Y-12, Pantex, NPO sweep NNSA’s annual security awards

Major Courtney Coker (center) was honored as NNSA Security Manager of the year. Pictured with her from left are Teresa Robbins, NNSA Production Office (NPO) manager; Roxanne VanVeghten, NPO assistant manager for Safeguards and Security; Coker; NNSA Associate Administrator and Chief for the Office of Defense Nuclear Security Lew Monroe; and Eric Belcher, senior director of Y-12 Safeguards and Security.

Y-12 National Security Complex and the Pantex Plant, which are managed and operated by Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), along with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Production Office (NPO), were honored with all four of the annual NNSA security awards in 2023. The following personnel and team were recognized:

• Major Courtney Coker, CNS (Y-12) Safeguards and Security – NNSA Security Manager of the Year; and
• Y-12 Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS) Team – NNSA Security Team of the Year.
• Timothy Alvarado, NPO (Pantex) – NNSA Bradley A. Peterson Federal Security Professional of the Year; and
• Steven Zuniga, CNS (Pantex) – NNSA Bradley A. Peterson Contractor Security Professional of the Year.

NNSA Associate Administrator and Chief of the Office of Defense Nuclear Security (DNS) Lewis “Lew” Monroe said “It’s great to be here where the work gets done. You are knocking it out the park. There’s no way DNS would have the success it does without what you do every day.”

“This is a very well-deserved honor and recognition for our CNS and NPO security professionals who work to protect our vital national security assets at both the Pantex Plant and Y-12,” said Teresa Robbins, NPO manager. “It’s great to take some time to celebrate the exceptional work you perform protecting this site.”

“I am so proud of the security teams at both sites,” said Kristy McWilliams, CNS Vice President of Safeguards, Security, and Emergency Services. “The individuals honored with these awards are quite simply the best of the best and I congratulate each and every one of them. Their leadership, hard work, professionalism, and willingness to work as a cohesive team are to be commended.”

The Y-12 Perimeter Intrusion Detection System Team was named Security Team of the Year by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). From left, Tony Dull, NNSA Production Office (NPO) Safeguards and Security; Roxanne VanVeghten, NPO assistant manager for Safeguards and Security; Chris Valleau, NNSAdirector, Security Planning and Technology Division; Randy Peterson, senior engineering manager, Sandia National Laboratories; Brenda Towe, Y-12 Safeguards and Security; Eric Belcher, senior director of Y-12 Safeguards and Security; Teresa Robbins, NPO manager; and NNSA Associate Administrator and Chief for the Office of Defense Nuclear Security Lew Monroe.

These Y-12, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Production Office, and Sandia National Laboratories safeguards and security professionals were recently honored by NNSA.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Bechtel National, Inc. is the lead member of CNS; minority members include Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, LLC; and SOC LLC. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects, and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Kathryn King, APR
Communications
Office (865) 315.5996
Kathryn.King@pxy12.doe.gov