Steve Asher, left, NNSA Acting Chief and Associate Administrator for the Office of Defense Nuclear Security, presents Cary Bronson of the Los Alamos Field Office with the agency’s Federal Security Professional of the Year award. Courtesy/NNSA
NNSA News:
Cary Bronson of the Los Alamos Field Office Security Operations Team is the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Federal Security Professional of the Year.
Bronson provides federal oversight of the nuclear Material Control and Accountability (MC&A)operations and programs at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
On Monday, Steve Asher, Acting Chief and Associate Administrator for NNSA’s Office of Defense Nuclear Security, presented Bronson with the Bradley A. Peterson Federal Security Professional of the Year Award.
The award recognizes one federal and one contractor employee whose contributions to security programs within the NNSA enterprise exemplify NNSA’s commitment to improving and enhancing security. Mike Kaufman, who leads and manages the MC&A program at LANL, received the NNSA award for top contractor security professional.
“I’m proud to have Cary and Michael as part of the LANL security team” said Geoff Beausoleil, Acting Manager for the NNSA’s Los Alamos Field Office. “This award speaks volumes to the focus we place on safeguards and security at the lab.”
Bronson’s proactive approach to contractor oversight in security resulted in significant achievements including improvement of the site accountability system for special nuclear material, integration of key security topical areas to promote a systems-based approach to security, and the development and implementation of innovative approaches to security that facilitate efficient nuclear material operations while ensuring a strong security program.
In particular, his expertise and demonstrated effectiveness in oversight allowed for key improvements of the contractor security program to include closure for long standing findings, improvements in the internal/external transfer and safeguards termination processes, and enhanced material surveillance techniques. Bronson also used his leadership and expertise to conduct assessments at the Y-12 National Security Complex demonstrating his support and dedication to the NNSA enterprise.
“I am extremely humbled to have the honor and privilege of presenting these amazing individuals with the Bradley A. Peterson Federal and Contractor Security Professional of the Year Awards for significant achievements in the security community, they represent the very best in our outstanding security community,” Asher said.
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, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad. Visit www.nnsa.energy.gov for more information.
