The Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is committed to examining its programs, challenges, and future direction in order to advance the enterprise. The NNSA Administrator established the Advisory Committee for Nuclear Security (ACNS) in April 2023 to provide NNSA leadership with independent advice and recommendations from experts regarding how to deliver the mission more efficiently and effectively while keeping pace with threats and evolving conditions.

The ACNS will provide insight on the stewardship and modernization of the Nation’s nuclear stockpile and enterprise, nuclear nonproliferation and arms control, and counterterrorism and counterproliferation. The Committee will advise NNSA leadership on topics such as technical approach and workforce and pipeline programs and activities.

NNSA will benefit from ACNS independent evaluation and advice to enhance innovation, collaboration, and action central to the ACNS charter. The ACNS was established consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and this notice was posted to the Federal Register on February 8, 2023.

  1. Committee’s Official Designation.  Advisory Committee for Nuclear Security (ACNS).
  2. Authority. The ACNS is established under the authority of Department of Energy (DOE). The ACNS, formerly known as the Defense Programs Advisory Committee, is being renewed in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C., App. 10.
  3. Objectives and Scope of Activities. The ACNS will provide advice and recommendations to the Department of Energy’s Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA Administrator) on the activities and operations of the NNSA, including but not limited to, the stewardship, governance, and maintenance of the Nation’s nuclear deterrent; nuclear security, nonproliferation; counterterrorism; counterproliferation; nuclear incident and accident response.
  4. Description of Duties. The duties of the ACNS are solely advisory.
  5. Official(s) to whom the Committee Reports. The ACNS will report to the NNSA’s Administrator through the Principal Deputy Administrator.
  6. Agency Responsible for Providing Necessary Support. DOE. Within DOE, primary support shall be furnished by the Office of the NNSA Administrator.
  7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years. The estimated annual cost associated with supporting the ACNS is approximately $275,000, including one-half full-time employee.
  8. Designated Federal Officer (DFO). A full-time or permanent part-time DOE/NNSA employee, appointed in accordance with agency procedures, will serve as the Designated Federal Officer (DFO). The DFO will also appoint a Deputy DFO who is a career full-time or permanent part-time DOE/NNSA employee. The DFO (designee or Deputy DFO), will approve and call all ACNS and any subcommittee meetings, prepare and approve all meeting agendas, attend ACNS meetings, and adjourn any meeting when the DFO determines adjournment to be in the public interest.
  9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings. The ACNS will meet periodically, approximately two to four times a year.
  10. Duration. The ACNS is expected to be continuing in nature.
  11. Termination. The ACNS terminates two years after the Charter filing date and may not meet unless the Charter is renewed biennially. In addition, the ACNS can be terminated upon the decision of the NNSA Administrator (or designee) should the Committee’s services no longer be required.
  12. Membership and Designation. The ACNS will be comprised of not more than 15 members, who will be appointed by the NNSA Administrator. Members shall be recognized experts in their respective scientific and/or technical field and will be appointed as special Government employees, regular Government employees, or representatives of entities including, but not limited to, research facilities and academic institutions, should the ACNS’s tasks require such representation. The Chair and Vice Chair of the ACNS will be appointed by the NNSA Administrator from among the ACNS members.

    Members of the ACNS will serve without compensation. However, each member may be reimbursed in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations per 41 CFR 301, Temporary Duty Travel Allowances, for authorized travel and per diem expenses incurred while attending ACNS meetings or subcommittee meetings. Members of the ACNS must hold a Department of Energy “Q” security clearance.
  13. Subcommittees. To facilitate the functioning of the ACNS, subcommittees may be formed with DFO (designee or Deputy DFO) approval. The objectives of the subcommittees are to make recommendations to the full Committee with respect to particular matters related to the responsibilities of the full Committee. Subcommittees may not work independently of the full Committee and must report their recommendations and advice to the full Committee for deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the parent Committee and may not report directly to the DOE/NNSA.
  14. Recordkeeping. The records of the ACNS shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2 and Administrative Records Schedule 16, Item 8b(1.1), and approved agency records disposition schedule. These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552.
  15. Filing Date. Date filed with Congress: February 2, 2023.

  • Dr. Jolie Cizewski, Distinguished Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Rutgers University.
  • Dr. Donald L. Cook, former Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, NNSA.
  • Hon. Madelyn Creedon, Former Principal Deputy Administrator, Office of Defense Programs.
  • Dr. William Goldstein, Former Director, Livermore National Laboratory.
  • Dr. Samuel Graham Jr., Dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland.
  • Dr. John R. Harvey, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs.
  • Dr. Robert Hayes, Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering, Joint Faculty Appointment with SRNL.
  • Dr. Paul Hommert, Former Director, Sandia National Laboratories.
  • RADM (ret) Stephen Johnson, former Director, Strategic Systems Programs.
  • Dr. Tom Kurfess, HUSCO/Ramirez Distinguished Chair in Fluid Power and Motion Control and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Tech.
  • Dr. Sara Pozzi, Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan.
  • Dr. Anthony Rollett, U.S. Steel Professor of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, Carnegie Mellon University.