Global Material Security

Monitoring & Enhancing Security

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) provides technical expertise for the nonproliferation and nuclear security missions of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Global Material Security and the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.

In support of these critical missions, our experts work with partners across the globe to enhance the security of nuclear and radiological materials during use, storage and transport and to strengthen capabilities and detect, disrupt and investigate the smuggling of these materials. Domestically, we work to provide timely, responsive support to operational partners.

Our expertise in nuclear security, material attractiveness, device design, proliferation detection and nuclear forensics enables us to develop effective systematic solutions to improve existing nonproliferation and nuclear security frameworks.

Ensuring Nuclear Materials Stay Safe

LLNL engages with nuclear security professionals around the world to secure nuclear and radioactive materials, build capabilities to design, test, operate and respond to physical and cybersecurity systems and promote best practices for sustainable nonproliferation and nuclear security.

Our subject matter experts lead international efforts to enhance legal and regulatory frameworks for nuclear and radiological security and raise awareness about the risk posed by insider threats.

Adversary and Interdiction Methods

Addressing the threat of nuclear terrorism requires understanding both the capabilities of potential adversaries as well as the optimal methods of responding to such events. LLNL has been at the forefront of efforts to train and assess the capacity of law enforcement agencies around the country to detect and/or prevent an incident involving radiological or nuclear materials. Deploying interdisciplinary teams equipped with gear and radioactive sources, LLNL conducts performance-testing exercises with agencies at all levels of government.

International Nuclear Security

LLNL partners with international agencies to strengthen the protection of radiological and nuclear materials. Although weapons-usable nuclear materials are of the greatest concern, high-risk materials are also present in research reactors, nuclear power plants, fuel-cycle facilities and civilian enterprises.

To prevent theft and sabotage of nuclear materials and facilities worldwide, we engage with our partners through assessments, technical exchanges, trainings, facility upgrades, regulatory development and other assistance to strengthen the most critical components of their nuclear security architecture.

Radiological Security

Ensuring the protection of radioactive sources used in research, industry and medical applications is of global importance. LLNL works with stakeholders across the world to assure that these sources are properly controlled throughout their lifetimes. We assist governments, law enforcement and businesses to protect materials and remove and dispose of unwanted sources.

LLNL also supports the development of alternative technologies that do not require high-activity radiological materials and facilities, and where viable, the replacement of partner source devices with these non-radioisotopic alternatives. We also advance the security of mobile sources and radiological sites with the highest priority materials, including cesium-137, cobalt-60, americium-241 and iridium-192.

Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence

When nuclear materials are discovered outside of regulatory control, it is essential to determine the chemical and physical characteristics and intended use of these materials as quickly as possible to help answer questions in the context of investigations and to identify gaps in nuclear security.

Effective nuclear security requires international cooperation. To this end, we have collaborated with more than twenty partner countries to strengthen scientific skill sets to appropriately characterize nuclear materials using state-of-the-practice examination methods.

Nuclear Threat Reduction

Nuclear Threat Reduction