Nuclear Security & Deterrence Vol. 19 No. 8 Wrap Up
-
National Laboratories
At Oak Ridge
Y-12 to Replace Plant Shift Superintendent Office NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 There are multiple infrastructure improvements under way or planned at the Y-12 National Security Complex, in some cases replacing World War II-era structures. Some projects are moving forward, while others spin their wheels. It appears now that one of several proposed projects to upgrade the […]
-
Delivery Systems & Nuclear Triad
Air Force Releases Industry RFSE Q&As, Industry Concerned about Potential Schedule Obstacles
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 Industry officials appear to be concerned about potential impacts that government inspection requirements could have on the delivery schedule for Reentry Field Support Equipment (RFSE) that supports work on the Minuteman 3 re-entry systems prior to attaching the system to the missile, according to a set of questions-and-answers for the […]
-
Contracts & Procurement
N.M. Lawmaker Pushes For New Mexico-Centric Bid for Sandia or Los Alamos
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) wants a New Mexico-based consortium to run at least one of the nuclear weapons laboratories in his state, and he urged the state legislature, Gov. Susana Martinez (R), New Mexico universities and local industry this week to consider making a run for one of the […]
-
Budget & Policy
NNSA Administrator Warns of Potential ‘Devastating’ Cuts from Sequestration
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 Sequestration cuts would have a “devastating” and wide-ranging impact on the work of the National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA Administrator Frank Klotz said this week. Speaking Feb. 18 at the Seventh Annual Nuclear Deterrence Summit in Washington, Klotz referred to the across-the-board sequestration cuts that would go into effect in […]
-
Contracts & Procurement
Babcock & Wilcox Announces Bid for Kansas City Plant Contract
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 After keeping its plans quiet for weeks, Babcock & Wilcox said today that it is bidding for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Kansas City National Security Campus management-and-operating contract. B&W led teams that ran the NNSA’s Y-12 and Pantex plants up until last year, but after its defeat to Bechtel-led […]
-
Non-Proliferation
U.S. Still Pressing for Arms Control, but Major Prospects With Russia Are Dim
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 Despite growing tensions between the United States and Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller said this week the Obama Administration won’t be swayed from continuing to pursue its arms control agenda with Moscow. “The situation in Ukraine is […]
-
Budget & Policy
Support for Nuclear Modernization Higher than Previous Years, Cong. Staff Say
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 As the nuclear weapons complex moves from a period of sustainment to modernization, Congressional backing of the funding and strategy of the nuclear enterprise is higher than it has been in previous years, staffers from the House and Senate Armed Services committees said this week at the Seventh Annual Nuclear […]
-
Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
Troy Wade Honored With Third Annual Johnny Foster Award
NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 Longtime weapons complex official Troy Wade was awarded this week with the third annual Johnny Foster Award by ExchangeMonitor Publications and Forums. The award was presented to Wade at the Seventh Annual Nuclear Deterrence Summit, held in Washington. Wade served more than 50 years in the nation’s nuclear weapons programs in a […]
-
Warhead & Weapons Development
Newly Scaled-Back UPF Finds Positive Reviews
Staff Reports NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 Plans for a newly scaled-back Uranium Processing Facility received largely positive reviews from officials this week at the Seventh Annual Nuclear Deterrence Summit, held in Washington, as officials expressed optimism that the project could stay within its $6.5 billion cost cap. The UPF, which has yet to begin construction, has […]
-
Naval Nuclear Propulsion
Trident 2 D5 Missile Upgrades on Track to Complete by 2024, Navy Official Says
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 The final update of the Trident 2 D5 architecture before the debut of the Ohio-Class nuclear submarine replacement program is on track to be completed by 2024, Navy Strategic Systems Programs Director Vice Adm. Terry Benedict said this week. Construction on the Ohio-Class Replacement is expected to run from 2021 […]
-
Budget & Policy
Erhart Leaving NNSA Production Office to Head up NNSA Office of Policy
Sandia Field Office Manager Geoff Beausoleil Named Replacement Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 Steve Erhart, who helped stand up the National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office three years ago, is shifting to head up the agency’s new Office of Policy and he will be replaced by Sandia Field Office Manager Geoff Beausoleil. Office of Secure […]
-
Budget & Policy
After Disagreement, SEAB Delays Approval of NNSA Governance Panel Endorsement
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 In an unexpected turn of events this week, the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board did not approve a draft memorandum endorsing a call to better integrate the National Nuclear Security Administration within the Department of Energy. SEAB members gathered for a teleconference Feb. 17 to approve the memorandum—and voice support for the […]
-
Defense & Military
Air Force Sec. Says Plans to Increase Service End Strength Should ‘Bolster’ Nuclear Enterprise
Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 The Air Force is striving to increase its force end strength by 6,600 personnel, a boost intended, in part, to “bolster” nuclear forces, Secretary Deborah Lee James said last week. Speaking at the Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando Feb. 13, James spoke about the service’s planned investments in the nuclear […]
-
Budget & Policy
Sen. Alexander to Follow New Defense Secretary’s Lead on UPF, Other Nuclear Issues
Staff Reports NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the new chairman of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which controls much of the Department of Energy’s funding, said last week that he expects to rely on Defense Secretary Ashton Carter for advice on the Uranium Processing Facility and other topics associated with nuclear […]
-
Budget & Policy
DNFSB Needs to Do More to Improve Procedures, Controls, GAO Finds
Mike Nartker NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board needs to do more to further improve internal procedures and controls, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released late this week. Before 2013, the Board had few written policies and procedures for its five members and its technical staff, according to the […]
-
National Laboratories
NNSA Evaluating Causes of Misclassification Incidents at Los Alamos
Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 2/20/2015 The National Nuclear Security Administration is evaluating the causes of several incidents of misclassified material at Los Alamos National Laboratory in response to a Department of Energy Inspector General report that revealed that “sensitive, national security information” had been inadvertently disclosed by a LANL classification officer. The IG report, released last week, […]