Joint Center for Resilient National Security (JCRNS)

United States national security relies upon timely response to changes in the global environment. An increasing number of nations possess the ability to inflict significant harm on the U.S., requiring focused expertise in areas of national security to address these threats. 

To achieve resilience and responsiveness within the U.S. national security enterprise requires connection with the powerful thought leadership found in U.S. universities, government, non-governmental organizations, and national laboratories. The Joint Center for Resilient National Security is that connection point of engagement for key contributors in areas of responsibility and strategic interest to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. 

The mission of the Joint Center for Resilient National Security (JCRNS) is to develop and enhance national security capabilities between U.S. Department of Energy laboratories and U.S. universities supporting Los Alamos National Laboratory. The JCRNS will accomplish its mission through a series of programs that will develop over time. 

The purpose of JCRNS is the create a cadre of academic researchers who: 

• Are experts in weapons physics, and have knowledge of weapons complex, and weapons complex issues. 
• Collaborate with LANL staff on basic research projects having a potential for high impact on stockpile stewardship.
• Facilitate the connection of LANL staff to the academic research community. 
• Provide a connection for certain students of academics to LANL and stockpile stewardship research. 

Academics who participate in JCRNS projects are designated as JCRNS Fellows. Find a full list of Fellows here.  

A program to introduce select university faculty annually to the nuclear security enterprise. Participants are chosen from universities across the U.S. based on knowledge, skills, abilities, interests and potential to obtain security clearances. The program includes site visits, presentations, and discussions. Upon completion, individuals may be designated as Fellows and assigned to the Joint Research and Development Program and Academic Working Group Program. 

A program of applied research and development executed by collaborative teams of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) staff, U.S. university faculty, and staff from other laboratories focused on areas of strategic importance to the National Nuclear Security Administration. The JRAD will develop an academic bench of top U.S. university faculty who possess a deep understanding of national security problems and issues faced by LANL and other national security labs. These faculty members will serve as resources for national labs in times of need, and their research programs will produce graduates well prepared for national lab careers. Research and development areas will be chosen by the Joint Center for Resilient National Security leaders and will be aligned with Academic Working Group topics. JCRNS projects primarily involve Fellows and lab staff, but students of Fellows can be funded to work on research projects aligned with the JCRNS project. Students serve as Lab interns during summers. JCRNS Fellows and students are not limited to TAMU faculty. 

The center’s topical areas will evolve as mission needs and university capabilities develop. Current lab-university collaborations supporting the LANL mission include: 

Radiation-Hydrodynamics, Academic leads: Jim Morel (TAMU), Dmitriy Anistratov (NC State) Staff leads: Ryan Wollaeger, James Warsa 

Neutronics, Academic leads: Anil Prinja (UNM), Jean Ragusa (TAMU), Staff leads: Patrick O’Rourke, Zachary Hardy 

High-Energy Density Physics, Academic leads: Carolyn Kuranz (U.Mich), Mark Koepke (West Virginia U.), Staff lead: Todd Urbatsch

Energetic Materials and Shock Physics, Academic Leads: Scott Jackson (TAMU), Jacob McFarland (TAMU), Staff Leads: Carlos Chiquete and Johnathan Regele 

A program to provide forums for deep exploration into key topics and problems related to LANL national security missions. Similar to Joint Working Groups that have provided forums for multi-lab explorations for many decades, AWOG meetings may include unclassified sessions, classified sessions, or both. AWOG problems will be chosen by Joint Center for Resilient National Security leaders and will be aligned with Joint Research and Development Program topical areas. 

We have held JAWOG meetings since Fall 2021. Our next JAWOG meeting is scheduled for early December 2025. 

Three days are devoted to the topical research areas. The project leaders generally attend each of the three days because the cross-communication between projects has been found to be very useful. 

All JAWOG meetings take place at TAMU with the Fellows and LANL staff leaders attending in person. Other LANL participants attended via VTC. Some LLNL staff have also participated in JAWOG meetings. 

Possible New Initiatives

We are exploring the delivery of graduate-level courses on various technical subjects, to new LANL staff. These courses will require formal homework and exams. They need not count for academic credit but would be eligible for such credit. 

We are currently planning to introduce new projects in hypersonics as well as high explosives and energetic materials.