Office of Defense Nuclear Security (2020 Presidential transition)

Book 3 - Organization Overview
Entire 2020 DOE Transition book As of October 2020

The Office of Defense Nuclear Security (NA- 70) is responsible for the development and implementation of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) security program to enable NNSA’s nuclear security enterprise (NSE) missions. NA-70, in conjunction with field office and contract partner partners, provides protection for NNSA personnel, facilities, nuclear weapons, and materials from a full spectrum of threats—ranging from minor security incidents to acts of terrorism—at its national laboratories, production plants, processing facilities, and the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS).

Mission Statement

NA-70 leads, develops, and implements the NNSA’s security program to enable the NSE missions by protecting materials, information, and people.

Budget

Fiscal Year	Budget
FY 2019 enacted	$2,012,179,000
FY 2020 enacted	$1,949,627,000
FY 2021 requested	$ 2,763,354,000

Human Resources

FY 2020 authorized full-time equivalents (FTEs): 92

History

The Office of Defense Nuclear Security was established by the 1999 NNSA Act (Sec 3232 [50 U.S.C. 2422]), and is headed by the Chief, Defense Nuclear Security (CDNS), who is appointed by the Secretary from among candidates recommended by the Administrator. The CDNS reports to the Administrator and is responsible for the development and implementation of security programs for NNSA—including the protection, control, and accounting of materials—and for physical and cyber security for all NNSA facilities. NA-70 has undergone several organizational alignment changes since its creation. Cyber security authority was delegated by the CDNS to the NNSA Office of Information Management and Chief Information Officer (NA-IM) and is funded and managed by that office. To augment the office of the CDNS, NNSA established an Office of Associate Administrator for Defense Nuclear Security. This was initially a separate office, though under the policy direction of the CDNS. Eventually, the CDNS came to serve simultaneously as the Associate Administrator for Defense Nuclear Security. The CDNS is also designated as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) for NNSA, under a Secretarial security reform initiative that has established CSOs for each of the Under Secretaries, and a forum in which the CSOs routinely collaborate on common issues.

Functions

Security Operations and Programmatic Planning (NA-71)

Establishes the operational direction of the NNSA security program, evaluates the execution of the field security programs, and ensures line management evaluation programs are rigorous and provide high confidence that contractor security programs are operating in an effective manner. Develops implementing guidance that clarifies or elaborates on Departmental security requirements, specifically: establishes training requirements; assessment and implementation standards; and criteria for security programs. Coordinates the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Evaluation process for NA-70 with the Office of Management and Budget (NA-MB); coordinates the development and issuance of the NA-70 Strategic Plan; Multi-year Program Plan; Programmatic Goals and Objective; and similar overarching programmatic guidance. Manages the full spectrum of security functions to successfully execute specific operational security matters within the NNSA Headquarters (HQ) office.

Personnel and Facilities Clearance and Classification (NA-74)

Implements the personnel security access authorization (security clearance) program for NNSA field sites. Manages the Facility Clearance Program for NNSA sites and NNSA HQ (Washington, DC, and Germantown, MD, offices). Oversees the NSE-wide Classification and Controlled Information Program (CCIP), which includes the management, oversight, and assessment of the CCIP, and classification, declassification, and trans-classification of NNSA information. Manages Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) sponsorship for non-Management and Operating NNSA support service contractors, as well as adjudication for all HSPD-12 cards.

Recent Organization Accomplishments

Security Management Improvement Program The Security Management Improvement Program (SMIP) was designed to help NNSA security leadership assess HQ- and field-level performance in an effort to help drive continuous improvement across all elements of NA-70. Phase I of SMIP was completed in December 2018 and consisted of an inwardly focused review of federal program management, with emphasis on improving the integration of the federal team’s program management and oversight of the Safeguards and Security program by improving processes and practices and ensuring alignment with Department of Energy (DOE) and NNSA governance requirements. Phase II of SMIP, which included a successful proof of concept pilot at the Nevada Field Office, began in January 2019. In Phase II, the focus shifted to collecting field-oriented performance data and engaging Field and HQ federal staff to identify and address barriers to more effective oversight.

Device Assembly Facility Argus Installation Project at the NNSS

The Device Assembly Facility (DAF) Argus project was completed under budget and on schedule. DAF Argus works in conjunction with the Entry Guard Station Expansion and other legacy completed projects. The Argus security system replaced the aging Process Equipment Control Operating System in the DAF. Argus is the NNSA standard security system to integrate access control, intrusion detection, and video assessment of alarms for protection of high-consequence assets. Installation of Argus was necessary to support the DAF complex, which is a critical facility within the NNSA NSE designed for the staging of special nuclear material (SNM). Completion of this project provided the security required to protect SNM.

Counter Unmanned Aircraft System Implementation

Among the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) top security priorities, NA-70 is focused on addressing the threat posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and the need for effective countermeasures. NNSA’s first counter unmanned aircraft system (CUAS) platform, the first within the DOE, was deployed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in December 2017. Operational testing was completed on September 30, 2018, and full operational capability was achieved on October 31, 2018. Remaining Category I facilities are actively working to implement the CUAS platform. NA-70 continues to work closely with Departmental security counterparts and interagency partners, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Justice, and appropriate Congressional stakeholders to maintain an effective CUAS capability. In August 2018, the FAA declared NNSA’s CUAS Concept of Operations, deployment plan, and integrated project team approach the “gold standard,” to be emulated by the interagency.

Center for Security Technology, Analysis, Response, and Testing Portal

The Center for Security Technology, Analysis, Response, and Testing (CSTART) has developed a comprehensive online portal to help NNSA significantly improve its ability to share critical information across the spectrum of the physical security program. Some of the topical areas included within the portal are protective forces training/exercises, information protection, security systems/technology, emerging threats, and human reliability programs. The information-sharing will focus on lessons learned/best practices, self- assessment guides, “how-to” videos, training curriculum, and a wealth of other day-to-day practical information vital to the goal of focusing the NNSA security community on continuous improvement. CSTART staff are also working with DOD nuclear security personnel to identify opportunities for the portal to contribute to ongoing and future security program collaboration and harmonization initiatives

Personnel and Facility Clearances and Classification

This office provided oversight of a classification program that reviewed 30,000 documents for public release and more than 500,000 documents to support litigation. Additionally, NA-74 successfully trained approximately 1,000 federal and contractor HQ staff who have access to classified email the procedures to portion mark email to ensure compliance with Executive Orders and federal requirements. The office also implemented a Department-wide clearance adjudication and processing tracking system, reducing risk, building resiliency, and creating a common operating environment for all of the adjudication offices.

Leadership Challenges

Caerus

NA-70 is pursuing replacement command control and display equipment, project name Caerus, to address issues including cyber security, future extensibility, and ease of sustainment of the Argus system. NA-70 is viewing the requirements from three angles (formal policy, users, leadership). NA-70 is actively working to complete the final requirements document by Q1 FY 2021.

Design Basis Threat Implementation

The Design Basis Threat (DBT) policy establishes the baseline threat characterization against which the NA-70 security program is developed and implemented. The DBT draws on information from a variety of sources, including the intelligence community’s Nuclear Security Threat Capabilities Assessment. The 2016 update to the DBT required NA-70 to assess its security posture and make appropriate adjustments. NA-70, in coordination with NNSA Management and Operating contractors, developed an implementation plan, to include scheduled completion of the analysis by December 2020. Risk is managed by making decisions regarding priorities and consequences. NA-70 must balance alignment of implementation schedules with current NNSA mission priorities to ensure the mission is not hindered and any required changes are appropriately resourced.

Security Infrastructure Revitalization Program

The Security Infrastructure Revitalization Program (SIRP) addresses the security systems across the NNSA and is a primary driver to support NSE physical security system upgrades and life cycle management at each NNSA site, plant, and lab. SIRP project requirements were derived from the data obtained during development of the 10-year Refresh Plan, a detailed condition assessment completed at each NNSA facility. The condition assessment identified the oldest systems and systems with the highest risk for failure and assessed these systems’ contributions to the overall security posture. The risk values derived during the condition assessment surveys were used to establish a baseline, and then to show reduction in risk as a result of proposed upgrades. This provided a method for comparing various upgrade options, which supports cost-effective implementation decisions across the enterprise.

Responding and Adapting to Trusted Workforce Initiatives

NA-74 worked with DOE to develop policy and implementation plans for the constantly changing investigative and adjudicative landscape. As the government moves to a more real-time vetting and adjudication model, NA-74 and the Department will continue to adapt in response to the changing landscape.

Critical Events and Action Items

Three-month events

NA-70 expects that the Y-12 National Security Complex West End Protected Area Reduction project will reach Critical Decision 2/3.

The CSTART online portal will become operational. This portal will help NNSA significantly improve its ability to share critical information across the spectrum of the physical security program.

NA-70 is leveraging a multi-year contract that the Marine Corps previously established with Heckler & Koch (H&K) to centrally procure M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles. The first order was received by the Pantex Plant in September and the remaining four sites will receive M27s by end of CY 2020.

DBT analysis is on schedule to be completed in December 2020.^[1]