Nuclear Security

Pictured are pop-up barriers and physical security bollards. One of the first levels of DNS defense-in-depth approach on physical security. NNSA's Defense Nuclear Security program is responsible for securing thousands of nuclear weapons and components, and hundreds of tons of special nuclear material in all forms, shapes and sizes. It protects NNSA personnel, facilities, nuclear weapons, and information from a full spectrum of threats, most notably from terrorism, which has become of paramount concern post September 11, 2001. The eight sites in NNSA’s nuclear weapons complex are some of the most secure facilities in the world, because NNSA uses the best, most modern security technology, deploys the most sophisticated assets and has a well-trained, world-class protective force to keep nuclear weapons and material secure.

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, NNSA, took steps to protect its critical facilities from vehicle bombs, strengthened its facilities against attacks, and improved the training and equipment of its protective forces. A key to improved security has been consolidating materials and reducing facilities as part of NNSA’s future complex-wide transformation efforts.

NNSA employs three primary strategies: utilize an integrated program management approach to define priorities and performance objectives and evaluate contractor performance; implement a human capital management plan to improve and sustain the quality and training of safeguards and security professionals with the cornerstone being an intern program to attract high-quality college graduates; and, focus on technology to offset the reliance on costly and manpower-intensive protection strategies.

For more information on NNSA's security measures in a post-9/11 world, click here.

Learn More About NNSA's Nuclear Security Office

Leadership

Organization

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