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Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program [NNPP]

Today the post of naval reactors is an eight-year 4-Star Admiral assignment, unique in the Navy for its length and truly formidable responsibility. The Director, Naval Reactors, also serves as a Deputy Administrator in the National Nuclear Security Administration. The dual agency structure provides direct access to Secretaries of Energy and Navy.

The Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program [NNPP], or Naval Reactors, as it is more commonly known, is a joint Department of Navy and DOE organization responsible for all matters pertaining to U.S. Navy nuclear propulsion. The NNPP’s conservative design practices and stringent operating procedures have resulted in the demonstrated safety record of naval nuclear propulsion plants.

The mission of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, also known as Naval Reactors, is to provide militarily effective nuclear propulsion plants and ensure their safe, reliable, and long-lived operation. This mission requires the combination of fully trained U.S. Navy men and women with ships that excel in endurance, stealth, speed, and independence from logistics supply chains. Naval Reactors organic statute, 50 U.S.C. §§ 2406, 2511, codifying Presidential Executive Order 12344 set forth the total responsibility of Naval Reactors for all aspects of the Navy's nuclear propulsion, including research, design, construction, testing, operation, maintenance, and ultimate disposition of naval nuclear propulsion plants. The Program's responsibility includes all related facilities, radiological controls, environmental safety, and health matters, as well as selection, training, and assignment of personnel. All of this work is accomplished by a lean network of dedicated research laboratories, nuclear-capable shipyards, equipment contractors and suppliers, and training facilities that are centrally controlled by a small headquarters staff.