Fallout from the July 28 security breach at Y-12 continues, this time reaching high atop the federal organizational structure at the National Nuclear Security Administration. NNSA Administrator Tom D’Agostino said in a message to employees Friday that the agency’s Defense Nuclear Security chief, Doug Fremont, had been “temporarily reassigned” within the agency while Brig. Gen. Sandra Finan leads a review of the organizational structure and chain of command of security at the agency. According to D’Agostino’s message, Office of Secure Transportation Director Jeff Harrell will replace Fremont as the acting Associate Administrator for Defense Nuclear Security, while Deputy Associate Administrator for Defense Nuclear Security Frank Lowery remains in his role as the NNSA’s No. 2 security official. Acting OST Deputy Director Kerry Clark will head up OST while Harrell is at NNSA headquarters. “We believe that this is the best way to proceed with the review process,” D’Agostino said. “Doug is a respected federal leader and we continue to value his contributions to our organization. … We all know that the security of our nation’s nuclear assets is and must always remain our top priority. It is one of the most important things we have to deal with every day.”
NW&M Monitor has also learned that Dan Hoag, the Deputy General Manager of the new NNSA Production Office, had been moved to a new federal oversight position at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Hoag had responsibility of Y-12 and the Pantex Plant in his position, but he was based out of Y-12, where he had served as the deputy general manager and acting manager of the Y-12 Site Office before the creation of the new NNSA Production Office. The shakeup has also continued at protective force contractor WSI, extending to the company’s headquarters. NW&M Monitor has learned that John Burleson, the company’s Senior Vice President for DOE Operations, has been reassigned to a new position within the company in the wake of the security breach.
