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Emergency Preparedness and Response

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response

On this Page:


Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Director: Roy Zimmerman
Deputy Director:
William Dean

Develops overall agency policy and provides management direction for evaluation and assessment of technical issues involving security at nuclear facilities, and is the agency safeguards and security interface with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Intelligence and Law Enforcement Communities, Department of Energy (DOE), and other agencies. Develops emergency preparedness policies, regulations, programs, and guidelines for both currently licensed nuclear reactors and potential new nuclear reactors. Provides technical expertise regarding emergency preparedness issues and interpretations, conducts and directs the NRC program for response to incidents, and is the agency emergency preparedness and incident response interface with the DHS, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other Federal agencies.

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Program Management, Policy Development and Analysis Staff

Director: Virginia Huth
Deputy Director: Susan Abraham

Provides leadership and manages strategic and long-range program planning, budget development, financial management, performance monitoring, internal control reviews, human resource analysis, information management, resource control, and other administrative services such as records management, Freedom of Information Act coordination, facilities coordination, and management of principal correspondence. Provides direction and coordination of general administrative matters, and information management and technology functions and responsibilities delegated to the office. Reviews and recommends general administrative procedures. Provides independent review of office policy papers and issues to ensure completeness, promptness, accuracy, and adherence to agency and office policy.

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Division of Security Policy

Director: Richard Correia

Develops policies and programs related to regulatory policy and licensing reviews for safeguards and security of NRC-licensed facilities and NRC-licensed material. Provides technical support for licensing and review activities to deter and protect against threats of radiological sabotage and theft or diversion of special nuclear material. Conducts safeguards reviews for import and export of nuclear material and sensitive technology. Oversees the development of policy and program reviews related to physical protection. Conducts security analyses to support policy development and resolve issues. Ensures the safeguards of nuclear material through support of international activities. Oversees the planning and coordination of agency-wide activities to assess potential security vulnerabilities and to identify mitigating measures for NRC-licensee facilities and activities. Coordinates with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies and oversees the planning and coordination of NRC participation in integrated licensee, local, state, tribal, and federal response to security contingencies at NRC-licensed facilities.

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Deputy Director for Reactor Security

Deputy Director: Scott Morris

Responsible for developing regulatory policies and programs for safeguards and security of NRC-licensed reactors. Provides oversight, licensing, and technical support of physical protection programs to deter and protect against threats of radiological sabotage and theft or diversion of special nuclear material at these facilities including power reactors, research and test reactors, and new or advanced reactors. Oversees the planning and coordination of agency-wide activities to assess potential security vulnerabilities and to identify mitigating measures for NRC-licensed facilities and activities. Coordinates security policy with other government entities, particularly with the Department of Homeland Security. Oversees the planning and coordination of NRC participation in integrated licensee, local, state, tribal, and federal response to security contingencies at NRC-licensed facilities and activities. Oversees the development of the technical basis for reactor security rulemakings.

Reactor Security Licensing and Programs Branch

Chief: Douglas Huyck

Plans, coordinates, and manages licensing reviews for currently licensed power reactors and the review of applications for early site permits, design certifications, or combined licenses for new reactors. Plans, coordinates, and manages the programs for access authorization and fitness for duty of licensee employees at NRC-licensed facilities and for licensed nuclear material. Manages licensee personnel security interface with licensees, industry, and law enforcement and homeland security agencies. Conducts technical reviews of physical security and safeguards programs designed to protect against the threat of radiological sabotage.

Integrated Security Coordination and Policy Branch

Chief: Craig Erlanger

Plans, coordinates, and manages the agency-wide activities to assess potential security vulnerabilities and to identify mitigating measures for NRC-licensee facilities and activities including the development and implementation of security policies for commercial power reactor facilities. Works closely with other Federal agencies, particularly with the Department of Homeland Security, to coordinate and enhance integrated response activities. Develops policy recommendations regarding enhancements to physical and cyber security and safeguards programs to mitigate identified vulnerabilities to radiological sabotage, or to theft or diversion of special nuclear materials. Conducts technical basis and rulemaking guidance development for reactor security rulemaking.

Deputy Director for Material Security

Deputy Director: Mark Shaffer

Responsible for the security policies and programs of NRC-licensed material. Provides oversight, licensing, and technical support of physical protection programs to deter and protect against threats of radiological sabotage and theft or diversion of special nuclear material for nuclear material, including nuclear fuel-cycle facilities, spent fuel storage installations, radioactive material, decommissioned reactors, transportation, and waste processing, storage, and disposal facilities. Oversees the adequacy of physical protection and international security for export licensing reviews and facilitates the application of international security, including coordination with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Coordinates security policy with the Department of Homeland Security Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO).

Materials, Waste and International Security Branch

Chief: Sandra Wastler

Plans, coordinates, and manages the overall development and implementation of policies, and oversight programs for security at independent spent fuel storage installations, decommissioned power reactors, other licensed radioactive material, waste processing, storage and disposal facilities. Conducts physical protection technical and regulatory reviews in support of regulatory programs, rulemaking and licensing for the use, storage, and disposal of nuclear and radioactive materials. Coordinates international activities among appropriate agency offices and other federal agencies related to the adequacy of radioactive source security, physical protection, export licensing reviews, including coordination with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Fuel Cycle and Transportation Security Branch

Chief: Robert Caldwell

Plans, coordinates, and manages the overall development and implementation of policies and oversight programs for transportation security and physical protection of fissile material at nuclear fuel-cycle facilities. Conducts technical and regulatory reviews in support of regulatory programs, rulemakings, and licensing. Plans, coordinates, and manages contingency planning and emergency response activities for safeguards events at fuel-cycle facilities and assesses fuel-cycle facility event reports.

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Division of Security Operations

Director: Patricia Holahan

Directs implementation of programs for security and safeguards at nuclear facilities and material. Monitors and assesses the threat environment, including liaison with intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Implements the performance-evaluation program for licensed facilities and activities to evaluate the effectiveness of security force response. Develops and oversees the NRC oversight program to evaluate the implementation of NRC requirements and activities related to safeguards and security for NRC licensed facilities and activities. Ensures the protection of classified and sensitive unclassified information (Safeguards Information (SGI) and Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII)) at NRC facilities, NRC contractors, licensees, and certificate holders. Oversees the implementation of programs related to personnel security including access authorization and fitness for duty at licensed facilities and to protect licensed material. Oversees the implementation of the enforcement and allegations programs for safeguards and security.

Deputy Director for Security Oversight

Deputy Director: Barry Westreich (Acting)

Responsible for ensuring the implementation of the NRC’s safeguards and security programs for nuclear facilities and material. Oversees the development and implementation of the safeguards and security baseline inspection program and the MC&A inspection program at nuclear power reactors and fuel cycle facilities and for licensed material. Oversees the development and implementation of the performance evaluation program for licensed facilities and activities to evaluate the effectiveness of the security force response. Implements the enforcement and allegations programs for safeguards and security.

Reactor Security Oversight Branch

Chief: (Vacant)

Develops and oversees the NRC’s safeguards and security baseline inspection program to evaluate the implementation of NRC requirements and activities at licensed power reactor facilities. Oversight of licensee activities includes efforts to train, execute, and assess effectiveness of licensees' implementation of regulatory requirements for safeguards and security. Conducts and coordinates NSIR’s allegations program. Develops and oversees implementation of the Federal Security Coordinator Program in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Security Performance Evaluation Branch

Chief: Ronald Albert

Develops and oversees the NRC program for performance-based evaluations of licensee security programs to assess the effectiveness of such programs, including force-on-force exercises and tabletop drills. Incorporates the lessons-learned from these exercises into ongoing programs to identify needed improvements to ensure licensee security programs are effective. Establishes standards and oversees implementation of the adversary force for force-on-force exercises, including mitigation of conflicts of interest. Acquires and manages resources to maximize, to the extent practicable, the effective simulation of security threats in force-on-force exercises.

Deputy Director for Security Programs

Deputy Director: Ralph Way

Responsible for ensuring the implementation of agency threat assessment, information security, and licensee personnel security programs. Monitors and assesses the threat environment, including liaison with intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Develops and maintains the NRC’s Design Basis Threats (DBTs) and threat attributes and adversary characteristics. Assesses the credibility of threats to NRC and NRC-licensed facilities and coordinates responses to the threats through the Information Assessment Team. Ensures the protection of classified and sensitive unclassified information (SGI and PCII) at NRC facilities, NRC contractors, licensees, and certificate holders, including inspections and oversight of licensee information security programs. Develops, operates, and maintains the NRC’s Secure Communications System including maintaining the certification of NRC’s Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs). Oversees the implementation of programs related to personnel security, including access authorization and fitness for duty at NRC-licensed facilities and for licensed material.

Intelligence Liaison and Threat Assessment Branch

Chief: Roberta Warren

Assesses the threat environment affecting regulated activities, performs rapid assessment of the credibility of threats and security events, coordinates with the Intelligence and Law Enforcement Communities, assesses illicit trafficking events, and reviews the adequacy of NRC's design basis threats based on domestic and foreign events and intelligence information. Maintains the NRC’s Design Basis Threats and threat attributes and adversary characteristics. Coordinates with NRC’s Federal Security Coordinators regarding communicating threat information.

Information Security Branch

Chief: A. Lynn Silvious

Plans, coordinates, and manages the information security program to protect classified and sensitive unclassified information (SGI and PCII) for the agency and oversight for licensed activities. Administers the NRC's counterintelligence, secure telecommunications, declassification, technical security, foreign disclosure of information, foreign ownership, control or influence, and authorized classifiers and SGI designators programs. Provides daily intelligence support to the Commission. Acts as the NRC Central Office of Record for communications security (COMSEC) material and operates the NRC's secure communications center. Maintains the certification of NRC’s SCIFs.

Licensee Personnel Security Branch

Chief: Garmon West

Plans, coordinates, and manages the overall development and implementation of policies and programs for access authorization and fitness for duty of licensee employees at NRC-licensed facilities and for licensed nuclear material. Provides oversight of the effectiveness of licensee activities in these areas. Manages licensee personnel security interface with licensees, industry, and law enforcement and homeland security agencies. Prepares technical support and coordinates rulemakings on licensee personnel security

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Division of Preparedness and Response

Director: Melvyn Leach

Develops emergency preparedness policies, regulations, programs, and guidelines for both currently licensed nuclear reactors and potential new nuclear reactors. Provides technical expertise regarding emergency preparedness issues and interpretations, and conducts technical and regulatory reviews of emergency preparedness applications and amendments. Coordinates, as appropriate, with NMSS, NRR, and other NRC organizations on emergency preparedness matters. Coordinates, as appropriate, with DHS, FDA, EPA, and other federal and state government agencies on emergency preparedness matters. Develops and directs implementation of the policies and programs for the agency's response to incidents involving licensed facilities and materials. Exercises oversight of the regional response programs. Manages the NRC Operations Center. Coordinates incident response programs with Federal, State, and local governments and licensees.

Deputy Director for Incident Response

Deputy Director: Brian McDermott

Develops and directs implementation of the policies and programs for the agency's response to incidents involving licensed facilities and materials. Exercises oversight of the regional response programs. Manages the NRC Operations Center. Receives, screens, and promptly communicates operational event information reported to the Operations Center in support of NRC Headquarters and the regions, as appropriate, to provide for timely response by the responsible offices. Coordinates incident response programs with Federal, State, and local governments and licensees.

Coordination Branch

Chief: Anthony McMurtray

Develops NRC policy, plans, program requirements, and procedures for the NRC response to incidents. Ensures that the NRC response is consistent with the NRC role and licensee responsibilities and is coordinated with Federal and State response activities. Maintains, and integrates NRC response plans, procedures, and training of personnel and organizations. Conducts exercises to achieve and test readiness objectives. Serves as the agency focal point for incident response interface with FEMA and other Federal agencies. Provides response planning and procedural guidance to regional offices and assesses regional office response capabilities. Develops, maintains, and integrates NRC plans, procedures, and training for response to domestic and international radiological events and to any incidents that threaten the continuity of government (COG) or continuity of NRC operations (COOP).

Operations Branch

Chief: William Gott

Manages the NRC Operations Center. Provides operational support for Headquarters response activities. Provides Agency “first- responders” to licensee events by ensuring continuous shift staffing of the Operations Center. Provides adequate staff, procedures, and equipment readiness for the receipt of reports of reactor events, materials events, and other information at the Operations Center. Provides prompt feedback to NRC Headquarters and the regions regarding reported events that require immediate regulatory attention. Notifies other Federal agencies of significant events. Initiates, monitors and maintains communications with licensees during events, drills and exercises to ensure effective communication flow.

Deputy Director for Emergency Preparedness

Deputy Director: Christopher Miller

Develops emergency preparedness policies, regulations, programs, and guidelines for both currently licensed nuclear reactors and potential new nuclear reactors. Provides technical expertise regarding emergency preparedness issues and interpretations, and conducts technical and regulatory reviews of emergency preparedness applications and amendments. Coordinates, as appropriate, with NMSS, NRR, and other NRC organizations on emergency preparedness matters. Coordinates, as appropriate, with DHS, FDA, EPA, and other federal and state government agencies on emergency preparedness matters and evaluates FEMA findings and determinations regarding off-site emergency preparedness of state and local governments. Manages emergency preparedness communication with internal and external stakeholders including the public, industry, the international nuclear community, and federal and state government agencies. Provides oversight and technical direction for the emergency preparedness cornerstone of the reactor oversight program. Provides emergency preparedness technical support for incident response activities regarding actual incidents and exercises, as well as support for inspection activities.

Licensing and Inspection Branch

Chief: Kevin Williams

Coordinates, as appropriate, with DHS, FDA, EPA, and other federal and state government agencies on emergency preparedness matters and evaluates DHS findings and determinations regarding off-site emergency preparedness of state and local governments. Manages emergency preparedness communication with internal and external stakeholders including the public, industry, the international nuclear community, and federal and state government agencies. Provides oversight and technical direction for the emergency preparedness cornerstone of the reactor oversight program. Provides emergency preparedness technical support for incident response activities regarding actual incidents and exercises, as well as support for inspection activities.

Regulatory Improvements and Outreach Branch

Chief: Anthony McMurtray

Develops emergency preparedness policies, regulations, programs, and guidelines for both currently licensed nuclear reactors and potential new nuclear reactors. Provides technical expertise regarding emergency preparedness issues and interpretations, and conducts technical and regulatory reviews of emergency preparedness applications and amendments. Coordinates, as appropriate, with NMSS, NRR, and other NRC organizations on emergency preparedness matters.

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