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Shutdown: DOJ workers in public safety, national security will remain on job; others could be furloughed

Posted at 2:31 pm December 22, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The partial government shutdown that started at midnight affects nine federal departments and several agencies. They include the U.S. Department of Justice, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. attorney’s offices.

During the partial shutdown, some employees who are considered excepted for reasons that include national security and public safety might continue working, but without being paid until the shutdown is over, while others will be furloughed.

Oak Ridge Today has previously reported that FBI agents will continue working, but they will work without pay, at least for now.

The U.S. Department of Energy, which has major operations in Oak Ridge, is not affected by the shutdown, while the National Park Service, which also has operations here, is. The Park Service is part of the U.S. Department of Interior, which is one of the departments that has had a lapse in funding due to a lack of agreement between Congress and President Donald Trump over whether to include $5 billion for a wall along the Mexican border in spending legislation. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government Tagged With: Drug Enforcement Administration, Eastern District of Tennessee, Federal Bureau of Investigation, national security, partial government shutdown, public safety, Sharry Dedman-Beard, shutdown, U.S. Attorneys Offices, U.S. Attorneys' Office

James Peery to lead ORNL’s Global Security Directorate

Posted at 2:49 pm March 30, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

James Peery

James Peery

 

James Peery, who led critical national security programs at Sandia National Laboratories and held multiple leadership positions at Los Alamos National Laboratory before arriving at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory last year, has been named associate laboratory director of global security at ORNL, a press release said.

Peery succeeds Brent Park, who was recently confirmed as deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation at DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration. Park has led the Global Security Directorate since July 2010.

“James will be responsible for ensuring that ORNL is applying its research strengths to the highest priorities for our nation’s security, and his more than two decades of experience in creating successful initiatives makes him well qualified to lead the Global Security Directorate staff in its compelling mission,” said ORNL Director Thomas Zacharia. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: associate laboratory director of global security, Brent Park, global security, Global Security Directorate, James Peery, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Nuclear Security Administration, national security, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Sandia National Laboratories, Thomas Zacharia, U.S. Department of Energy

Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit has presentations on energy, manufacturing, security

Posted at 5:46 pm March 18, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Tennessee Valley Corridor National Summit Logo 1

The Tennessee Valley Corridor National Summit in Oak Ridge in May will feature presentations on advanced manufacturing, clean energy and a nuclear renaissance, and national security and cyber security.

The 2018 TVC National Summit is scheduled from May 29-31 at the New Hope Center at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. It will be hosted by Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch in cooperation with U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann.

Agenda topics include: [Read more…]

Filed Under: East Tennessee Technology Park, Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Office, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: advanced manufacturing, Auburn University, Chuck Fleischmann, clean energy, Consolidated Nuclear Security, cyber security, Eastman, Lamar Alexander, Marsha Blackburn, Morgan Smith, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, national security, New Hope Center, Nuclear Energy Institute, nuclear renaissance, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Roane State Community College, Tennessee Tech University, Tennessee Valley Corridor, Tennessee Valley Corridor National Summit, Thomas Zacharia, Todd May, U.S. Department of Energy, UCOR, Volkswagen Group of America, Warren Gooch, Y-12 National Security Complex

Gordon-Hagerty sworn in as first female NNSA administrator

Posted at 11:05 am February 26, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty is sworn in by Energy Secretary Rick Perry as the U.S. Department of Energy’s under secretary for nuclear security and administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2018. (Photo by NNSA)

Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty is sworn in by Energy Secretary Rick Perry as the U.S. Department of Energy’s under secretary for nuclear security and administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2018. (Photo by NNSA)

 

Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty was sworn in Thursday by Energy Secretary Rick Perry as the U.S. Department of Energy’s under secretary for nuclear security and administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Gordon-Hagerty is responsible for managing and operating the NNSA in support of the nuclear security agenda of Perry and President Donald Trump, a press release said. The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge is an NNSA site.

“Lisa Gordon-Hagerty exemplifies the leadership and institutional knowledge required to oversee the National Nuclear Security Administration,” Perry said in the press release.  “I am especially proud of the fact that she is the first woman in history to lead the NNSA and look forward to working together to address the administration’s goal of modernizing our nuclear security enterprise.”

Gordon-Hagerty has more than 30 years of national security experience, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: administrator, DOE, Donald Trump, Frank Klotz, Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty, National Nuclear Security Administration, national security, naval reactor, NNSA, nuclear materials, nuclear nonproliferation, nuclear security, nuclear weapons, Rick Perry, Steve Erhart, U.S. Department of Energy, under secretary for nuclear security, Y-12 National Security Complex

Trump nominates ORNL national security leader to DOE nuclear nonproliferation job

Posted at 1:53 pm February 9, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Brent Park

Brent Park

 

President Donald J. Trump on Thursday nominated a national security leader at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to a nuclear nonproliferation job in the U.S. Department of Energy.

Brent K. Park is currently an associate laboratory director at ORNL, where he is responsible for national security programs.

Trump nominated him to be deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation in the Department of Energy. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: arms and export control, associate laboratory director, Brent K. Park, counterterrorism, Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation, DOE/NNSA Remote Sensing Laboratory, energy, Global Security Directorate, homeland security, Jeff W. Smith, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Nuclear Security Administration, national security, Nevada Test Site, nuclear nonproliferation, nuclear physicist, nuclear physics, nuclear weapons, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, President Donald J. Trump, Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, White House

Nuclear Suppliers Workshop in Oak Ridge in September

Posted at 10:15 pm August 8, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Nuclear Suppliers Workshop Oak Ridge September 6-7 2017 Oak Ridge

The East Tennessee Economic Council and the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council are having a Nuclear Suppliers Workshop in Oak Ridge in September.

The workshop is September 6-7 at the Pollard Technology Conference Center in Oak Ridge.

The focus of the event will be on manufacturing opportunities arising in the southeastern United States around small modular reactors, next generation nuclear technology, nuclear medicine, and national security programs, a press release said.

Invited speakers include senior executives from the Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NuScale Power, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Terrestrial Energy, University of Tennessee, Duke Energy, and others. The final agenda is still under development, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, College, Education, Federal, Government, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: AECOM, Centrus Energy, CNS Y-12, Consolidated Nuclear Security, Duke Energy, East Tennessee Economic Council, MS Technology/MillenniTEK, national security, nuclear construction, nuclear facilities, nuclear industry, nuclear manufacturing, nuclear medicine, Nuclear Suppliers Workshop, nuclear technology, NuScale Power, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORAU, Pollard Technology Conference Center, small modular reactors, Teledyne-Brown Engineering, Tennessee Valley Authority, Terrestrial Energy, U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council, University of Tennessee, Y-12 National Security Complex

ORNL names chief scientist of Global Security Directorate

Posted at 2:21 pm August 7, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

James Peery

James Peery

 

James Peery, who has led critical national security programs at Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory, has been selected as the chief scientist of the Global Security Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

“James brings more than two decades of experience in creating successful national security initiatives for the U.S. Department of Energy,” said Brent Park, associate laboratory director of global security at ORNL. “In particular, his leadership in cybersecurity, data analytics, and high-performance computing will enable him to lead the laboratory’s cybersecurity initiative for the electric grid and beyond.”

Next-generation cybersecurity for the electric grid is a multi-directorate, multi-program effort at ORNL that supports the DOE cybersecurity program for critical energy infrastructure, a press release said. The initiative aims to enable electric utilities and other components of the nation’s energy supply to defend against emerging and previously unseen cyberattacks.

Peery also will help ORNL researchers draw on the lab’s distinctive capabilities to develop scientific and technological solutions aligned with national security policies and strategies, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Brent Park, cyberattacks, cybersecurity, DOE cybersecurity, energy infrastructure, global security, Global Security Directorate, James Peery, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Nuclear Security Administration, national security, NNSA, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Sandia National Laboratories, Thomas Zacharia, U.S. Department of Energy

DOE/NNSA test mobile nuclear facilities with Army during national security exercise

Posted at 6:08 pm July 17, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Personnel from Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory participate in simulated radiation contamination and perform large drum packaging operations. (Photo by NNSA)

Personnel from Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory participate in simulated radiation contamination and perform large drum packaging operations. (Photo by NNSA)

 

Experts from across the U.S. Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration recently teamed up with the U.S. Army at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, to exercise the capabilities of two rapid response facilities critical to national security.

For six weeks in May and June, interagency partners practiced the operations and procedures necessary to deploy the Mobile Plutonium Facility and Mobile Uranium Facility as part of Exercise Corvina Loco, the NNSA said in a story published on its website in June.

“These two assets would allow the U.S. to package and safely remove nuclear materials quickly,” the NNSA said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: 20th Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosives Command, CBRNE, Exercise Corvina Loco, Glenn Pfennigwerth, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Mobile Plutonium Facility, Mobile Uranium Facility, National Nuclear Security Administration, national security, national security exercise, Nevada Nuclear Security Site, NNSA, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Savannah River National Laboratory, simulated radiation contamination, U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Energy, William E. King IV, Y-12 National Security Complex

New House Appropriations chair visits ORNL, Y-12

Posted at 10:40 am February 27, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The new chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee visited Oak Ridge on Thursday. U.S. Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, a New Jersey Republican, toured Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex. The visit was hosted by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican. (Submitted photo)

The new chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee visited Oak Ridge on Thursday. U.S. Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, a New Jersey Republican, toured Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex. The visit was hosted by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican. (Submitted photo)

 

The new chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee visited Oak Ridge on Thursday. During his visit, U.S. Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, a New Jersey Republican, toured Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex.

The visit was hosted by Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican whose district includes Oak Ridge.

The House Republican Conference approved Frelinghuysen as the new chair of the critical House Appropriations Committee, which funds the federal missions at Oak Ridge, late last year. Hal Rogers, a Kentucky Republican, was the former chair. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Chuck Fleishchmann, Hal Rogers, House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee, national security, nuclear cleanup, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Rodney Frelinghuysen, science, U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Y-12 National Security Complex

Alexander: Bill raises Office of Science funding to highest-ever, includes UPF, supercomputing, cleanup funding

Posted at 7:05 pm May 19, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

A bill approved by a U.S. Senate subcommittee on Tuesday would give $5.144 billion to the federal agency that oversees work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It’s the highest level of funding ever for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which oversees 10 national labs, including ORNL, federal officials said.

The bill would also provide $430 million for the proposed Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex, which will “continue to keep this project on time and on budget,” according to a press release from the office of U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican.

Alexander’s office also said the legislation would provide funding for:

  • a new mercury treatment plant in Oak Ridge,
  • cleanup of nuclear facilities that are no longer in service,
  • nuclear infrastructure at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and
  • advanced computing, which supports the new Summit supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The bill was unanimously approved on a voice vote by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development on Tuesday afternoon. Alexander is chair of that subcommittee, and he said the approval shows that there is bipartisan support for energy research, waterways, and national security. [Read more…]

Filed Under: East Tennessee Technology Park, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: advanced computing, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Appropriations Committee, Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, ARPA-E, Chickamauga Lock, cleanup, Dianne Feinstein, energy research, exascale computing, hot cells, International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, isotope production, isotopes, ITER, Lamar Alexander, mercury treatment, National Nuclear Security Administration, national security, nuclear facilities, nuclear power, nuclear waste, nuclear waste storage, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Science, ORNL, physical sciences, science, small modular reactors, summit, Summit supercomputer, supercomputer, technology, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Senate, uranium processing facility, waterways, Y-12 National Security Complex

NNSA achieves 50 percent production for W76-1 units

Posted at 11:06 pm October 29, 2014
By National Nuclear Security Administration Leave a Comment

Frank Klotz

Frank Klotz

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Nuclear Security Administration said last week that it had reached the halfway point in the production phase of the W76-1 warhead Life Extension Program, or LEP. An event held at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, underscored NNSA’s commitment to meeting the U.S. Navy’s requirements for the W76-1.

Gen. Frank G. Klotz, U.S. Department of Energy under secretary for nuclear security and NNSA administrator, was on hand to personally thank the men and women of Pantex who helped achieve the production milestone.

“The W76-1 Life Extension Program is one of several steps we must take as a nation to ensure that America’s smaller nuclear arsenal remains safe, secure, and effective,” Klotz said. “The highly skilled Pantex team will continue to play an indispensable role in protecting the security of the United States, as well as our allies and partners, for many years to come. For that reason, it’s imperative that we continue to invest in the people and in the infrastructure needed to carry out that important, enduring task.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: National Nuclear Security Administration, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Frank G. Klotz, LEP, life extension program, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Nuclear Security Administration, national security, National Security Campus, Navy, NNSA, nuclear security, nuclear stockpile, Office of Defense Programs, Pantex Plant, Sandia National Laboratory, Savannah River Site, Strategic Systems Programs, Terry Benedict, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Navy, W76-1, W76-1 Life Extension Program, Y-12 National Security Complex

President Obama nominates defense aide for DOE deputy secretary

Posted at 10:46 pm July 8, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall (Photo courtesy Stanford University)

President Barack Obama on Tuesday nominated Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, a presidential aide and national security official, to become deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she would replace Daniel Poneman, who is stepping down from the No. 2 job this fall after five years.

Sherwood-Randall currently serves as special assistant to the president and White House coordinator for defense policy, countering weapons of mass destruction, and arms control, a position she has held since 2013. She served as special assistant to the president and senior director for European affairs at the National Security Council from 2009 to 2013.

The New York Times reported that Sherwood-Randall, 54, would bring a background in nuclear weapons and nonproliferation strategy to the department, which has split responsibilities for energy strategy and the country’s weapons and counter-proliferation work. It would be her third job in the Obama administration.

Daniel B. Poneman

Daniel B. Poneman

The newspaper said Sherwood-Randall oversaw the effort to get chemical weapons out of Syria and the development of the administration’s policy for dealing with the nuclear arsenal.

Poneman has been U.S. deputy secretary of energy since May 2009, and he also served as chief operating officer under former Energy Secretary Steven Chu. Poneman has been focused on nuclear safety and proliferation, among other issues, the Times said. He briefly served as acting secretary in 2013 before the confirmation of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: arms control, Barack Obama, chemical weapons, Council on Foreign Relations, Daniel Poneman, defense policy, deputy secretary, DOE, Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, energy stratgeyc, Ernest Moniz, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Joseph R. Biden Jr., national security, National Security Council, New York Times, nonproliferation, nuclear arsenal, nuclear safety, nuclear weapons, Pentagon, Stanford University, Steven Chu, Syria, U.S. Department of Energy, weapons of mass destruction, White House

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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