The National Nuclear Security Administration’s Production Office at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, will have a new manager as of May 21.
Jason Armstrong, currently manager of the NNSA’s Savannah River Field Office, will take over as manager of the Pantex manager for the production office beginning May 21st. This does not include leadership of Y-12 NSC. Teresa Robbins will remain manager of the NPO Production office.
An NNSA spokesperson confirmed Armstrong’s impending career move in an email. The transfer of Armstrong to serve as the NPO Pantex Manager is intended to effectively facilitate the transition to a separate Pantex Field Office six months prior to the award of a new M&O contract for the Pantex Plant next year, the spokesperson told Exchange Monitor in an email.
In the new position as NNSA Production Office manager, Armstrong will oversee both the Pantex Plant and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The two sites are under a single management contract held by Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS).
As DOE’s top local federal official at Pantex, he will oversee the administration of nuclear weapons life extension programs, nuclear weapons dismantlement, the development, testing and fabrication of high explosive components and interim storage and surveillance of plutonium pits.
Armstrong has managed Savannah River since April 2021. He oversees a team of 50 federal employees managing a $1.3 billion annual budget and a contract workforce of 4,000.
In his current position he is responsible for national security and nonproliferation missions, nuclear operations, security, quality assurance, environment and safety.
Armstrong is no stranger to the NNSA Production Office. Before coming to Savannah River, he served as assistant manager for nuclear safety and engineering at the production office from March 2018 to April 2021 where he was responsible for nuclear safety, nuclear explosives safety and engineering program elements, among other things.
His duties also included ensuring nuclear and hazardous facilities at Y-12 and the Pantex Plant operate safely and securely.
Editor’s note 4/3/2023 2:48 pm Eastern time: The story was changed to show that Armstrong will assume the role of NPO Pantex manager as of May 21.
