News

Navigating the labor market can be a challenge, but it’s one NNSA's Office of Management & Budget is prepared to meet. With more than a third of the nuclear security enterprise’s workforce eligible for retirement within the next five years, attracting and recruiting top talent is a high priority for NNSA.

Read the full press release on the NNSA website.

The purple martin is one migratory bird species Pantex biologist Jim Ray researches.

Back in 2019, the Council for the Conservation of Migratory Birds awarded Pantex and the U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration the Presidential Migratory Bird Federal Stewardship Award. That award recognizes a project conducted in partnership with a federal agency that contributes to migratory bird conservation efforts.

The Pantex work was led by biologist Jim Ray of the Environmental Compliance department. Jim’s project, in conjunction with universities and conservation groups, developed a migratory bird management and research program that demonstrated a commitment to on-site migratory bird protection, outreach and diverse research strategies, and conservation efforts through North, Central, and South America.

That award was just another acknowledgement in conservation efforts still being pursued at Pantex. Those on-going efforts include two newly published research papers on migratory swallows, specifically the purple martin, which is the main migratory bird being studied.

“Purple martins give us a perfect opportunity to interact with the public and display our commitment to the environment,” said Ray. “It started with banding and then we joined the collaboration led by the University of Manitoba. We are one of 18 sites that deploy (miniature) tracking devices but one of only two currently active in the south, including Florida.”

Pantex biologist Jim Ray and a student place a tracking device on a purple martin.

The newest set of research data focused on a couple of different sets of circumstances regarding migration. The first research found that the breeding latitude, specific sections of the country from north to south, is a significant factor in spring and fall migration timing, and the timing of nesting. This was revealed through analyses of data stored in data-loggers called light-level geolocators that were deployed on adult purple martins using tiny backpacks. Future studies will examine these timing patterns and climate change.

The second research examined migratory birds’ flight patterns. This time, using miniature Global Positioning Satellite backpacks, researchers got new data: confirming that more than 90% of the birds attempted open water crossings of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, including night flight in about a third of those attempts. This kind of research, demonstrating night flight to help achieve time-and energy-savings through ‘short cuts,’ has never been attempted before.

According to Ray, “Geolocator and GPS technology allows—for the first time—an opportunity to study birds on a year-round basis, including in their wintering areas, and in the case of the purple martin, the Amazon River basin of Brazil.”

Ray added that possible future research may examine monarch butterflies, burrowing owls, and the effect of wind energy on bats.

Pictured are several first graders with Pantex Site Manager Todd Ailes, learning about computer coding using equipment purchased in part by a $5,000 donation from CNS.

This summer, the Don Harrington Discovery Center was the place to be for kids from the Amarillo and Panhandle areas to have fun and learn about science through summer camps ranging from oceanography to engineering and some of the computer code in between. The camps took place from June 7 through July 23.

“Early coding skills are important for young children because they integrate problem solving, communication, and thinking,” DHDC Executive Director Wendy Taylor said. “Coding builds the foundation for a lifelong love of learning and exposures children to STEM careers like computer programming, robotics, and engineering. We are thrilled to teach children as early as three years old these skills during Coding Camp and other Discovery Camps this year.”

CNS donated $5,000 to help DHDC purchase some of the equipment needed to enhance this year’s camps.

After four decades of federal service, NNSA Sandia Field Office (SFO) Manager Jeff Harrell retired July 31. During the week prior to his retirement, he celebrated his extensive career at a picnic held in his honor with the SFO employees who have been like an extended family.

SFO serves as the federal oversight for Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as its secondary site in Livermore, California, and other locations including the Kauai Test Facility in Hawaii; the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada; and activities in Carlsbad, New Mexico; Amarillo, Texas; and Minneapolis. As manager, Harrell was responsible for the overall administration of the management and operating contract and the operations of Sandia as well as the day-to-day administration of the SFO. He was also responsible for the stewardship of the NNSA Albuquerque Complex.

Read the full press release on the NNSA website.

A political science major at UT, Asya H. is gaining knowledge about nuclear safeguards during her internship.
Asya H. comes from a family of engineers.

Her father, Ali, is a civil engineer and assistant director with Tennessee Department of Transportation; her brother, Arda, graduated in the spring with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. So, it seems she is a natural for the CNS Summer Internship Program.

However, Asya didn’t follow in her family’s footsteps and engineered a different path to her internship and arrived a UT political science major.

“My dad is a math whiz,” she said. “He can solve calculus problems in his head. All that math and science goes over my head.”

The rising senior is among 51 CNS interns, who hail from 13 states and 25 colleges. Y‑12 boasts 36 interns, while Pantex hosts 15. With an almost 50 50 split among male and female participants, the majority of interns, 33, are engineering majors, followed by computer science degree seekers.

“The intern program is definitely growing,” said Cristy Landrum, a human resources recruiter at Y‑12. “We had 40 interns last summer. We’re excited to welcome the interns onboard.”

The program began June 7 and offers specialized professional development training, which enhances communication networking, career goal setting, and professionalism. Each intern has a defined work scope and a summer project, which will be showcased at an expo August 10. The program ends August 12.

In summer 2020, the program went virtual because of the COVID‑19 pandemic. This year students have the choice of onsite, remote, and hybrid participation.

The lone political science major (with emphasis on international affairs) in the program, Aysa is going the hybrid route, spending a couple of days on site at Y‑12. Her goal is to become a lawyer and specialize in international nuclear law.

“It’s a very niche kind of field,” she said. “I have a lot to learn. I’m reading lots of legal documents,” which she is doing under the guidance of internship mentor Hannah Hale, a program manager within Global Security and Strategic Partnerships at Y‑12.

This summer, Aysa is primarily working with NNSA’s NA 241, Office of International Nuclear Safeguards. Within the office, she supports NA 241’s International Nuclear Safeguards Engagement Program — whose mission is to work with partners from around the world as they adopt and implement international nuclear safeguards agreements — a pivotal part of the nuclear non nonproliferation regime. For her summer project, she will participate in and support a virtual workshop about import and export reporting requirements under a safeguards agreement with 13 Middle Eastern states.

Kennedy V. is focusing on explosives technology at her third summer stint at Pantex.

A great introduction
As a three‑time intern at Pantex, Kennedy V. has gained a lot from the program.

“It has helped me develop my networking skills and grow as a scientist and engineer,” said the first year West Texas A&M University graduate student. “It’s been great. The hands on experience at West Texas A&M is limited, so coming to work in the Pantex laboratory, I was excited to gain more knowledge using the technology I learned so much about during my undergrad.”

This summer, Kennedy will examine things that go boom, but not really. She is an intern in Explosive Technology in High Explosives and Materials Testing.

“My project will involve the analysis of LM 17 mock composition, using a near infrared spectrometer,” she explained. “The mock material acts as a non‑energetic simulator for inclusion in test assemblies, where actual explosives would be hazardous or unnecessary.”

The composition of the mock explosive should react similarly to its real counterpart without detonation.

The process is only one stage of explosives testing, which has improved over time.

“Once developed, the near infrared technique should only take a couple hours to get composition results,” Kennedy said. “Newer methods have advanced this process to a few days, and there was even a time when it took multiple weeks.”

Kennedy, who also has an undergraduate professional chemistry degree, said “I love explosive technology. It’s a great introduction into the engineering world.”

Y‑12 intern Joshua W. holds the sensors used in the ChIMES (Chemical Identification by Magnetoelastic Sensing) Sensor Miniaturization project.

Keeping it current
Intern Joshua W., a senior at Texas Tech University, has returned for his second summer at Y‑12.

“It has been a really great time,” said the electrical engineering major. “The technology is crazy. You learn a lot of stuff in school, but to actually see it play out in a real application is so different.”

Last summer, Joshua’s project was ChIMES (Chemical Identification by Magnetoelastic Sensing) Sensor Miniaturization. The technology differentiates types of and amounts of chemicals present in a system. Chemicals can be sensed through metallic and nonmetallic barriers. When a sensor that is attached to a magnetic wire is exposed to chemicals, the tension applied to the wire changes. This change alters its magnetic properties. For the project, Joshua’s objective was to help transform the tabletop device into a more portable version.

For summer 2021, “It’s a new project, same device,” Joshua said. “There’s still a lot of work to do.” This time he will focus on the device’s sensors.

“I’m going to learn how to fabricate the sensors for target materials,” he explained.

Also, Joshua hopes to install a new circuit board on the device. He has worked on the board for months as a research at Texas Tech.

“I’m integrating the board with a system that’s already built,” he explained. “I’m implementing lab work with a real project. I built this thing and [I am] not sure if it will work on the real device.”

Joshua acknowledges that many hands and minds have touched the ChIMES project.

“There is a long line of interns who have been working on this,” he said. “I’ve just added some of my own flourishes.”

Kami Bush, who supports CNS’s VMware virtual infrastructure, stands in front of a Y‑12 server rack in Building 9117.

Think about your daily routine for work. Often, technology plays a role that is front and center. As a collection of hardware, software, applications, and networks, it has undoubtedly grown to serve as a gateway to how we connect with others, find information, track data, or essentially solve problems.

As end users, we infrequently question how or why technology works; it only matters that it does. Yet, behind the secured doors of an internal server room or the screen of a computer supervising our CNS network is an IT systems administrator ensuring that we’re operational and online.

“Our team of administrators are critical to how we connect and perform as an enterprise,” said Brad Burdett, director of IT Operations, who leads a team of more than 50 systems administrators.

From monitoring computer servers and data storage, maintaining virtualization and VPN capabilities, deploying new applications, to solving unplanned system outages, Information Solutions and Services’ systems administrators touch every point of technology at Pantex and Y‑12.

“The most essential skill an IT systems administrator can have is critical thinking,” said IT systems administrator, Kami Bush, who specializes in hardware, storage, and virtualization at Y‑12. “Planning a deployment, creating architecture, or troubleshooting a problem all require critical thinking skills. It’s important that we’re able to see not only the ‘forest,’ but also the ‘trees’ within.”

Keeping attention to detail, the scope of IT systems administrators requires that they look beyond the big picture and into to the ”trees” to monitor operational risks to existing and newly procured hardware, software, or applications connected to our internal network. With more than 2,000 servers and 2,4000 applications connected to the network, it is no easy task.

“The most challenging part of my career is keeping up with the technology. As soon as you get well‑versed in a version or architecture, a new one that is more efficient or powerful replaces it,” Bush said. “That constant advancement means you never get bored, but you also are always challenged to read up on the cutting edge as it will eventually be the new normal.”

Ask any systems administrator and most will agree that change is inevitable in technology. After 15 years at Pantex, IT systems administrator Edmond Keller has served witness and contributor to its growth at the site.

“I have been in the technology industry since 1985. While that does not quite qualify me as ancient in the industry, I am a bit of a dinosaur,” Keller said.

For point of reference, 1985 was also the year the .com domain was born.

“The technology industry consistently reinforces that when you think you have something figured out, there will be an event or situation which proves you really don’t know what you think you know. It is guaranteed humility training,” he said.

Entering the era of digital transformation across our nation and our sites, technology will continue to evolve to better serve the lives and work of our people. As we move from wired to wireless or cords to clouds, you can guarantee that an IT systems administrator will be behind it. In recognition of the 22nd annual IT Systems Administrator Appreciation Day this year, we thank all of you for your work and dedication at Pantex and Y‑12.

Amarillo, Texas — The Pantex Plant and Y-12 National Security Complex have been recognized as winners of 2021 Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) Purchaser Awards. Consolidated Nuclear Security operates both sites under one contract for the National Nuclear Security Complex. The awards were formally announced at a virtual ceremony on July 28, 2021. They are given each year by the Global Electronics Council, which celebrates leaders in sustainable electronics procurement.

Pantex received the three-star award while Y-12 received the four-star award for procurements of Information Technology products, which included purchasing electronics with the EPEAT ecolabel in the following categories: computers and displays (including desktops, notebooks, workstations, integrated systems, and tablets); imaging equipment (copiers, scanners, multi-function devices); mobile phones; and servers.

The products are considered more energy efficient, less toxic, longer lasting, and easier to recycle than products that do not meet EPEAT criteria, while addressing labor and human rights issues along the entire supply chain.

CNS received calculations from the Global Electronics Council of the environmental impact reduction associated with EPEAT-registered purchases last year.

• Greenhouse gas reduction was equivalent to taking 287 average US passenger cars off the road for a year.
• Energy savings were equivalent to the average annual consumption of 528 US households.
• Solid waste reduction matched the annual waste generated by 68 average US households.

According to the Global Electronics Council, the combined cost savings for 6,730 products purchased in 2020 at Pantex and Y-12 was $280,778.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. CNS member companies include Bechtel National, Inc.; Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, Inc.; and SOC LLC. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Steve Myers
Communications
Office (806) 573.0490
Cell (806) 236.2826

Stephen.Myers@pantex.doe.gov

Fourteen Panhandle non-profits were awarded a total of $100,000 from the Consolidated Nuclear Security Community Investment Fund at a June 1 ceremony.

This fund is a partnership between Consolidated Nuclear Security, the management and operations contractor of the Pantex Plant, and the Amarillo Area Foundation. In its six years of existence, over $960,000 has been awarded to more than 50 area organizations.

“We are proud to be part of the Panhandle community, and proud to be connected with so many of you that work so hard to improve the lives of those who live here by providing services, opportunities, and hope,” Jason Bohne, CNS Senior Director of Communications said. “It is truly an honor to partner with the community through these grants, and we sincerely appreciate all that you do.”

This year’s recipients are:

• Amarillo Children's Home - $10,000 to support direct care costs for the Change the Ending Program for foster children
• Another Chance House - $5,000 to provide program support for food, health and wellness needs for men who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
• Buckner Children and Family Services - $6,700 to support FYI Foster Care Youth Program that provides training and preparation for adult living (PAL) life skills for individuals who are aging out of the foster care system
• Driskill Halfway House - $3,000 to support the Oasis and Independence Program for women overcoming addictions with washers, a refrigerator, and outside supplies
• Elizabeth Ruth's Home - $6,000 to support the ERH Experiential Learning Program for autistic individuals
• Faith City Mission - $3,500 to provide for basic needs for the homeless such as food, shelter, and clothes
• Family Support Services - $5,000 to support the Local Outreach for Survivors of Suicide Program, with counseling, site restorations, and short‐term accommodations
• Guyon Saunders Resource Center - $7,800 to support the Helping the Homeless Program by covering GED program costs and computer room costs related to client use for social services, employment, and housing
• Hope and Healing Place - $10,000 to provide scholarships for participants in the Generations Family Program which helps children and families walk through the grief process
• Junior Achievement of the High Plains - $10,000 to support the Biztown Program with IT equipment, such as tablets, servers, phones, and electrical equipment for student simulations as they run mock businesses
• Maverick Boys and Girls Club - $9,000 to provide for Snapology and STEM materials for students
• Mission Amarillo - $10,000 to support the 365 Dad Program with startup curriculum and supplies
• Panhandle Orphan Care Network - $10,000 to support the Moses Closet Expansion with clothes, diapers, and supplies for families receiving placement of new foster child(ren)
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Amarillo - $4,000 to support the 2021 House Security Service of a security guard during the 6 months of transitioning back into a newly constructed house while volunteers are on hold until COVID restrictions are lifted

CNS first met with the Amarillo Area Foundation in 2014 to work together to establish an innovative and effective method for contributing to the community in a way that would also better engage Pantex employees. Continued conversations led to creation of the Pantex Community Investment Fund.

A committee of Pantex employees reviews and recommends the grants that will be awarded from the Community Investment Fund. Committee members are chosen to serve two-year terms to represent all Pantex employees.

“Along with performing their day jobs as experts in their fields, contributing to Pantex’s success in meeting its national security mission, each of these employees has volunteered their time and expertise in an effort to benefit their community,” Bohne said.

Eleven committee members were also recognized for their service during the ceremony.

Seven completed their two-year term on the committee this year. During their time on the committee, 26 nonprofits in the Texas Panhandle received $221,500 in grants, helping those organizations to expand or continue their missions.

Amarillo, Texas—Employees at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, recently received the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)’s Office of Safety, Infrastructure, and Operations (NA-50) Excellence Awards. This year’s awards recognized five Pantex teams and eight Y-12 teams for their exceptional accomplishments during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020.

Consolidated Nuclear Security Chief Operating Officer Bill Tindal said of the award recipients, “We are here today because you found solutions to some of our toughest problems. We are proud to recognize your demonstrated excellence.”

Jim McConnell, NNSA Associate Administrator for Safety, Infrastructure, and Operations, told the recipients, “Your insistence on excellence, your tenacity in doing the job right, and your understanding that teamwork is often the best way to a solution are being recognized by NNSA. You were among the best of the best across the Enterprise in 2020.”

Revitalizing the infrastructure

Updating the existing infrastructure, dating back to World War II, has been a significant focus for both sites. Many of the 2020 awards involved stabilizing or dispositioning aging facilities as noted by NNSA Production Office Acting Deputy Manager Susan Morris. “Your work in revitalizing our infrastructure at Pantex and Y-12 will support the mission for years to come and is a worthy standard for future generations,” she said.

Pantex winners

Of the Pantex accomplishments, Senior Director of Pantex Infrastructure Shawn Spivey noted, “2020 provided a lot of adversity, but as all great teams demonstrate, necessity is the mother of invention. And, by necessity, we completed many outstanding projects.”

Those challenges included two unplanned projects, as well as two first-ever emergency exercises during a pandemic. The summaries of all honored Pantex projects follows.
 
The Weapons Evaluation Test Laboratory (WETL) Chiller Replacement required support from multiple departments and was not planned for FY 2020. Following the chiller failure at WETL, the team was immediately able to restore one of two circuits, allowing operations to continue until the chiller could be replaced. The design was written to be adaptable, allowing on-the-spot changes in the field to decrease installation time, which proved effective in minimizing field changes and associated delays.

Another emerging concern, the 12-104 Concrete Issue, could have significantly delayed mission work at Pantex. The team worked vigorously to resolve the issue. They completed the project design through construction within 12 calendar days with a long-term solution.

The team that developed a Multifunctional Component Storage System for the warehouse at Pantex effectively used technology to address space issues and enhance worker safety. The team planned and coordinated the work to avoid any impacts to production during installation and made 1,649 feet of storage space available for further growth.

The Pantex COVID-19 Emergency Response Exercise Project Team was the first and only in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)/NNSA complex to conduct an electromagnetic pulse-scenario exercise (in support of an executive order and with the support of the NNSA Production Office) and the first in the DOE/NNSA complex to conduct an operational emergency full-scale exercise while implementing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for COVID-19. Responding to emergencies remains critical to mitigating high-risk situations without mission interruption, even with minimal response personnel.

Warehouse space in the traditional areas was at capacity at Pantex, so a team focused on Transformation of a World War II Facility. The work required more than 7,000 linear feet (1.33 miles) of electrical conduit, 12,000 linear feet (2.27 miles) of aboveground cable, and 6,000 linear feet (1.14 miles) of underground cable to be permanently installed and interconnected between several facilities and connection points.

The team’s vision of transformation and continued high-value service of Pantex Building 11-007 was realized in October 2020 with the first of many relocations further improving functions to be safer, more efficient, and controlled by reducing congestion in the operational areas.

Y-12 winners

With a site more than 75 years old, infrastructure is a primary concern. From replacing sprinkler heads to dispositioning facilities and innovating sanitation during the pandemic, Y-12 honorees completed significant projects to maintain existing buildings and prepare for future needs.

Steve Laggis, director of Y-12 Infrastructure Programs said, “As I work with my staff on infrastructure issues, I see on a daily basis the commitment each employee has for planning and getting the job done.”

The projects receiving recognition at Y-12 are summarized below.

The 50-Year Sprinkler Head Replacements project at Y-12 capitalized on lessons learned from previous sprinkler head replacement projects, resulting in fewer necessary system outages and corresponding costly fire patrols. Additionally, the project team mobilized and executed fieldwork in multiple facilities simultaneously because of limited availability to support the required outages. This project team has consistently delivered these projects ahead of schedule and under planned budget, largely due to extensive outage planning and coordination.

A collaboration between CNS and NNSA in June 2020 resulted in the first-ever Option-to-Purchase Agreement for Acquisition of Y-12 Development Facility. The facility will house research and development activities essential to the Y-12 production mission. The chosen facility can safely and efficiently accommodate the necessary research equipment and instrumentation, attract and retain top scientists, and adapt to a changing mission.

The option-to-purchase contract allows NNSA the ability to perform due diligence (including performing a preliminary design and executing an environmental assessment) before deciding to acquire the property, without the risk of other buyers purchasing the property in the meantime. Ultimately, this project established a roadmap for otherNNSA sites to leverage in the future.

Building 9401-04 Baler Disposition was safely completed. Removal of this hazardous structure reduces risk to site personnel, decreases surveillance and maintenance costs, and further fortifies the future success of NNSA. The team developed a plan to execute the work via encapsulation and vacuuming, which reduced the contamination inside the building. However, workers had to deal with temperatures exceeding 90°F while wearing full personal protective equipment. To manage the extreme conditions, the team scheduled third-shift hours to reduce the risk of heat exposure.
 
Another team was recognized for Building 9720-22 Disposition. This hazardous facility was dispositioned through a collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, DOE Office of Environmental Management, NNSA, CNS, and UCOR. Their effort resulted in the demolition of the 12,712-square-foot facility and removal of 28,000 cubic feet of contaminated building debris in only three weeks.

Fire Protection Engineering Compensatory Measures (CMs) were reduced in FY 2020 to 21, achieving the goal of 25 or fewer. CMs require off-setting measures, such as regular patrols by firefighters. The team completed work orders for 135 existing and new CMs to achieve this reduction and reduced the number of CMs in place for more than one year by 86%. This achievement demonstrates NNSA commitment to worker safety and stewardship of the infrastructure necessary for continued mission success.

Development of the Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute Safety Analysis Report for Packaging will ensure the safe and secure removal of materials from the institute. In less than 6 months, the team completed all the work – writing, review, and approval – that typically requires 12–18 months, despite significant challenges during the early stages of the pandemic.

The Occupational Health Services Pandemic Database is an innovative tool developed to track COVID-19 cases at Pantex and Y-12 to maximize the safety of personnel and minimize the interruption of mission work. The database provides an efficient, accurate way to enter data related to COVID-19 cases and streamlines patient lookup regarding status based on DOE-designated categories (cautionary, possible, confirmed, cleared, and recovered). The team also shared the database with other DOE/NNSA sites to assist them with their tracking efforts.

The pandemic provided a unique challenge to Y-12 Building Services Site Sanitation. The employees collectively developed a process to safely, effectively, and efficiently sanitize portals, offices, breakrooms, change houses, and conference rooms while continuing to successfully perform assigned duties under exceedingly strenuous circumstances. Their efforts were instrumental in limiting the spread of the COVID-19 virus among essential personnel and enabled the Y-12 site to maintain its emergency, security, and production capabilities throughout the pandemic.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. CNS member companies include Bechtel National, Inc.; Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, Inc.; and SOC LLC. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Kathryn King, APR
Communications
Office (865) 315.5996
Kathryn.King@cns.doe.gov

WASHINGTON – The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) successfully completed the system-level First Production Unit for the W88 Alteration (Alt) 370 at the Pantex Plant July 1, 2021.

The W88 Alt 370 is a major warhead acquisition program that ensures the future viability of the sea-launched ballistic missile strategic deterrent. This major milestone for DOE/NNSA, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Nation was achieved one month ahead of schedule after more than 11 years of design, development, qualification, and component production.

Read the full press release on the NNSA website.