News

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) will host a virtual job fair for the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) Wednesday, June 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EDT). The NSE is looking for the next generation of nuclear security professionals and working to hire over 2,500 new employees to join its exceptional workforce in 2021.

Read the full press release on the NNSA website.

As part of ongoing outreach to business owners and potential vendors, Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) representatives will host a Partners in Excellence (PIE) Forum on Thursday, June 24, from 1 to 3 p.m. CDT. During the virtual event, leaders will offer attendees information about successfully doing business with the Pantex Plant in Texas and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee.

Ben Skipper, executive director of aerospace and defense programs for the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will offer the keynote address. He earned his doctorate in Management from Auburn University and holds an M.S. in Logistics Management from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology. His current research interests include supply chain disruption and disruption avoidance, supply chain strategy, and supply chain leadership. His talk will focus on supply chain disruption and business impacts.

Free event series explains government contracting
The event is free and open to all, but registration is required via WebEx. .

CNS procurement leaders will share site information, requirements, and upcoming opportunities with potential vendors and subcontractors. Other speakers include Drake Russell, National Nuclear Security Administration acting management and operating policy manager; Bill Tindal, CNS chief operating officer; John O’Connell, Supply Chain Management Center (SCMC) principal customer programs leader; and Robert Leuszler, SCMC senior manager.

CNS began the PIE event series in 2018 to explain the government contract solicitation process, which is sometimes considered complex and cumbersome for businesses, particularly newcomers and small businesses. Since the pandemic began, CNS has demonstrated a commitment to business partnership by holding the events virtually.

“With this virtual event, we are hoping to reach businesses in Texas, Tennessee, and across the country,” said Greta Ownby, Y-12 Small Business Program manager. “We hold smaller workshops with invitations targeted based on agenda content, but PIE forums like this one are a great way for us to reach a broader audience of business owners.”

Sites award more than $1 billion in subcontracts annually
Each year, CNS awards more than $1 billon in subcontracts to businesses that help accomplish specialized tasks in support of our vital national security mission.

“Our goal is to increase the capacity and capability of our contractor base to support our small project execution,” said Cindy Morgan, director of CNS Supply Chain Business Management. “In our world, small projects are defined as $50 million or less.”

While CNS has a focus on modernizing the aging infrastructure of Pantex and Y-12, the company doesn’t only need construction contractors.

“We purchase a variety of goods and services from small and large businesses, and we need vendors for everything from general office supplies to information technology and staff augmentation,” said Randy Crawford, Pantex Small Business Program manager.

Gain business knowledge, network with business owners
The PIE events are a chance for CNS leaders to break down the requirements for doing business with Pantex and Y-12 and share upcoming opportunities. During a previous PIE event, Bill Tindal provided an overview of the Pantex and Y-12 site histories and explained why the company uses subcontractors as partners.

There’s also a chance to network with fellow business owners to encourage partnerships. “Sometimes a small business is not able to bond for a large job, but they have the expertise and skills that a larger business does not,” said Morgan. “Providing a chance to network encourages those businesses to work together and submit a joint bid.”

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
Allison Roberts
Communications
Office (806) 573.0501
allison.roberts@pantex.doe.gov

Program completed for sole cruise missile-delivered weapon

AMARILLO, Texas – The last production unit for the W80-1 Alteration (Alt) 369 weapon was recently completed at Pantex following extensive planning, collaboration, and work execution. After several years of developing the design, the first production unit was completed in late 2017. The final production unit was completed in early May 2021, while maintaining all COVID-19 precautions and protocols.

The Alt 369 Program was a major collaborative effort among Pantex, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Headquarters, the NNSA Production Office, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Kansas City National Security Campus, and the Savannah River Site. The program team solved multiple technical issues and overcame unprecedented challenges encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The completion of this program was the culmination of multiple years of effort at Pantex along with support from all across the Nuclear Security Enterprise,” said Pantex Site Manager Todd Ailes. “To be able to complete this Alt here at Pantex, especially during COVID, is an amazing effort. Even in a pandemic and facing its unique challenges presented to the team during production, we prevailed. When those challenges occurred, our team looked at unique ways to resolve any issue and did so successfully.”

The W80-1 Alt 369 program received top priority as a Tier One Project, resulting in complete support for the continued production schedule. During the pandemic, NNSA began categorizing production priorities to ensure the highest priority mission needs were preserved. Tier One projects received top priority, resulting in complete support for the continued production schedule of the designated program.

“We had a great team of Pantexans assembled, and the pandemic was a big challenge for all of us,” said Chad Hall, Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) Production Manager of the W80 Alt 369. “Our team developed a protocol that allowed us to work in a safe environment, and it allowed us to continue these very important mission operations.”

This Alt replaced critical components and upgraded hardware to sustain the weapon system. Although surveillance work on the W80-1 Alt 369 will continue throughout the life of the program, the program of record is completed.

“Having been associated with this effort since the first Alt 369 unit was completed in 2017, this milestone triggered many memories of the efforts, the challenges, the successes, and most importantly, the people involved. It is truly a significant accomplishment involving many sites and many people,” said Steve Ufford, CNS Stockpile Systems manager.

“In the context of America’s Nuclear Triad of air, land, and sea weapons, it's an air-delivered weapon system. It's mated into an air launch cruise missile warhead that is launched from a B-52, the only such system to be carried on a cruise missile in the Nation’s stockpile. This ensures our Nation and its nuclear deterrence is maintained,” said Michael Morgan, NNSA Cruise Missile team lead.

“Completion of the W80-1 Alt 369 unit is a major milestone and significant accomplishment for the Nuclear Security Enterprise. Completing this last unit represents years of effort by multiple stakeholders across the Enterprise. This milestone ensures that we have a safe, reliable nuclear deterrent,” said Jessica Holloway, director of NNSA for Air Delivered Weapons Division.

Because of this successful effort, NNSA will be able to sustain the W80-1 system until its replacement system can be fielded in the future through its Major Modernization activities.

“Now that this is completed, we can move resources to the next systems,” Melissa Moore, CNS Program Manager for the W80-1 Alt 369, said. “There is a group that will support other Major Modernization efforts, such as the B61-12, the W88 Alt 370, and the W80-4, which will be the next iteration of this particular weapon system.”

This milestone marks another example of the National Security Enterprise coming together to meet the Nation’s national security needs, and demonstrates CNS's commitment to adapt and deliver.

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

Pantex has been a proud sponsor the Golden Spread Council of Boy Scouts Good Scout Luncheon for several years. This year, Michelle Reichert, President and Chief Executive Officer of Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC was the event committee chair for the Good Scout Luncheon and offered the event’s Welcome and Opening Remarks at the April 29th luncheon.

The event took place at Hodgetown Stadium and featured Rick Perry, former U.S. Secretary of Energy, as keynote speaker. Pantex donated $3,500 to help the Golden Spread Council continue supporting scouts in the Panhandle area.

WASHINGTON - The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced its intention to extend the current contract for the management and operation of the NNSA’s Pantex Plant (Pantex) in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on June 1. The extension will include a two-month base period with four, one-month option periods which may be exercised if needed.

Read the full release on the NNSA website.

After taking a deep breath to appreciate the achievements of his team and consider his next steps, NNSA Production Office (NPO) Manager Geoffrey L. Beausoleil stepped out into retirement April 30.

NPO serves as the federal oversight for the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. As manager, Beausoleil was responsible for the overall administration of the management and operating contract for Pantex and Y-12, the day-to-day administration of the NPO, and oversight of plant operations.

Read the full press release on the NNSA website.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) will be hosting a virtual hiring event Wednesday, June 23, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Registration is available from now until the day of the event.

We strongly encourage job seekers to register and submit resumes before the day of the event.

Read the full press release on the NNSA website.

NNSA is off to a strong start in 2021. From supporting new technologies to critical infrastructure projects, NNSA's achievements between January and April of this year have advanced its vital national security mission. Concurrently, NNSA's labs, plants, and sites have continued to ensure the effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear deterrent while also making significant and lasting economic impacts on their communities, their states, and ultimately, our Nation.

Read full press release on the NNSA website.

Congratulations to Renae Freeman of Pantex and Julie Hope of Y-12 on National Administrative Professionals Day

When you have a question about a work process, policy, or practice, who is the first person you think to ask? If you’re like many of us, you think of your organization’s administrative professional. Their jobs are wide in scope and deep in complexity, with high pressure deadlines and incessant interruptions. And of course the pandemic added many additional challenges.

To recognize their role in keeping businesses, organizations, and agencies running smoothly, official recognition was established in 1952 as National Secretaries Day. The name changed to National Administrative Professionals Day in 2000 to recognize the increasingly technical and professional skills the occupation requires.

At Pantex and Y-12 there are almost 100 of these wonder workers, who are like the oil that keeps the engine of productivity running smoothly. One such exemplary administrative professional was Jackie Kelly, who was known at Y-12 for meeting every challenge that came her way, including cancer that eventually took her life. In 2017 the Jackie Kelly Award was established in her memory to recognize one outstanding administrative professional at each site. The winners each receive a $500 cash award and a recognition plaque.

This year, 21 nominations were received from Pantex and Y-12. A panel of five judges representing both sites chose the winners based on nominations that described how each nominee demonstrated dedication, conscientiousness, caring, can-do attitude, and capability.
Zelda Martinez of Pantex considered serving as a judge an honor, and said she mistakenly thought it would be an easy decision to make. The difficulty of the decisions made her proud, she added.

“I was very wrong. The level of dedication, resourcefulness, self-motivation, and above all, the compassion that all the nominees exhibit, not only to their job responsibilities, but to the community and ultimately the country, is second to none,” Martinez said.

Renae Freeman, Pantex, Process Engineering/Tooling & Tester Engineering

Renae Freeman is the administrative professional for Tooling and Machine Engineering, and she also volunteered to provide services for Process Engineering because that division is without one.

“Despite her already significant workload, Renae stepped up and volunteered to help out our department. Being a large department of over 100 employees, this is a huge undertaking,” one of her nominations read.

Another praised her “never say no” approach, “Renae has a fantastic attitude and a consistent willingness to help. She treats every request with the utmost level of priority and consideration.”

That Freeman isn’t drawn to the spotlight motivated one nominator to shine one on her.

“She is a quiet leader and never seeks recognition for all her great work, which has made her even more well deserving of this award.”

Julie Hope, Y-12, Production/Enriched Uranium Operations

Julie Hope’s nominators noted she is hardworking, accountable, perseverant, and has a positive attitude.

“Julie is a model for anyone seeking to witness an employee who is dedicated to performing her job with excellence.”

She performed the work of two of her peers during COVID-19 containment one nomination read, “accepting all challenges with grace and quickly excelling at all tasks. Julie is an anchor for Building 9212 and the embodiment of a superstar employee.”

“She helps everyone with a joyful attitude such that everyone enjoys working with her. She often teaches others from her existing expertise or researches issues/questions to find solutions to provide to the team.”

One of Hope’s nominations ends with a bit of humor, “We hope we have been able to convince each of you of her excellence, but if not, please don’t hold our inabilities to write against Julie, since we didn’t have her to help us with this write-up!”

Given her selection as an award winner, the persuasion worked.

I have sometimes wondered what goes into designating a day an American holiday. Armed Forces Day, which is May 15 this year, began in 1949 after the armed forces were unified under one department — the Department of Defense. As someone who served in the Air Force, I have seen the benefits of people unifying for a purpose. This intangible force generates success, particularly in chaotic and uncertain times. We all agree 2020 was COVID chaotic, and 2021 will present uncertainty with the contract transition. The guiding light in these times will be steadfast adherence to our unified values; what Armed Forces Day represents. Let me clarify this.

While assigned to Air Mobility Command in 2009 at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, I oversaw the health of the pilots, maintainers, other flight line operators, and their families. AMC,/abbr> tasked Charleston AFB to deliver cargo all over the world. Charleston provided airlift of troops and passengers, military equipment, cargo, and aeromedical equipment and supplies worldwide. In other words, the airlift mission flew to all continents, delivering people and cargo, beans and bullets, anytime, anywhere. However, let me tell you a secret.

The actual operation of a successful airlift mission is about as glamorous as drops of water on stone. There’s no frenzy, no flap, just the inexorable process of getting the job done. In a successful airlift, you don’t see planes parked all over the place; they’re either in the air, onloading or unloading, or being worked on. You don’t see personnel milling around; flying crews are either flying or resting so they can fly again the next day. Everyone else is also on the job, working quietly and efficiently.

The real excitement from a successful airlift comes from seeing lines climbing steadily on PowerPoint charts — tonnage delivered, aircraft utilization, and so on (while lines representing accidents and injuries remain down). That’s where the glamour lies in air transport. It is this beat, this precise rhythmical cadence, which determines the success of an airlift. Nevertheless, it’s not enough.

One key factor for success of an airlift (or any large operation) is everyone working toward unified goals. On a cold, windy January night, I was making rounds on the flight line (my rounds were not only in the hospital) because the mission called for launching 20 or so C-17s at 3 minute intervals — a colossal orchestration. I knew 3,000 or so airmen would be working 24 hour operations under floodlights toward this task. I always thought making myself available to the pilots and crew members, seeking them out and listening to their complaints, gave me insight into the true health and operations of the mission, which I could never have gotten sitting at my desk reading e mails and secondhand reports.

“How’s it going?” I asked an airman, who looked about 18 years old, as she crouched over a wheel well to tighten some bolts. She looked up, quite perturbed, and said, “Sir, I can’t talk. If I don’t finish this, we won’t launch these 20 birds.” Then it dawned on me that this 18-year-old sensed mission success depended on her. She knew her responsibility involved working collectively toward a mission. Seeing her dedication, I was reassured all 20 planes would launch at the precise time as ordered.

It’s this perspective that affects my current mission here at Pantex. That’s why I took particular pride when the American Association of Ambulatory Health Care inspected our clinic on April 30 and the inspector said, “It is very clear that your staff are aligned with the higher calling of national security that is the mission of Pantex.” I cannot imagine a higher praise.

We unify for a purpose — across all of CNS — despite the challenges we’ve faced this past year and the uncertainty ahead. As a doctor, I care about the health and welfare of people, and as a Pantexan, I contribute to achieving our mission — a mission that unifies us and embodies what Armed Forces Day celebrates.