The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) longest-serving associate administrator Jeffrey Johnson, the chief of nuclear security, announced his retirement on Monday.
Johnson served eight years at NNSA following a 20-year career in uniform and seven years as a civilian employee with the U.S. Marine Corps, according to a statement from the NNSA. The NNSA did not specify a retirement date for Johnson or say who might replace him as head of security.
Whoever steps into the role will be responsible for all agency security programs, including physical protection of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex and control of nuclear materials.
Johnson will retire later this month and plans to spend more time working with the Catholic Church, in which he was ordained a deacon in 2021.
“In his time with NNSA, Jeff has demonstrated exceptional leadership and outstanding support to NNSA’s security community,” NNSA administrator Jill Hruby said in a statement to agency employees. “He was instrumental in several key initiatives to improve the security of NNSA, such as the development of the counter uncrewed aircraft system that protects NNSA’s high-value assets, and the development of DoE’s Design Basis Threat.”
Johnson said the biggest security challenge he managed at NNSA was transforming the Nuclear Security Enterprise from being “risk-averse” to being “risk-informed.”
“There isn’t enough money to eliminate every risk and excessive security can impede the operational mission,” he said. “It’s important to strike the right balance. My successor will need to continue the transformation process while addressing sophisticated threats such as uncrewed aircraft systems and insider threats that bypass traditional safeguards and security protections.”
Johnson credited his staff with achieving important accomplishments during his tenure as head of nuclear security, including establishing an interim clearance process to streamline the process of approving personnel to work at NNSA. He also oversaw deployment of systems to counter the threat of unmanned aerial vehicles at sensitive NSA sites.
“I am incredibly proud of the men and women of the Office of Defense Nuclear Security who have responded to every security challenge that was thrown at them, solving difficult problems while rebuilding faith and confidence in our ability to lead the security enterprise,” Johnson said.
A version of this story first appeared in Defense Daily affiliate publication Weapons Complex Morning Briefing.