Attendees of the workshop gathered together. Photo provided by Y-12.
More than 175 innovators, researchers, and specialists gathered to brainstorm how the sites in the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) can move faster and stronger, together. The inaugural Production Accelerated by Collaboration Workshop, held in June at Y-12 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, aimed to break down walls between sites, move away from isolated thinking, and leverage academic research partnerships.
For Pantex, that meant collaborating not only with NSE counterparts, but also with academic partners Amarillo College, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, and West Texas A&M University, all of which traveled to Y-12. Additional academic partners that work with NSE sites were also in attendance.
"Our sites have become stove piped,” said Carl Beard, director of the Production Operations division at Pantex. “We need to think and work as an enterprise."
The sites are securing dedicated funding for joint projects and building a shared database to ensure ideas are exchanged intentionally—helping prevent accidental duplication or reinventing the wheel.
By partnering with four regional academic institutions, Pantex is opening the door to a substantial talent pipeline. From Tier-1 university research to customized technical training programs, these schools bring brainpower to the table.
Evelyn Mullen, associate vice chancellor for Nuclear Security Initiatives with the Texas A&M University System Nuclear Security Office, emphasized the value of bringing university faculty and students directly into the fold.
"It’s important to talk to your university partners about your long-term goals," Mullen said.
Ultimately, the workshop's greatest value was providing participants with a direct line of communication, allowing them to bypass traditional hurdles and collaborate in real time.
Jared Brown, director of Facility Infrastructure and Operations at Pantex said, "It comes down to communications. We need to know about our partners in industry and where they have been successful.”
Far from just a discussion forum, PAC Workshop delivered immediate, concrete commitments to accelerate technological integration across the enterprise:
- Targeted Funding: Pantex, Y-12, and Kansas City Nuclear Security Campus established dedicated funding to seed and support collaborative initiatives.
- Capability Mapping: To streamline partnerships and prevent double-work, sites are launching an anti-redundancy database of collective capabilities.
- Active Coalitions: The workshop successfully launched more than 15 active partnerships spanning 10 key technical areas.
Pantex and Texas A&M University will be hosting the next workshop in summer 2027.