Meet Jesse Clarke. He finds the intersection of international affairs and nuclear science a fascinating place. And just as his hero Anthony Bourdain found in countless kitchens, Clarke has found it takes many hands to help ensure nuclear security.
National Nuclear Security Administration
May 1, 2024
minute read time
How do you support NNSA?
I serve in NNSA’s Office of Global Material Security as an Action Officer. Our office works to secure nuclear material and prevent malign actors from using it in a harmful way. I support my office’s senior leadership by facilitating workflow and communication with the program offices under our umbrella, as well as with our parent, the Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. This usually involves receiving tasks from different offices and agencies and coordinating responses and deliverables from our programs.
When I began to study international relations, nuclear weapons and their role in geopolitics were at the forefront of many classroom discussions. I realized then that it would be fascinating to find a career that bridges these distinct but deeply interconnected fields, and that is what nuclear security offers.
What is your personal background, and how has that shaped you and your approach to your career?
I grew up in Portland, Oregon, and being raised in the Pacific Northwest gave me a deep appreciation for environmental science and sustainability. As I became older this transformed into an interest in international relations and politics, and through that medium I became fascinated with how nuclear energy and security can intersect with environmental sustainability in ways I never considered as an adolescent.
What did you study in school and how did it impact you personally and professionally?
For my undergraduate degree I attended the University of Oregon where I majored in Political Science and International Studies. Upon graduation, I moved to D.C. and attended George Washington University where I earned a master’s degree in international affairs with a focus on Eastern Europe. These experiences allowed me to explore my personal interests of history, foreign cultures, and geopolitics, while doing so in a way that I could make a career out of it.
What led you to a career in nuclear security?
While learning about environmental science as a child, nuclear energy was always discussed as an option with massive untapped potential, but with contentious political issues holding back its widespread use. When I began to study international relations, nuclear weapons and their role in geopolitics were at the forefront of many classroom discussions. I realized then that it would be fascinating to find a career that bridges these distinct but deeply interconnected fields, and that is what nuclear security offers.
What is the best part about your job?
Being able to be part of a truly global team, made up of U.S. government agencies, foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, and multilateral organizations, all with the same nuclear security goals. It is deeply rewarding to be able to say I play some small part in this vast network that aims to make our world more safe.
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
A few days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, I was able to travel to Poland as part of my capstone research project for my graduate program. Over a week in Warsaw and Krakow, my research team and I interviewed academics about Russian disinformation and the various forms it takes in Eastern Europe. Being able to be so close to such a momentous geopolitical event and speak to people experiencing it on the ground in real time was harrowing, and gave our research a perspective we would have never otherwise had.
What advice would you have for anyone interested in a career in nuclear security?
My advice would be to cast a wider net than you may think, and to explore all the options nuclear security has to offer. The field of nuclear security is much more vast than I realized while in college, and DOE/NNSA is far from the only place that great work is being done in this area. In addition to other government agencies like the Department of Defense and the State Department with nuclear-related offices of their own, there is also a plethora of international and multilateral organizations who work on these issues.
Who is someone that inspires you and why?
Anthony Bourdain is one of my main personal inspirations, as he was one of the largest influences on me becoming interested in travel, cooking, and foreign cultures. By breaking down barriers via travel to all corners of the globe and sharing a meal with people from completely different walks of life, he showed me how personally enriching it is to push yourself out of your comfort zone and experience new things.