AIKEN, S.C. – Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) employee Katharine Birkett has been selected to participate in the prestigious Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Nuclear Weapons Management Orientation Course (NWMOC), an invaluable opportunity as the Savannah River Site accelerates construction completion of the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF) and establishment of the pit production mission to support U.S. nuclear deterrence.
NWMOC is a well-known program within the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). Entrance into the program is highly competitive with only 24 participants accepted each year. Half those spots are designated for SNL employees, while the remaining half are for other Department of Energy and Department of War sites with a max of two participants per site.
“I am looking forward to joining the 2027 Nuclear Weapons Management Orientation Course. The entirety of my career has been with the objective of working in the nuclear industry, now focused on the nuclear deterrence mission,” said Birkett, SRPPF Pit Technology – Pit Process Development & Modeling Group Manager. “This program offers an unparalleled opportunity to deepen connections I am already building. Relationships throughout the complex and understanding of each element’s contribution to our collective deterrence mission is invaluable when leveraging each other’s strengths and capabilities to achieve mission success.”
NWMOC provides advanced nuclear weapon-related education and training to management, while offering professional networking opportunities with other participants from across the NSE. The 11-month course covers a variety of topics, from the history of nuclear weapons to nuclear deterrence systems.
“We are proud of Katharine’s service to the nation through participation in NWMOC. Her technical expertise will represent SRS well within this key NSE program,” said Lee Sims, SRNS Senior Vice President, Plutonium Operations and Programs. “Leveraging strong relationships with other NSE partners ensures SRS’ ability to maintain a credible, resilient and responsive nuclear deterrent and urgently deliver these collective national security missions.“
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, a Fluor and HII partnership company, is responsible for the management and operations of the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site, located near Aiken, South Carolina.
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