NNSA Leadership Values and Principles

At NNSA, we create and sustain a culture of achievement and accountability by consistently demonstrating these Leadership Values and Principles through our daily actions. These behaviors reflect our culture – how we conduct business, how we lead, and how we prioritize the well-being of our teams.

  • People First: We are responsible for the well-being and productivity of our teams. We prioritize work-life balance, provide professional development opportunities to employees, and meaningfully engage in decision-making.
  • Excellence: We pursue excellence to approach perfection. We maintain high standards. We strive for continuous improvement and innovate to fulfill our mission.
  • Communication: We seek first to understand then to be understood. We proactively share information.
  • Respect and Integrity: We model high standards of character and ethical behavior.  We treat everyone fairly and equally, value contributions, encourage open expression of opinions, and addressing differences constructively and inclusively. 
  • Accountability: We hold ourselves and each other accountable for our outcomes, performance, and behaviors. 
  • Balance Process with Expertise: We adhere to regulations, directives, and standards, while making the most effective use of flexibilities and authorities.
  • Challenge and Commit: We respectfully challenge and question the basis for decisions when we disagree. We have conviction and tenacity, and we chart the path forward.
  • Decision-Making: We quickly make well-informed decisions based on sound information and calculated risks. We adapt as needed to achieve success and drive progress while monitoring outcomes.
  • Manage Risk: We acknowledge that our enterprise involves inherent risks. We prioritize mission success while carefully managing potential hazards and consequences within a complex, interdependent enterprise. Our workers' and the public's safety and health is an uncompromising principle. 
  • Trust: We assume positive intent and delegate authority and responsibility commensurate with competency whenever appropriate to leverage our team's collective knowledge and skills and accelerate the safe execution of our mission. 
  • Lead by Example: We go where the work is done, meet people where they are, and proactively address performance trends.