's federal service began in 1989 as a Public Affairs Specialist with the Department of Energy's (DOE) Nevada Operations Office of External Affairs. He provided public affairs support for the environmental management programs, Yucca Mountain Project, and the national security programs. In addition, he served on two Source Evaluation Boards for the site office, one as the chairperson. Morgan was awarded the NNSA Administrator's Gold Medal and is a Graduate of the Federal Executive Institute.EPISODE NOTES:Follow NucleCast on Twitter at @NucleCastEmail comments and story suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.orgSubscribe to NucleCast podcastRate the show

Dr. Wallace T. (Wally) Clark III retired as a civilian employee of the United States Air Force in November2020. Currently, he is a Senior Fellow at the National Institute for Deterrence Studies and via Banda GroupInternational, he a Senior Technical Adviser on Nuclear Explosive Safety to the NNSA.Among Dr. Clark's numerous positions in his 40+-year career are: ultra-high vacuum scientist at the DOEY-12 Weapons Plant and fiber-optic sensor scientist at AT&T Bell Laboratories. He was a rocket plumeelectromagnetic scientist for the U.S. Navythen Chief Scientist and data integrator of the first U.S.unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) for the Army and Marines. As a USAF contractor he was Chief Scientistat the Electromagnetic Pulse Simulatorsand Chief Scientist of the ARGUS Aircraft Program. As a USAFcivilian he was the Microwave Airborne Electronic Attack Technical Area Manager, the HPM TechnologiesBranch Chief, the Laser Division Chief where he led the scientific effort behind the Airborne Laser (ABL),and the Microwave Division Chief where he drove the successful flight test of the Counter Electronics HighPower Microwave Advanced Missile Project and deployment of a Counter Improvised Explosive Device(IED) system.In the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, he served as the 498th Nuclear Systems Wing Chief Scientist (earning the “Grenade” call sign), the Systems Engineering Division Chief, the Enterprise Engineering Division Chief, the Weapon Effects Survivability Division Chief, and the Deputy Chief Scientist where he provided scientific and technological advice to the Commander and information on advanced science, technology, and innovation in coordination with the DoD, the DOE, academia, industry, and others. Grenade served on a Defense Science Board, contributed to two DoD Test Resource Management Center studies, was as a program manager, branch chief, division chief four times, and chief scientist five times. Throughout his career, he was foremost an R&D scientist. He is nationally and internationally known as a strong advocate for system survivability testing to weapon effects, especially nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP), often saying “proven survivability is deterrence.”EPISODE NOTES:Follow NucleCast on Twitter at @NucleCastEmail comments and story suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.orgSubscribe to NucleCast podcastRate the show

Wendy Baca started her career in 1987 with the Department of Energy in what was then known as the Albuquerque Operations Office. She was hired to fill the W87-1 Small Inter-continental Ballistic Missile (SICBM) Program Engineer position where one of her first tasks was to issue the Phase 3, Development Engineering, authorization to the DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex. Although the program was canceled a short time later, she continued to work in numerous Federal Program Manager roles for the next 25 years. The majority of Wendy's work focused on the ICBM programs where she was also the Director of the DOE's and later, the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA's), ICBM Division for 9 years. During that time, her primary focus was the First Production Unit through completion of the W87 Alt 342, which was also referred to as the W87 Life Extension Program. Wendy's other Federal Program Manager positions included the Pantex Stage Right Program, the AT-400A Pit Container, the DOE/NNSA Dismantlement Program, Plutonium Sustainment, and the Modernization Programs.After retiring from DOE/NNSA in 2012, Wendy worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) as an Executive Advisor in the Principal Associate Directorate for the Weapons Program. In 2015, Wendy became the Director of the Integrated Program Management Office in the Plutonium Science and Manufacturing Division where she focused on the ongoing LANL Production Agency efforts to include plutonium pits.Wendy worked at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) from February 2017 until October 2022. She started in the Military Liaison Department as the W80-1/W84 Field Engineer and she finished her SNL career as the Manager of the Accident Response Group and Legacy Hardware Laboratory Department.In 2021, Wendy joined TechSource Inc's Weapons Knowledge Preservation and Transfer Program where she works with the team to develop and deliver instructional modules for new and mid-career employees across the Nuclear Security Enterprise. As a Subject-Matter-Expert, Wendy provides lessons learned, experiences, and perspectives regarding the NNSA's Weapons Acquisition Process that she has gained over the past 35 years.Since November 2022, Wendy has also been a consultant with MELE Associates where she is part of the NNSA's Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation “Reserve Force” which is a cadre of retired employees that provides expertise and support to the NNSA's Nuclear Emergency Support Team.EPISODE NOTES:Follow NucleCast on Twitter at @NucleCastEmail comments and story suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.orgSubscribe to NucleCast podcastRate the show

Podcast: Control Loop: The OT Cybersecurity Podcast (LS 33 · TOP 5% what is this?)Episode: OT cybersecurity concerns in the federal space.Pub date: 2023-06-28The US Department of Energy was affected by Cl0p exploitation of MOVEit Transfer. Canada's oil-and-gas sector is a likely target for Russian cyberattacks. Nuclear weapons cybersecurity is lacking. Access to a US satellite is being hawked in a Russophone cybercrime forum. ICS patches.Today's guest is Christopher Ebley from Blackwood talking with us about OT cybersecurity concerns for Federal IT leaders.The Learning Lab has part one of a 3-part discussion between Dragos' Mark Urban and Vulnerability Analyst Logan Carpenter talking about vulnerabilities in the OT world.Control Loop News Brief.US Department of Energy affected by Cl0p exploitation of MOVEit Transfer.US government hit by Russia's Clop in MOVEit mass attack (The Register)Energy Department among ‘several' federal agencies hit by MOVEit breach (Federal News Network)Canada's oil-and-gas sector a likely target for Russian cyberattacks.The cyber threat to Canada's oil and gas sector (Canadian Centre for Cyber Security)Nuclear weapons cybersecurity is lacking.Nuclear Weapons Cybersecurity: Status of NNSA's Inventory and Risk Assessment Efforts for Certain Systems (GAO)Access to a US satellite is being hawked in a Russophone cybercrime forum.Military Satellite Access Sold on Russian Hacker Forum for $15,000 (HackRead)ICS patches.ICS Patch Tuesday: Siemens Addresses Over 180 Third-Party Component Vulnerabilities (SecurityWeek)CISA Releases Four Industrial Control Systems Advisories (CISA)Lessons learned from the electrical power sector.Electric Industry Cybersecurity: Lessons Learned from the Frontlines (Dragos)Control Loop Interview.The interview is with Christopher Ebley of Blackwood talking about OT cybersecurity concerns for Federal IT leaders.Control Loop Learning Lab.On the Learning Lab, Mark Urban is joined by Dragos Vulnerability Analyst Logan Carpenter in the first of three segments to discuss vulnerabilities in the OT world.Control Loop OT Cybersecurity Briefing.A companion monthly newsletter is available through free subscription and on the CyberWire's website.The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from N2K Networks, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.

The US Department of Energy was affected by Cl0p exploitation of MOVEit Transfer. Canada's oil-and-gas sector is a likely target for Russian cyberattacks. Nuclear weapons cybersecurity is lacking. Access to a US satellite is being hawked in a Russophone cybercrime forum. ICS patches. Today's guest is Christopher Ebley from Blackwood talking with us about OT cybersecurity concerns for Federal IT leaders. The Learning Lab has part one of a 3-part discussion between Dragos' Mark Urban and Vulnerability Analyst Logan Carpenter talking about vulnerabilities in the OT world. Control Loop News Brief. US Department of Energy affected by Cl0p exploitation of MOVEit Transfer. US government hit by Russia's Clop in MOVEit mass attack (The Register) Energy Department among ‘several' federal agencies hit by MOVEit breach (Federal News Network) Canada's oil-and-gas sector a likely target for Russian cyberattacks. The cyber threat to Canada's oil and gas sector (Canadian Centre for Cyber Security) Nuclear weapons cybersecurity is lacking. Nuclear Weapons Cybersecurity: Status of NNSA's Inventory and Risk Assessment Efforts for Certain Systems (GAO) Access to a US satellite is being hawked in a Russophone cybercrime forum. Military Satellite Access Sold on Russian Hacker Forum for $15,000 (HackRead) ICS patches. ICS Patch Tuesday: Siemens Addresses Over 180 Third-Party Component Vulnerabilities (SecurityWeek) CISA Releases Four Industrial Control Systems Advisories (CISA) Lessons learned from the electrical power sector. Electric Industry Cybersecurity: Lessons Learned from the Frontlines (Dragos) Control Loop Interview. The interview is with Christopher Ebley of Blackwood talking about OT cybersecurity concerns for Federal IT leaders. Control Loop Learning Lab. On the Learning Lab, Mark Urban is joined by Dragos Vulnerability Analyst Logan Carpenter in the first of three segments to discuss vulnerabilities in the OT world. Control Loop OT Cybersecurity Briefing. A companion monthly newsletter is available through free subscription and on the CyberWire's website.

The Honorable Robert R. Hood served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs at the Pentagon. In this role, he supported the Secretary of Defense and the Department's other senior leaders by promoting the policies, strategies, and budget of the Department of Defense (DOD) to the United States Congress.Prior to being confirmed as an Assistant Secretary, Rob served as the Vice President for Government Affairs at CH2M HILL, a fortune 500 engineering company. Rob previously served in the White House as a Special Assistant to President George W. Bush in the Office of Legislative Affairs. Before working on the White House staff, Rob served at the DOD as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs and as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) for Budget and Appropriations Affairs. Prior to the Pentagon, Rob served as the Director of Congressional Affairs for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy responsible for maintaining the nation's nuclear weapon stockpile and nonproliferation efforts.EPISODE NOTES:Follow NucleCast on Twitter at @NucleCastEmail comments and guest nominations to NucleCast@anwadeter.orgSubscribe to NucleCast podcastRate the show

Mark C. Herrmann, Ph.D. Program Director for the Weapon Physics and Design within Weapons and Complex Integration Directorate Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Dr. Herrmann leads LLNL's efforts to strengthen our nation's nuclear deterrent by advancing our understanding of nuclear weapons physics and design. This includes the physics design, assessment, and certification efforts for the enduring LLNL systems (W80, B83, W87), the W80-4 Life Extension Program, and the W87-1 Modification program. He also leads weapon science research and development, including focused experiments, integral hydrodynamic and subcritical experiments, high-energy-density (HED) experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), and modeling and simulation using NNSA's high performance computing capabilities. Dr. Herrmann has been in this role since January 2022. Charles W. Nakhleh, Ph.D. Associate Laboratory Director for Weapons Physics (ALDX) Los Alamos National Laboratory. In this role, Dr. Nakhleh has line responsibility for the nuclear weapons designers and simulation code architects at the Laboratory, as well as program responsibility for the NA-11 weapons science, computing, and technology maturation portfolio. Prior to taking on his current role, he was the Executive Officer to the Deputy Director for Weapons (DDW), where he was responsible to the DDW for integrating and aligning activities across the weapons program.

Post-Exascale Computing for the NNSA (National Nuclear Security Administration) is the subject of a new report by a distinguished working and review committes comprised of notable supercomputing experts. We bring you a summary of the report's key findings and recommendations. @HPCpodcast is delighted that two of the panelists were guests of this show in recent months. [audio mp3="https://orionx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/055@HPCpodcast_Post-Exascale-NNSA_20230417.mp3"][/audio]   The post @HPCpodcast-55: Post-Exascale Computing for the NNSA appeared first on OrionX.net.

The National Nuclear Security Administrator Jill Hruby and Senior Advisor to the Department of Energy Office of Environment Management Ike White will be in Santa Fe next week for a public town hall. It is essential that they hear from you! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ccnsupdate/support

For nearly three years, the public has requested a town hall type of event in which officials from the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) would answer questions about the plans to expand operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ccnsupdate/support

Logan Browning is a 2021 BYUI graduate. He completed two internships while in school. One with Hughes General Contractors in Salt Lake City as a field laborer and another with the Idaho National Laboratory as a Critical Infrastructure Analyst. After graduation he accepted a job with the Idaho National Laboratory as a full time Critical Infrastructure Analyst looking at how to be more resilient against cyber and physical attacks. Since recent is Digital Twin Visualization Scientist and Industrial Metaverse Functional Area Lead of Digital Engineering at INL. He currently supports digital engineering for Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Division, the Beartooth Nuclear Material Testbed and NNSA digital twin programs. His focus is on Building Information Modeling, critical infrastructure and extended reality, which includes virtual, augmented and mixed reality. He currently pursuing an MBA in Construction Management from Boise State.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) recently announced the achievement of fusion ignition at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) — a major scientific breakthrough decades in the making that will pave the way for advancements in national defense and the future of clean power. On Dec. 5, a team at LLNL's National Ignition Facility (NIF) conducted the first controlled fusion experiment in history to reach this milestone, also known as scientific energy breakeven, meaning it produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it. This first-of-its-kind feat will provide unprecedented capability to support NNSA's Stockpile Stewardship Program and will provide invaluable insights into the prospects of clean fusion energy, which would be a game-changer for efforts to achieve President Biden's goal of a net-zero carbon economy. “This is a landmark achievement for the researchers and staff at the National Ignition Facility who have dedicated their careers to seeing fusion ignition become a reality, and this milestone will undoubtedly spark even more discovery,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. https://lasers.llnl.gov/ Charles Seife, a professor of journalism at NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, has been writing about physics and mathematics for two decades. He is a critic of the hype surrounding fusion. He is the author of nine books books, SUN IN A BOTTLE AND including Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea (2000), which won the 2000 PEN/Martha Albrand Award for First Nonfiction; Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception (2010); and a forthcoming biography of physicist Stephen Hawking (2021). Before arriving at NYU, Seife was a writer for Science magazine and had been a U.S. correspondent for New Scientist. His writing has also appeared in The Economist, Scientific American, ProPublica, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Discover, Slate, Smithsonian, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and numerous other publications. He has also been a scientific consultant and writer for television documentaries about science and mathematics. Seife holds an A.B. in mathematics from Princeton University, an M.S. in mathematics from Yale University, and an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University https://www.charlesseife.org/ Connect with Professor Keating:

This week the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) provided evidence to CCNS and Honor Our Pueblo Existence (HOPE) that Stephanie Stringer, a New Mexico Environment Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Chair of the New Mexico Water Quality Commission, made adjudicatory decisions against the non-governmental organizations while she was applying for NNSA employment. This is the second time NNSA has hired an adjudicatory decision-maker during an ongoing proceeding addressing the groundwater discharge permit, DP-1132, for the Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ccnsupdate/support

Dr. John R. Harvey is a physicist with over 40 years of experience working nuclear weapons and national security issues, first at LLNL, then at Stanford's Center for International Security and Arms Control and in senior positions in the Departments of Defense (twice) and Energy. From 2009-2013, he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs. In this role, he was Undersecretary Ash Carter's “go to” person for the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review, and for interactions with the NNSA on joint oversight of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. Dr. Harvey provided oversight to DoD acquisition programs to sustain and modernize nuclear weapons delivery systems and systems for their command and control. He has written and spoken extensively on these issues. On retiring from government service in 2013, he consults with, among others, the Defense Science Board, Institute for Defense Analysis, Los Alamos National Laboratory, U.S. Strategic Command's Advisory Panel on Nuclear Command and Control and NNSA's Defense Programs Advisory Committee.

Dr. Brent Park is a physicist and a former government official; appointed to a position at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) – by the President and in just 6 weeks confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate on March 22, 2018. Brent develops policy and technology solutions to real world challenges by leading and coordinating R&D program-development efforts in high-performance computing, big data analytics and decision applications, cyber security, mechanical and electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, physical sciences, and nuclear science and engineering. Prior to joining NNSA, Brent served as Associate Laboratory Director at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and was the director of NNSA's Remote Sensing Laboratory.

Krusty Core showing heat pipe arrangement Patrick McClure and David Poston successfully developed, obtained funding, constructed and operated a new atomic fission power source that produced useful quantities of electricity during the period from 2014-2018. That puts them into a rarified, perhaps unique position. Few US-based technologists have been through that process in the past 40 years. Aside: Without some way to frame the statement so it excludes the US Navy it isn't accurate to say no one else has accomplished this feat. End Aside Patrick and David – and their supporting team – developed and operated the Kilopower reactor, also known as KRUSTY. That name comes from a creatively framed acronym – Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling TechnologY. The proposed application for the system is to produce power for space missions that cannot be accomplished using either solar collectors or radioisotope thermal generators. The former imposes operational constraints with both intermittency factors and increasing distance from the sun. The later uses rare isotopes with limited heat production that constrain individual power devices to a thermal output of approximately 300 W when the device is new. In brief, Krusty was a tiny reactor that was operated at a power level of 5 kWth to produce the equivalent of 1 kWe using Stirling Engines qualified for space travel. Heat pipes arranged around a solid UMO alloy annular core transferred heat from the reactor to the hot end of the Stirling engines. The cold side of the engines were designed to radiate heat into the vacuum of space. Reactor reactivity was adjusted using a movable beryllium reflector on the outside of the core. A boron carbide rod in the center of the annular core provided a second means of controlling the reactor. The core was 10 inches tall and had an outside diameter of 4 inches. The center annulus for 2 inches in diameter. Aside: Past tense is the accurate way to describe Krusty. The system, including the core used, no longer exists. End Aside. The program cost $18 M and took 3.5 years from initiation to final testing. It was funded partly by NASA and partly by NNSA. We will be publishing a more detailed description of the technology and the development process in the near future, but for now, please listen to the show. If the audio program stimulates questions or comments, please join in a conversation here. If you are intensely curious and cannot wait for our coming post, you can learn more about Krusty by visiting Space Nukes Technical Papers.

This week, Addison Snell, Tiffany Trader, and Oliver Peckham discuss news from the NNSA, HPE, and the future of machine learning.