Press Releases

Amarillo, Texas — Safeguards and Security personnel from the Pantex Plant, Y-12 National Security Complex, and the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Production Office (NPO) were recently honored with 2020 Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) security awards. The winners included Willis Ray, Dwayne Cunningham, and Ramiro Alaniz from Pantex; Kevin Mattern from Y-12; and Tim Alvarado, Blaine Westlake, and Dan Reeves of NPO.

Individual accolades

Blaine Westlake of NPO was named NNSA's 2020 Security Manager of the Year, and Willis Ray of Pantex was awarded the Bradley A. Peterson Contractor Security Professional of the Year.

Westlake’s work on the Security Management Improvement Program team directly contributed to the team achieving its objectives of improving federal performance through collaboration and partnership between management and operating contractors and NNSA leadership. Westlake also provided input on operational security and lessons learned from teleworking that will be useful as NNSA looks toward the future return to the workplace.

“Blaine has a reputation as a leader and reliable resource by the Emergency Response Organization, NPO management, and headquarters personnel,” said Jeffrey Johnson, associate administrator for the NNSA's Office of Defense Nuclear Security and chief of Defense Nuclear Security. “Blaine's efforts have not only been recognized at NPO but also at headquarters, where his involvement is improving the larger Nuclear Security Enterprise oversight process.”

Ray was instrumental in the development and implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols and was involved in numerous high-level initiatives at Pantex, including the day-to-day security operational aspects of the John C. Drummond Center, technical surveillance countermeasures recovery actions, Material Staging Facility planning, and NNSA Team of Teams Security Improvement Sub-Team.

“NNSA is privileged to have had someone with Willis’ background in the U.S. Navy and then as a Security Police Officer,” Johnson said. “His experience, education, and knowledge are advancing the NNSA mission, and I am extremely appreciative of his efforts.”

Exceptional teamwork

Dwayne Cunningham and Ramiro Alaniz of Pantex; Kevin Mattern of Y-12; and Tim Alvarado and Dan Reeves of NPO were recognized as members of the NNSA 2020 Security Team of the Year. They were among 23 members of the Design Basis Threat (DBT) Implementation Team who received this award. The team is comprised of contractors and federal personnel from every site in the NSE, plus the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Security Policy.

The DBT team finished the most comprehensive analysis of security risk ever completed in support of the U.S. DOE/NNSA mission, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team’s work resulted in security analysis that is more consistent, transparent, and understandable than ever before.

“Because of Dwayne, Ramiro, Kevin, Tim, and Dan’s diligent work, NNSA is now in a position to move forward with a comprehensive security risk management plan by leveraging the mechanisms and foundation the team built over the previous four years,” Johnson said.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. CNS member companies include Bechtel National, Inc.; Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, Inc.; and SOC LLC. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Steve Myers
Communications
Office (806) 573.0490
Cell (806) 236.2826

Stephen.Myers@pantex.doe.gov

A new program to provide highly trained fire safety engineers will launch in Spring 2022, thanks to a new partnership between Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC and West Texas A&M University’s College of Engineering.

The entities announced a collaboration on a fire protection engineering specialization within WT's mechanical engineering program during a Sept. 30 signing ceremony.

“This program helps to address a significant need we and others in the nuclear security enterprise have for fire protection engineers,” said Colby Yeary, CNS vice president of mission engineering. “The engineers in this field play a significant role in ensuring our fire detection and suppression systems are well designed and operating normally.

Colby Yeary, CNS vice president of mission engineering

“Our need for fire protection engineers is great, particularly at Pantex, and what better geographic partnership than WT?” Yeary continued. “They have an exceptional College of Engineering that is on the rise, and we have had many past successes partnering with them.”

Pantex needs fire protection engineers to provide support for existing facilities and upgrade projects. The program, and the unique skill set it provides students, is offered by few universities in the country, Yeary said.

The bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering is the largest program in WT's College of Engineering, and the fire protection engineering specialization collaboration will provide a diverse population of students the opportunity to become more competitive in the job market, both locally and nationwide, said Dr. Emily Hunt, dean of WT's College of Engineering.

“I truly believe that creating this opportunity for mechanical engineering students to enter the workplace with a specialization in fire protection engineering will enhance the opportunity for students to grow in each of these areas,” Hunt said.

WT and Pantex have a natural, longstanding partnership due to the decades-long history of engineering collaboration in workforce development, research and design.

“We’re excited to work with the CNS team to create new opportunities for WT engineering graduates at Pantex and to help support additional NNSA sites across the nation,” Hunt said.

Within the specialization, students will have the opportunity to learn from local professionals and knowledgeable professors.

“This program offers a unique benefit to students not only to study in an elite field, but also to evaluate real-world situations at Pantex,” said Julie Huff, CNS senior director of engineering technical operations. “We will be providing projects to the students that are scenarios Pantex is currently working and will support project execution. This will give the students an incredible insight into working in the Fire Protection field.”

Pantex also will offer opportunities for fire protection engineering internships to students and full-time positions for graduates who would like to contribute to the national security mission.

“The saying, ‘If you build it, they will come’ resonates for me here,” Yeary said. “I firmly believe that, in partnership with WT, we are building an outstanding program and corresponding opportunities for students in fire protection engineering.”

“For Pantex, this program will enable a pipeline of engineers who can quickly come up to speed and proficiently support the mission. For the WTAMU students, this opens a door of opportunity that previously did not exist,” he said.

Students can sign up for classes in the specialization as early as spring semester 2022.

Navigating the labor market can be a challenge, but it’s one NNSA's Office of Management & Budget is prepared to meet. With more than a third of the nuclear security enterprise’s workforce eligible for retirement within the next five years, attracting and recruiting top talent is a high priority for NNSA.

Read the full press release on the NNSA website.

After four decades of federal service, NNSA Sandia Field Office (SFO) Manager Jeff Harrell retired July 31. During the week prior to his retirement, he celebrated his extensive career at a picnic held in his honor with the SFO employees who have been like an extended family.

SFO serves as the federal oversight for Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as its secondary site in Livermore, California, and other locations including the Kauai Test Facility in Hawaii; the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada; and activities in Carlsbad, New Mexico; Amarillo, Texas; and Minneapolis. As manager, Harrell was responsible for the overall administration of the management and operating contract and the operations of Sandia as well as the day-to-day administration of the SFO. He was also responsible for the stewardship of the NNSA Albuquerque Complex.

Read the full press release on the NNSA website.

Amarillo, Texas — The Pantex Plant and Y-12 National Security Complex have been recognized as winners of 2021 Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) Purchaser Awards. Consolidated Nuclear Security operates both sites under one contract for the National Nuclear Security Complex. The awards were formally announced at a virtual ceremony on July 28, 2021. They are given each year by the Global Electronics Council, which celebrates leaders in sustainable electronics procurement.

Pantex received the three-star award while Y-12 received the four-star award for procurements of Information Technology products, which included purchasing electronics with the EPEAT ecolabel in the following categories: computers and displays (including desktops, notebooks, workstations, integrated systems, and tablets); imaging equipment (copiers, scanners, multi-function devices); mobile phones; and servers.

The products are considered more energy efficient, less toxic, longer lasting, and easier to recycle than products that do not meet EPEAT criteria, while addressing labor and human rights issues along the entire supply chain.

CNS received calculations from the Global Electronics Council of the environmental impact reduction associated with EPEAT-registered purchases last year.

• Greenhouse gas reduction was equivalent to taking 287 average US passenger cars off the road for a year.
• Energy savings were equivalent to the average annual consumption of 528 US households.
• Solid waste reduction matched the annual waste generated by 68 average US households.

According to the Global Electronics Council, the combined cost savings for 6,730 products purchased in 2020 at Pantex and Y-12 was $280,778.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. CNS member companies include Bechtel National, Inc.; Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, Inc.; and SOC LLC. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Steve Myers
Communications
Office (806) 573.0490
Cell (806) 236.2826

Stephen.Myers@pantex.doe.gov

Amarillo, Texas—Employees at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, recently received the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)’s Office of Safety, Infrastructure, and Operations (NA-50) Excellence Awards. This year’s awards recognized five Pantex teams and eight Y-12 teams for their exceptional accomplishments during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020.

Consolidated Nuclear Security Chief Operating Officer Bill Tindal said of the award recipients, “We are here today because you found solutions to some of our toughest problems. We are proud to recognize your demonstrated excellence.”

Jim McConnell, NNSA Associate Administrator for Safety, Infrastructure, and Operations, told the recipients, “Your insistence on excellence, your tenacity in doing the job right, and your understanding that teamwork is often the best way to a solution are being recognized by NNSA. You were among the best of the best across the Enterprise in 2020.”

Revitalizing the infrastructure

Updating the existing infrastructure, dating back to World War II, has been a significant focus for both sites. Many of the 2020 awards involved stabilizing or dispositioning aging facilities as noted by NNSA Production Office Acting Deputy Manager Susan Morris. “Your work in revitalizing our infrastructure at Pantex and Y-12 will support the mission for years to come and is a worthy standard for future generations,” she said.

Pantex winners

Of the Pantex accomplishments, Senior Director of Pantex Infrastructure Shawn Spivey noted, “2020 provided a lot of adversity, but as all great teams demonstrate, necessity is the mother of invention. And, by necessity, we completed many outstanding projects.”

Those challenges included two unplanned projects, as well as two first-ever emergency exercises during a pandemic. The summaries of all honored Pantex projects follows.
 
The Weapons Evaluation Test Laboratory (WETL) Chiller Replacement required support from multiple departments and was not planned for FY 2020. Following the chiller failure at WETL, the team was immediately able to restore one of two circuits, allowing operations to continue until the chiller could be replaced. The design was written to be adaptable, allowing on-the-spot changes in the field to decrease installation time, which proved effective in minimizing field changes and associated delays.

Another emerging concern, the 12-104 Concrete Issue, could have significantly delayed mission work at Pantex. The team worked vigorously to resolve the issue. They completed the project design through construction within 12 calendar days with a long-term solution.

The team that developed a Multifunctional Component Storage System for the warehouse at Pantex effectively used technology to address space issues and enhance worker safety. The team planned and coordinated the work to avoid any impacts to production during installation and made 1,649 feet of storage space available for further growth.

The Pantex COVID-19 Emergency Response Exercise Project Team was the first and only in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)/NNSA complex to conduct an electromagnetic pulse-scenario exercise (in support of an executive order and with the support of the NNSA Production Office) and the first in the DOE/NNSA complex to conduct an operational emergency full-scale exercise while implementing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for COVID-19. Responding to emergencies remains critical to mitigating high-risk situations without mission interruption, even with minimal response personnel.

Warehouse space in the traditional areas was at capacity at Pantex, so a team focused on Transformation of a World War II Facility. The work required more than 7,000 linear feet (1.33 miles) of electrical conduit, 12,000 linear feet (2.27 miles) of aboveground cable, and 6,000 linear feet (1.14 miles) of underground cable to be permanently installed and interconnected between several facilities and connection points.

The team’s vision of transformation and continued high-value service of Pantex Building 11-007 was realized in October 2020 with the first of many relocations further improving functions to be safer, more efficient, and controlled by reducing congestion in the operational areas.

Y-12 winners

With a site more than 75 years old, infrastructure is a primary concern. From replacing sprinkler heads to dispositioning facilities and innovating sanitation during the pandemic, Y-12 honorees completed significant projects to maintain existing buildings and prepare for future needs.

Steve Laggis, director of Y-12 Infrastructure Programs said, “As I work with my staff on infrastructure issues, I see on a daily basis the commitment each employee has for planning and getting the job done.”

The projects receiving recognition at Y-12 are summarized below.

The 50-Year Sprinkler Head Replacements project at Y-12 capitalized on lessons learned from previous sprinkler head replacement projects, resulting in fewer necessary system outages and corresponding costly fire patrols. Additionally, the project team mobilized and executed fieldwork in multiple facilities simultaneously because of limited availability to support the required outages. This project team has consistently delivered these projects ahead of schedule and under planned budget, largely due to extensive outage planning and coordination.

A collaboration between CNS and NNSA in June 2020 resulted in the first-ever Option-to-Purchase Agreement for Acquisition of Y-12 Development Facility. The facility will house research and development activities essential to the Y-12 production mission. The chosen facility can safely and efficiently accommodate the necessary research equipment and instrumentation, attract and retain top scientists, and adapt to a changing mission.

The option-to-purchase contract allows NNSA the ability to perform due diligence (including performing a preliminary design and executing an environmental assessment) before deciding to acquire the property, without the risk of other buyers purchasing the property in the meantime. Ultimately, this project established a roadmap for otherNNSA sites to leverage in the future.

Building 9401-04 Baler Disposition was safely completed. Removal of this hazardous structure reduces risk to site personnel, decreases surveillance and maintenance costs, and further fortifies the future success of NNSA. The team developed a plan to execute the work via encapsulation and vacuuming, which reduced the contamination inside the building. However, workers had to deal with temperatures exceeding 90°F while wearing full personal protective equipment. To manage the extreme conditions, the team scheduled third-shift hours to reduce the risk of heat exposure.
 
Another team was recognized for Building 9720-22 Disposition. This hazardous facility was dispositioned through a collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, DOE Office of Environmental Management, NNSA, CNS, and UCOR. Their effort resulted in the demolition of the 12,712-square-foot facility and removal of 28,000 cubic feet of contaminated building debris in only three weeks.

Fire Protection Engineering Compensatory Measures (CMs) were reduced in FY 2020 to 21, achieving the goal of 25 or fewer. CMs require off-setting measures, such as regular patrols by firefighters. The team completed work orders for 135 existing and new CMs to achieve this reduction and reduced the number of CMs in place for more than one year by 86%. This achievement demonstrates NNSA commitment to worker safety and stewardship of the infrastructure necessary for continued mission success.

Development of the Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute Safety Analysis Report for Packaging will ensure the safe and secure removal of materials from the institute. In less than 6 months, the team completed all the work – writing, review, and approval – that typically requires 12–18 months, despite significant challenges during the early stages of the pandemic.

The Occupational Health Services Pandemic Database is an innovative tool developed to track COVID-19 cases at Pantex and Y-12 to maximize the safety of personnel and minimize the interruption of mission work. The database provides an efficient, accurate way to enter data related to COVID-19 cases and streamlines patient lookup regarding status based on DOE-designated categories (cautionary, possible, confirmed, cleared, and recovered). The team also shared the database with other DOE/NNSA sites to assist them with their tracking efforts.

The pandemic provided a unique challenge to Y-12 Building Services Site Sanitation. The employees collectively developed a process to safely, effectively, and efficiently sanitize portals, offices, breakrooms, change houses, and conference rooms while continuing to successfully perform assigned duties under exceedingly strenuous circumstances. Their efforts were instrumental in limiting the spread of the COVID-19 virus among essential personnel and enabled the Y-12 site to maintain its emergency, security, and production capabilities throughout the pandemic.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. CNS member companies include Bechtel National, Inc.; Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, Inc.; and SOC LLC. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Kathryn King, APR
Communications
Office (865) 315.5996
Kathryn.King@cns.doe.gov

WASHINGTON – The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) successfully completed the system-level First Production Unit for the W88 Alteration (Alt) 370 at the Pantex Plant July 1, 2021.

The W88 Alt 370 is a major warhead acquisition program that ensures the future viability of the sea-launched ballistic missile strategic deterrent. This major milestone for DOE/NNSA, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Nation was achieved one month ahead of schedule after more than 11 years of design, development, qualification, and component production.

Read the full press release on the NNSA website.

NNSA recently announced annual awards for the Nuclear Security Enterprise’s federal and contractor security professionals and managers of the year.

“These awards recognize employees throughout the Enterprise whose contributions to NNSA represent excellence and dedication to our national nuclear security,” said Jeffrey Johnson, NNSA Associate Administrator and Chief of Defense Nuclear Security.

Read the full press release on the NNSA website.

NNSA’s Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program (MSIPP) has awarded four new grants, bringing the total number of grants to 17, in order to better serve students and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) in STEM disciplines.

The MSIPP grants support the development of a diverse, highly skilled, and enduring pipeline of talented students in STEM fields who are working to advance America’s nuclear security agenda. Specifically, through its support of MSIs, MSIPP provides competitive, consortia-based grant awards with a three- to five-year period of performance.

Read the full press release on the NNSA website.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) will host a virtual job fair for the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) Wednesday, June 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EDT). The NSE is looking for the next generation of nuclear security professionals and working to hire over 2,500 new employees to join its exceptional workforce in 2021.

Read the full press release on the NNSA website.