Women’s History Month Spotlight: Aisha Barnwell, Defense Nuclear Security

How do you support NNSA?

My job is to ensure that nuclear materials at our sites are accounted for and controlled so that they don’t fall into the hands of people who would do harm with them. By accounting for this material, my program provides the foundation for all other security elements and supports all our nuclear programs, including weapons, naval propulsion, and non-proliferation. NNSA accounts for plutonium and highly enriched uranium in amounts that are down to half the weight of a single paperclip!

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

I was born and raised by immigrants. I learned the importance of community service, hard work, and fighting for what you believe in.  My mom would take us to deliver Meals on Wheels for the elderly in our community and I would also volunteer with mentally challenged students – both of these helped me to see that everyone has dignity and deserves respect.  In my career, I make a point of listening to everyone and take what they say into consideration – everyone deserves to be heard. I will also speak up even if I am the only one in the room to do so! I am thankful that I am able to have a career that I love and continue to live a dream that my grandparents wanted for their children and grandchildren.
 

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

I graduated from Clemson University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. At Clemson University, I studied chemical engineering which is so much more than just chemistry and math! It includes physics, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, and calculus. Studying chemical engineering gave me critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills and taught me how to think outside of the box. I use these skills daily in my personal life, especially with my children (6-year-old twins, boy and girl) and job.

What led you to a career in nuclear security?

A friend came to Clemson to learn about the Future Leaders’ Program (FLP) at NNSA and I went with them. The FLP was a two-year internship after graduation where you took part in trainings, worked with your home office, and had two details (one at your site and one at a different site or at headquarters). Until that point, I never knew that there was a career path serving our country in nuclear security that would use my chemical engineering degree. The job sounded fascinating, and I would be a part of how we protect our nation. I applied to the program, got accepted, and I am still with NNSA 13 years later writing about this experience!

What is the best part about your job?

The best part of my job is that I am making a difference. I love meeting and working with people in the Material Control & Accountability community because I learn so much each time. I love helping the sites with issues and being able to think outside of the box. My teammates give me the opportunity to grow, express myself, and continue to come into my own in this community.

What is your proudest accomplishment while working at NNSA?

I was a part of a team that won the 2021 Secretary of Energy Outstanding Security Award for a group. This award was for creating a technical qualification program for people who work to control and account for nuclear material. The work to control and account for nuclear material is highly complex and critical to national security, so it needs to be done right. I was so proud to be included with my peers and mentors who won this prestigious Secretarial award!

Tell us something interesting about yourself.

Fun fact: Did you know speed skating is not only on ice but on wheels? I was a speed skater from around 7 years old until 11 years old. I got to travel to various states (Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, California) at a young age and competed in Nationals one year in Fresno, CA.

Do you have any highlights from your time supporting NNSA?

There are a couple of highlights during my 13 years and counting. I spent 10 years of my career at Savannah River Field Office before transitioning to my current position at NNSA HQ. I was able to learn and spend time in almost each security discipline and the budget process. I co-led one of the Savannah River Site Emergency Management Exercises, participated and supported the field office manager at the Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board (DNFSB) meeting in Washington, DC, and was a part of a team that reviewed a contract that was extended due to the process performed. I am now helping sites with my technical expertise and leadership experiences, providing mentorship as appropriate.

What advice would you have for anyone interested in a career in nuclear security? 

Regarding a career in nuclear security, I would have told a younger me: “Just because it is not the typical path, does not mean it is not the best path.”

Chemical engineers are mostly groomed to go into the manufacturing world, and I heard little about a career in nuclear security until I listened to the informational session about the future leaders’ program.

Who is someone that inspires you and why?

It sounds cliche but my parents inspire me. They taught me how to be resilient, to believe in myself, and to look at the world as glass half full. They worked hard when they came to the United States, graduated college, and worked state jobs in addition to raising my brother, sister, and me. They are always supportive of me and my children. For that, I am forever grateful and strive to be like them every day.

How do you plan to celebrate/commemorate Women’s History Month?

Women’s History Month is so important. I have 6-year-old twins, a boy and a girl. I plan on reading stories to them about various inventors, sport players, scientists, mathematicians, and businesswomen. It is important for them to know the role women have in shaping the world and the country.