About the Nuclear Security Enterprise
The strategic environment has changed with the expanding capability of world actors. The future environment is less predictable and demands our national deterrence strategy accounts for the nature of this uncertainty.
NNSA's core missions include maintaining the nuclear stockpile, monitoring and promoting nonproliferation, powering the nuclear Navy, and responding to nuclear and radiological emergencies.
President Donald J. Trump directed the Secretary of Defense to initiate a new Nuclear Posture Review to ensure the nation's nuclear deterrent is modern, robust, flexible, resilient, ready and appropriately tailored to deter 21st century threats and reassures allies.
Faces of the Nuclear Security Enterprise
NNSA's National Labs lead the world in innovation in national security applications. Eric Duoss, left, and Tom Wilson, engineers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, use an additive manufacturing process called direct ink writing to develop an engineered “foam” cushion.
NNSA scientists and engineers are always testing, always experimenting to improve the materials and methods used in national security work. Here, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researcher Kevin Vandersall sets up an experiment in the 10-kilogram spherical firing chamber in the High Explosives Applications Facility.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Sean Brum installs one of the first opacity targets in the National Ignition Facility target chamber. Such experiments help scientists ensure the nation's nuclear stockpile is safe, secure, and effective.
Today’s workforce demands old-fashioned dedication, but with advanced technological, scientific and engineering experience and capabilities. Much of these are dependent upon young scientists and engineers who are excited to work for NNSA. Here, Daniel Perlstein of the Nevada National Security Site works on a leak test machine as he trains to become a packaging engineer.
The Source Physics Experiment series and NNSA’s ongoing research and development at our national laboratories are key to strengthening national security. These efforts advance technical solutions for treaty monitoring by the United States and its partner nations.