In September, NNSA Principal Deputy Administrator Frank Rose spoke to students at the UTSA-CONCISE Workshop about cybersecurity and the nuclear enterprise, and visited NNSA partner laboratories to see their vital national security work.
National Nuclear Security Administration
September 28, 2023
minute read time
NNSA’s Principal Deputy Administrator Frank Rose visited Texas and California from September 11-14, making stops at the University of Texas at San Antonio (USTA), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Sandia National Laboratories’ California site (Sandia), and the Special Technologies Laboratory (STL). The trip focused on the critical work NNSA’s labs are doing to advance strategic deterrence, prepare for the future of arms control and global security, and further bolster the enterprise’s approach to cybersecurity, including by cultivating and diversifying the next generation of cybersecurity experts.
At USTA, Rose delivered the keynote remarks to the Consortium on National Critical Infrastructure Security (CONCISE) workshop. CONCISE works to develop cybersecurity research skills for students from four Minority Serving Institutions (UTSA, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, North Carolina A&T, and Savannah State University) creating a workforce pathway between the four universities and Sandia, Idaho National Laboratory, and the Nevada National Security Site.
He said: “In a complicated world with complex threats to our national security and global stability, we cannot afford to leave any talent on the table. Strengthening our partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions ensures America has the scientific and technical expertise to protect NNSA’s critical assets and information, and to execute our nuclear security missions for the next 20 years and beyond.”
In California, Rose’s discussions with leadership and subject-matter experts at LLNL, Sandia, and STL focused on the labs’ vital work on strategic deterrence, the future of arms control and global security, cybersecurity, and interagency partnerships.
At LLNL, Rose met with Lab and Field Office leadership to discuss innovation and national security. He received briefs on LLNL's work in strategic deterrence; nuclear threat reduction; the role of science, technology, and engineering in stockpile modernization; arms control and strategic stability; and artificial intelligence and cognitive simulation.
"We are always grateful when NNSA leadership visits the Lab and we are especially pleased with being able to provide Frank Rose with an update on a variety of national security programs," said Falcone. "It is always important to showcase our strong partnership with NNSA and to share new ideas to meet mission challenges."
The Livermore Field Office hosted a lively town hall with staff, where Rose discussed the current geopolitical landscape and Livermore’s crucial role in advancing deterrence, science and technology research, and national security.
At Sandia, Rose met with laboratory leadership and received an update on W80-4 and W87-1 modernization and briefings on nuclear nonproliferation science and technology and the Signals Exploration Testbed. He participated in a working lunch discussion of arms control, and in the afternoon toured some of the site’s nuclear deterrence labs and facilities.
The following day, Rose visited the Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS) Special Technologies Laboratory (STL). Hosted by Lab Director Dana Lynn Motley and Nevada Field Office Manager Dr. David Bowman, Rose received briefings on STL’s stockpile operations, nonproliferation research, and Strategic Partnership and Strategic Intelligence Partnership Projects.
“It’s always a pleasure to meet with the expert teams across our labs, plants, and sites,” Rose said. “The work taking place across artificial intelligence, global security, science-based stockpile stewardship, and beyond is truly exceptional.”