Despite some obstacles, such as the slow pace of approval of new security clearances, Consolidated Nuclear Security is more than halfway home to its goal of hiring 1,150 employees in fiscal 2016.
CNS is the National Nuclear Security Administration’s managing contractor at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee and Pantex Plant in Texas.
Since Oct. 1, the start of fiscal 2016, CNS has hired more than 650 employees, a contractor spokeswoman confirmed. Ellen Boatner said there have been more than 350 new hires at Y-12 and more than 300 at Pantex to handle increased workloads, including additional dismantlement of retired weapons parts.
“More than 650 people to date have accepted offers from CNS this fiscal year,” Boatner said via email. “We are continuing hiring efforts in order to have the necessary personnel on board to meet mission requirements.”
Accomplishing projects, particularly at Y-12, has become a little more difficult because some of the new hires don’t yet have security clearances. In some cases, obtaining a new clearance has taken a year or more.
Given the situation, Y-12 has taken cleared workers from other duties and used them as escorts for uncleared employees on high-priority projects in the plant’s Protected Area.
