National Security Sciences

20

US critical 

infrastructure 

datasets

100+

Countries aided

in nuclear

nonproliferation

activities

Our Science Secures the Nation

From climate change and cyber attacks to nuclear proliferation and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, the threats to America’s 

national security continue to evolve and emerge at a rapid pace. To effectively counter those threats—and protect our nation—we 

must increasingly turn to science, to the technologies and innovations that underpin our defenses.

OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY

Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL’s) National Security Sciences Directorate 

(NSSD) is rapidly advancing the science of resilience, security, and analytics to solve critical challenges in nuclear security, 

cybersecurity, and human security. Our world-leading researchers engage in collaboration across the Laboratory—in areas such as 

nuclear and chemical sciences, applied materials, advanced manufacturing, biosecurity, transportation, and supercomputing—to 

protect the nation today while identifying and addressing future threats. 

“We leverage ORNL’s core capabilities to deliver the 

full spectrum of basic science, applied research, and 

operational expertise needed to address our nation’s 

most critical security challenges.” 

 Jennifer Niedziela, Nuclear Security Scientist, 

 National Security Sciences Directorate

16

National security

research labs

and testbeds

Nuclear Nonproliferation Division—We develop and implement nuclear collection and 

detection technologies, advance scientific understanding of the nuclear fuel cycle, and 

strengthen international safeguards and nonproliferation regimes. From basic and applied 

research to technology development and operational tradecraft, our science enables the 

peaceful use of nuclear materials around the globe.

Cyber Resilience and Intelligence Division—We research innovative methods to 

identify, analyze, and defend against vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure—from the 

energy grid and manufacturing supply chains to the Internet of Things devices—while 

developing advanced sensors and software tools to help intelligence analysts better 

understand and characterize our adversaries. 

Geospatial Science and Human Security Division—We integrate human dynamics, 

geoinformatics, data sciences, autonomous systems, and resilient communications 

to advance human security in communities around the world. Our research provides 

decision-makers with timely information on critical situations arising from geopolitical 

instability, natural disasters, resource scarcities, and health crises.

Field Intelligence Operations Division—We conduct, support, and oversee all 

classified, intelligence-related research at ORNL. Our researchers and analysts provide 

government officials with insights on the nuclear and uranium fuel cycles, and our 

operations teams sustain ORNL’s classified research infrastructure to enable a wide variety 

of national security R&D.

60+

Federal partners
Real-World Impacts

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle LLC for the US Department of Energy

www.ornl.gov/

science-area/

national-security

CONTACT:

Eric Swanson

Communications Coordinator

National Security 

Sciences Directorate

 NSSDComms@ornl.gov, 865-341-1642

One Bethel Valley Road

Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Mission-Oriented Science and Technology

We focus our research in support of vital national security missions.

We pioneered a data fusion approach 

that makes it easier to monitor nuclear 

reactors for nonproliferation and 

safety purposes, ensuring nuclear 

materials are used only for peaceful power. 

Our novel approach characterizes reactor 

power levels using a suite of external sensor 

modalities involving radiation, acoustic, 

seismic, biota, and imagery.

We’re making it easier for security analysts 

to more quickly monitor, identify, 

assess, and respond to cyberattacks 

on critical economic and national 

security systems. Our Cyber Operations 

Research Range for validation of machine 

learning–based cyber defense methods 

reduces crucial analysis time from 

months to days.

Our data analysis, modeling, and 

forecasting capabilities provide near-realtime information to support effective 

responses to disasters and threats. We 

assisted federal agencies during the 2021 

Texas power outages and when hackers 

disrupted the Colonial Pipeline. We also 

helped officials across the country 

understand and respond to the 

COVID-19 pandemic.

Multidisciplinary Solutions to Complex Challenges

The complex and increasingly sophisticated threats our nation faces 

require innovative, multidisciplinary solutions. NSSD’s National 

Security Program Office and Nonproliferation Program 

Office collaborate with partners across ORNL to manage 

national security R&D projects. We leverage the Laboratory’s 

core capabilities in materials, physical sciences, advanced 

manufacturing, energy, neutrons, and high-performance 

computing to deliver solutions to the National Nuclear 

Security Administration, the Intelligence 

Community, and the Departments of 

Energy, Defense, and Homeland Security.

Cyber-physical systems

Vulnerability science

Nuclear proliferation detection and deterrence Augmented decision-making science

Remote sensing

Extreme materials

Human dynamics

International safeguards and treaty verication

Adversary intelligence systems

Nuclear fuel cycle

Cybersecurity

Geographic information science

Autonomous systems

Biometrics and identity science

Data collection, analytics, and visualization Critical

infrastructure

protection

Nuclear

nonproliferation

Human safety

and security

Materials and

manufacturing

development

Secure

critical

assets

Protect

nuclear

materials

Advance

human

security

Innovate

extreme

materials

February 2022