NNSA Principal Deputy Administrator Frank Rose's remarks for “Building 2” Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Nevada National Security Site

Thank you for that introduction and warm welcome, Dave.

It is both an honor and a pleasure to be with you here this afternoon as we mark another milestone for the National Nuclear Security Administration, and to see so many old friends and distinguished guests. 

I would like to begin by thanking members of Nevada’s congressional delegation for their tireless support for our vital national security missions. 

Their strong, bipartisan support is instrumental to NNSA’s national security missions, and has allowed us to invest in this important step in modernizing the Nevada National Security Site’s infrastructure. 

I would also like to thank Tim Robb from Governor Lombardo’s office, Alanna Simpson from Senator Cortez-Masto’s office, Brendan Vargas from Senator Rosen’s office, Derrick Clarke from Representative Susie Lee’s office, Nye County Commission Chair Bruce Jabbour, and Nye County Commission Frank Carbone.

Of course, the state of Nevada has a long and rich history of supporting America’s nuclear deterrent capability, dating back to December 1950 when President Harry Truman authorized the establishment of a 680-square mile section of the Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range as the Nevada Proving Ground, which was to be designated and managed by the Atomic Energy Commission.  Since then, Nevada’s legacy of scientific prowess, innovation, and stewardship have helped to keep America and our allies safe.

Today, our nation today faces a complex and challenging international environment, one that is dramatically different from that which President Truman faced almost 75 years ago.  Yet in addition to shared global challenges such as climate change, health security, and terrorism, we face an era of renewed nation-state conflict and strategic competition with great powers and rising regional powers seeking to develop, expand, and leverage their nuclear arsenals to undermine our security and our alliances.  Consequently, the Biden administration remains committed to “ensuring our strategic deterrent remains safe, secure, and effective, and that our extended deterrence commitments to our allies remain strong and credible.”  Through our Stockpile Stewardship program implemented here at the NNSS, NNSA ensures the reliability, safety, and security of our nuclear deterrent without the need for nuclear explosives testing.

To meet these challenges, NNSA developed a Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2022-2026 that identifies three goals supporting our mission and vision.  The first goal is to modernize the Nuclear Security Enterprise, to include recapitalizing the Enterprise’s physical infrastructure, more than 60 percent of which is beyond its life expectancy, including buildings here at NNSS that date back to the original construction of the 1950s and 1960s.  Modernizing this infrastructure will allow us to meet expanded mission needs, provide a safe and up-to-date work environment to attract and retain a world class workforce, and incorporate new technologies to make the Enterprise more efficient, reliable, and secure.

As part of this effort, NA-50, NA-90, the Nevada Field Office, and our M&O partner Mission Support and Test Services are implementing a strategy to consolidate and modernize NNSS’s infrastructure. In addition to consolidation efforts underway at U1a and the forward area facilities, we are committed to creating a campus-like environment with nine new, modern facilities here in Mercury that will dramatically transform the Site in the years to come.  Mercury Building 2 is a big step forward towards achieving this goal.  A state-of-the-art 13,000 square foot High Performance Sustainable Building, it will provide a modern Operations Command Center and Emergency Operations Center capability to the Site, including support for Nye County Dispatch, consolidating and reducing the footprint of these critical functions.  Thus, by enhancing the safety and security of NNSS’s workforce, this building’s completion will provide vital support for site-wide mission execution. 

I think I speak for NNSA’s entire senior leadership team when I say I couldn’t be prouder of the field office team and MSTS personnel who came together to build Mercury 2. Your commitment to the mission, collaboration, and communication was critical to efficient planning and execution of this construction project.

We are also grateful for MSTS’s leadership. Your innovative embrace of agile methods, streamlined processes, and enhanced planning are vital to accelerating infrastructure modernization and delivery.

I’d be remiss if I failed to note that this building will be dedicated to Steve Lawrence, who served as Nevada Field Office Manager from 2013 to 2020.  He was integral to the planning that culminated in the multiple projects under construction and in development here at the Site, and when he takes the podium next I imagine he will tell us more about the history of what it took to make that vision a reality.  But I’ll say aloud what Steve is likely too modest to – specifically, that we would not be here today without his expertise, his passion, and his dedication to NNSS and to our nation’s security.

Thank you, Steve.

Finally, on behalf of NNSA’s leadership, I would like to salute the entire NNSS workforce.  You are the reason why the Nuclear Security Enterprise and our nation are so very strong, and why I’m confident that NNSA – and in particular NNSS – will continue to accomplish our national security missions for decades to come.

Thank you.