Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contra

A Performance Testing Workshop, developed by Sandia National Laboratories under the US Department of Energy’s Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) program, was presented to security personnel from research reactors sites in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Serbia. The target audience was management and security personnel who are responsible for maintaining the physical security systems at each site. The workshop was conducted on September 13-17, 2010, in Prague, Czech Republic, and was co-hosted by GTRI and the Nuclear Research Institute (NRI), Rez, Czech Republic. Performance testing is a means to realistically test, evaluate, and verify the effectiveness of security programs; provide skills application training for personnel; identify areas requiring system improvements; validate implemented improvements; and motivate personnel to perform duties in the most efficient and safest manner. A performance test can be conducted for any program, process, or test subject for which a discernable action (or actions) is required. Performance testing (also defined as system effectiveness testing), when combined with security procedures, training, and a good maintenance program, results in an effective sustainable physical security system. The workshop, which emphasized testing of personnel, procedures, and security equipment, consisted of presentations, hands-on exercises, and a tour of a nuclear power plant. The workshop also provided assistance in developing a generic template for a comprehensive performance assurance plan to ensure procedures are followed and equipment operates as designed. This paper discusses the objectives and content of the workshop along with a perspective from the hosts and participants.Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000. 1