Pride Month Spotlight: Adam Stratz, Nonproliferation

How do you support NNSA?

I help foreign governments address potential vulnerabilities in nuclear smuggling response and develop nuclear forensics capabilities to respond to nuclear smuggling incidents.

What is your personal background, and how has that shaped you and your approach to your career?

I began as a civil engineer, but pivoted to nuclear engineering during graduate school following a discussion with a friend. That was a major shift and the learning curve was immense, but I ultimately pushed through and graduated from the nuclear engineering doctoral program. My dissertation involved characterizing post-detonation nuclear weapon debris, primarily heavy fission products, using special techniques to analyze the debris faster. After graduating, I worked in intelligence before moving to the State Department supporting diplomatic initiatives, and ultimately came to NNSA to work on counter-nuclear smuggling programs. 

What did you study in school and how did it impact you personally and professionally?

I earned a doctorate in nuclear engineering, following research on the characteristics of a nuclear weapon following its detonation. Part of my research was performed at nuclear weapon proving grounds in the Marshall Islands, where we collected and processed more than 3,000 samples from historic craters and fallout paths. I’ve since pivoted to pre-detonation forensics and countering nuclear smuggling. This has led to some very exciting work, including nuclear material discoveries, new partnerships between the U.S. and foreign counterparts, and briefing high-level U.S. and foreign officials. 

What is the best part about your job?

Chance encounters with friends and colleagues all around the world. 

Tell us something interesting about yourself. 

In my spare time, I do CrossFit and play the piano.