National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) recruiters met with current students at Texas A&M University to discuss career opportunities
On Tuesday, September 15, 2023, the Texas A&M University System’s National Laboratories Office (NLO) hosted Nuclear Security Enterprise Day on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. The NLO mission is to facilitate a network of engagement between U.S. National Laboratories and TAMUS universities and agencies to create impactful contributions to national security, scientific discovery, and applied technology. This annual event is designed to create opportunities for students to interact with potential employers for internships and careers.
The Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) is made up of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and its 8 labs, plants, and sites. NNSA is responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science, which encompasses a vast array of disciplines related to engineering and science.
A panel was organized and comprised of recruitment officers from each of the NNSA labs, and sites mandated by the administration to attend this recruitment event at Texas A&M University. They spoke with students and answered a variety of questions for approximately 90 minutes Tuesday morning. Students then had the rest of the day to meet with recruiters one-on-one.
The keynote speaker, Monte Mallin, Senior Policy Advisor in the NNSA’s Office of Policy and Strategic Planning based in Washington, D.C. said that “I really, 100% believe that the students and people here are the future of the national nuclear security administration. Our ability to connect with these folks and build these professional relationships are vital to the success of NNSA.”
“What we prioritize is advancing the role of technology in the work that we do. The greatest minds in science and technology are at NNSA, and focusing on what’s coming and how we can be on top of that. Delivering a safe and reliable nuclear stockpile and making sure we have the tools to advance arms control and other priorities relies on cutting-edge science and technology. That’s what NNSA is all about,” said Mallin.
Mallin went on to stress that, “We want these students to understand that if there’s something that you want to do there are people in this industry that will support you. People are at the heart of long-term success.”
Associate Vice Chancellor for the NLO, Dr. Sean McDeavitt, observed that, “The panel was enthusiastic to be here; they know that it’s important to recruit from this university in particular due to our culture and dedication to national security and service.” McDeavitt said that “This event is good for our students, and I’d love to see this grow; we’d like to find ways expand efforts like this one that lend to our mission of providing a career path for System students into the national labs.”
Panelist, Daniel Speaker, MC Nuclear Engineering from Savannah River National Solutions said that “The importance of this event has a lot to do with exposure to career opportunities. We’re the best source of information for them as they look to enter the workforce. NNSA is stacking up, and it’s important to all of us that we avoid generational gaps in the field of nuclear engineering.”
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The Texas A&M University System’s National Laboratories Office Supports the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories in execution of their missions as they relate to national security and service.
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $7.2 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, and the RELLIS Campus, the Texas A&M System educates more than 152,000 students and makes more than 24 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceed $1 billion and help drive the state’s economy.
Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile; works to reduce the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and militarily effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the United States and abroad.