NNSA Principal Deputy Administrator Frank Rose visits U.S. Central and Special Operations Commands

NNSA Principal Deputy Administrator Frank Rose visited the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) and the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) on January 10-11 to discuss mutual NNSA-Department of Defense priorities including integrated deterrence, nuclear safety and security, nonproliferation, partner capacity building, and nuclear emergency preparedness and response.

CENTCOM oversees an area of responsibility spanning Northeast Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia, and SOCOM develops and employs America’s Special Operations Forces to conduct global special operations and activities as part of the Joint Force.

“The United States and its allies are facing an increasingly complex and pivotal international security environment,” Rose said. “Our collaboration with the Department of Defense, and in particular our partnership with the combatant commands, are critical to working towards a world with fewer nuclear risks.”

Rose began his trip on January 10 with a series of meetings with senior leaders at CENTCOM. He first met with CENTCOM Deputy Commander Lt General Gregory M. Guillot to exchange views on the global strategic environment and provide an overview of NNSA’s mission, facilities, and workforce. The senior leaders discussed CENTCOM's regional and functional priorities, and Rose highlighted current NNSA efforts to counter unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), and other national security work across the Nuclear Security Enterprise. 

While at CENTCOM headquarters Rose emphasized the enduring importance of NNSA’s nuclear counterterrorism, nuclear emergency response, nonproliferation, and counterproliferation capabilities in CENTCOM’s area of responsibility. He participated in a roundtable with experts from various directorates, met with Chief of Staff Major General Brandon Tegtmeier, and visited with the Interagency Action Group, Chief Technology Officer, and the Deputy Foreign Policy Advisor. 

General Tegtmeier praised the current level of collaboration between the Department of Energy, NNSA, and CENTCOM, and echoed his staff’s interest in expanding coordination with both NNSA’s Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation and Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation.

The next day Rose visited SOCOM headquarters, meeting with SOCOM Commander General Bryan Fenton, Vice Commander Lt. General Francis Donovan, and Major General Michael Martin, Director of Operations (J3). The senior leaders discussed the global strategic environment and how world events affect priorities and operations. Rose highlighted NNSA’s support to Ukraine to reduce nuclear risk stemming from Russia’s unprovoked invasion, and highlighted some ways the DoD can utilize the technical expertise within the Nuclear Security Enterprise. General Fenton expressed his appreciation for DOE/NNSA’s investment in SOCOM as demonstrated by the Liaison Officers embedded in the command’s staff and encouraged further collaboration on shared interests.  

On January 11 Rose also met with SOCOM’s Director of Science and Technology, the Director and Deputy Director of the CWMD Directorate (J10), and analysts from the Intelligence Directorate (J2). Rose and the SOCOM leaders discussed past and potential future capacity building and training efforts for the Ukrainian government and military. In addition to providing an overview of NNSA’s missions and relationships with the combatant commands, Rose highlighted NNSA’s capabilities at its laboratories, plants, and sites. Once again SOCOM’s representatives expressed appreciation for NNSA’s commitment to this collaboration, as well as the technical capabilities provided by the Nuclear Security Enterprise.