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Report 4 on Tracking and Assessing Governance and Management Reform in the Nuclear Security Enterprise (2020) / Chapter Skim
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3 Sustainment of the Enterprise's Core Science and Engineering Capabilities
Pages 17-21

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From page 17...
... : FFRDCs must have access to government data, facilities, and people beyond a typical contractual relationship; operate under a long-term relationship with the sponsoring agency to attract high-quality staff; maintain currency in their fields of expertise; preserve familiarity with the needs of their sponsoring agency; and meet the agency's special long-term research and development needs. The past 2 years have seen a rapid increase in workload across the nuclear security enterprise, especially in connection with life-extension programs and the development of plutonium pit production capabilities.
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From page 18...
... In addition, support for core capabilities -- for example, additive manufacturing, the dynamic mesoscale material science capability, and enhanced capability for subcritical experiments, along with funding associated the National Ignition Facility, Sandia's Z machine, and other experimental facilities -- includes funds not only for facility operations but also for the core science programs associated with the facilities. Nevertheless, research staff at all sites visited voiced concern that as overall laboratory budgets are growing, funding to support core S&E capabilities is not growing proportionately.
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From page 19...
... They attributed this to the pressures of program work, with ambitious timelines -- the effect of which cascades throughout the labs, even to those working on core capabilities -- along with the considerable inefficiencies of overly burdensome administrative processes. Adding to this stress, all three laboratories are actively hiring additional scientists, and current staff are responsible for mentoring and rapidly integrating the new hires, which takes conscientious thought and considerable time.
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From page 20...
... SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION For those doing scientific and engineering research, the work environment and adequate time for thoughtful exploration are crucial for maintaining S&E excellence and capabilities. Because the health of the core S&E capabilities is vital to the nuclear security enterprise, especially in maintaining the ability to recruit and retain top talent, laboratory leadership and NNSA need to proactively monitor and support that health.
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From page 21...
... 3: "As a first step toward meeting the need for objective evidence and data, NNSA should begin surveying the entire workforce of the nuclear security enterprise (possibly by leveraging existing surveys) so as to gain understanding of attitudes and engagement throughout the enterprise and insight about specific worker concerns." 21
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Key Terms

  • security enterprise
  • panel interacted
  • top talent
  • national nuclear
  • mission work

  • adequate time
  • considerable time
  • research leadership
  • foundational research
  • retain top

  • capabilities laboratory
  • laboratory leadership
  • administrative processes
  • staff described
  • continuing education

  • described spending
  • work environment
  • sponsoring agency
  • overly burdensome
  • expressed concern

  • laboratory scientists
  • security administration
  • program work
  • overall laboratory
  • time doing

  • laboratory executives
  • national ignition
  • administrative staff
  • effective programs
  • core science


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