BWX Technologies, Inc., (BWXT) today
launched an initiative to support the security improvement efforts of the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE), one of the company's major customers.
"BWXT is committing our people and resources to enhancing security at the
nuclear facilities we operate -- both those that we own and operate and those
that we operate for the U.S. Department of Energy," said John A. Fees,
President of BWX Technologies. "This initiative will use our extensive nuclear
security expertise to streamline security, effectively integrate new
technology, strengthen personnel training and standards, and quickly
communicate improvements and lessons learned across all the nuclear facilities
that the company operates. We will also share our lessons learned with
safeguards and security managers at nuclear facilities throughout the DOE's
nuclear weapons complex to ensure our customer is receiving the maximum benefit
from our effort."
Richard W. Loving was appointed Chief Security Officer and will lead the
multi-tiered program. Mr. Loving also is responsible for the company's human
resources and administration functions. "Rick's background in security,
compliance and human resources make him the perfect executive to lead this
program and ensure that it achieves our objectives," Mr. Fees observed. "Rick
reports directly to me, which ensures that this initiative will have continuous
support and attention at the highest levels of the company."
The new program will feature periodic security summit meetings and ongoing
sharing of best practices and security enhancements among management and
security professionals company-wide as well as the evaluation and advancement
of technologies that will reduce security risks. It also will include
recruiting and professional development initiatives for security professionals.
All of the company's executive management will have roles in the program.
"We are determined to make security an integral part of everyone's job at BWXT.
This program will advance and bring together some of our existing security
initiatives and also make security an even higher priority in our culture of
continuous improvement. Safety, operational excellence and security are the
foundation of everything we do," Mr. Loving said.
In May, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham identified several initiatives for
improving the security of the DOE nuclear facilities: (1) Consolidate
sensitive nuclear material into fewer locations and reduce the amount of
sensitive nuclear material through down-blending and other technologies. (2)
Enhance protections of classified computer information. (3) Upgrade security
systems at key facilities, increasing safeguards and control of the materials
and facilities. (4) Make management more receptive to security concerns. (5)
Recruit and train the best possible candidates for security jobs. Secretary
Abraham noted that the new security initiatives "are designed to build and
support the most robust and motivated protective force in the world."
Several of these initiatives are being piloted at some facilities that BWXT
operates.
* At the Y-12 site in Oak Ridge, Tenn., BWXT adopted a diskless strategy
for its classified desktop computing environment in April 2002. Much
of the implementation for this strategy was completed by October 2003,
beginning with a server-based computing technology that allows use of
desktop workstations with no disk storage or media-writing capability.
* BWXT is moving to keyless security locks in a pilot program at Y-12,
where implementation of this technology is expected to be complete
later this summer.
* In the protective force enhancement arena, BWXT PANTEX is spearheading
tests of new technologies for earlier detection capabilities and area
type weapons for neutralization. Combined, these technologies have
significant potential to greatly reduce personnel costs and improve
overall systems effectiveness.
The company will share its experiences with these pilot initiatives and others
that it develops to help achieve early progress on security at facilities
throughout the DOE's nuclear weapons complex.
BWXT, headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia, supplies nuclear operations
services and products to the U.S. government and commercial clients. The
company manages complex, high-consequence nuclear and national security
production facilities and is a principal supplier of nuclear components and
advanced energy products. Among its diverse capabilities are decontamination
and decommissioning, waste management, engineering, and project management
services. BWXT is a unit of McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE:MDR), which is
headquartered in New Orleans.
DATASOURCE: BWX Technologies, Inc.
CONTACT: Mimi Limbach or Bob Conrad, both for BWX Technologies, Inc.,
+1-202-466-7391