NS&D Monitor
11/21/2014
IN THE WHITE HOUSE
Jon Wolfsthal, a former arms control and nonproliferation advisor to Vice President Joe Biden, has been appointed as the senior Director for Arms Control and Nonproliferation at the National Security Council. Wolfsthal will begin his new job Dec. 1, serving as a President Obama’s top advisor on arms control and nonproliferation issues. Wolfsthal since 2012 has worked at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, serving most recently as the center’s deputy director. He left the White House in 2012. “Jon will be a valuable asset for the NSC and brings a wealth of real world experience to an important position at a critical time,” CNS Director William Potter said in a statement.
IN THE INDUSTRY
Scott Samuelson retired from federal service this week after more than 30 years with the Department of Energy. Samuelson’s most recent position was Senior Advisor within the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Acquisition and Project Management. His previous positions included serving as Manager of the DOE Office of River Protection at Hanford, and as Federal Project Director for the National Ignition Facility. Samuelson received this week the NNSA Gold Medal and Distinguished Career Service Award.
IN CONGRESS
The House of Representatives this week passed a bill approving the U.S.-U.K. Mutual Defense Agreement, which would authorize the bilateral exchange of nuclear materials, technology and information for another 10 years if approved by the Senate and U.K. Parliament. “Since 1958, the U.S.-U.K. Mutual Defense Agreement has underpinned cooperation between our two countries on defense-related nuclear technology,” said Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. “The U.K. is the only country with which we share this sensitive nuclear technology. It reflects the special relationship that binds our countries together.” Royce introduced the bill, which now goes to the Senate, which must approve the bill by Dec. 31 to avoid expiration of the agreement.
IN THE NGOs
Military, political and technological leaders from nuclear-weapon states met in Washington on Nov. 18, to address the security of the 85 percent of worldwide nuclear material that is categorized as “military,” and therefore not bound by any international security standards or oversight mechanisms, according to a Nuclear Threat Initiative announcement. NTI co-chair and former Sen. Sam Nunn, Lugar Center President and former Sen. Richard Lugar and NTI Vice Chair and former U.K. Defense Secretary Des Browne are leading the Military Materials Security Study Group, which will release specific recommendations in 2015 to strengthen control of these materials and build international confidence in the effectiveness of their security, while guarding sensitive information, the release states. NTI Vice President for Material Security and Minimization Andrew Bieniawski, during a Nov. 19 interview with NS&D Monitor, said that attending states showed consensus around the NTI-advanced notion of adopting a non-complacent, oversight-driven security culture that incorporates written design-basis threats specifying attributes and characteristics of potential insider and external adversaries who might attempt unauthorized removal of material.
