Training the next generation of experts through the INMM Arms Control, Treaty Verification, and Disarmament (ACTVD) Pilot Mentorship Program

As part of its mission to provide a forum for the education and exchange of information on methods and technologies that support arms control and treaty verification, the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management’s (INMM) Arms Control, Treaty Verification, and Disarmament Subcommittee (ACTVD) developed the pilot ACTVD Mentorship Program, which kicked off early Spring 2019. As with many areas within the nuclear industry, the challenge of engaging and training the next generation of arms control experts has become increasingly difficult as many experts in these areas have retired or are approaching retirement. The ACTVD organizing team, which consists of subject matter experts from multiple national laboratories, stood up a pilot program to tackle this challenge. By connecting subject matter experts with students and early or transitioning career professionals, the ACTVD Mentorship Program will create a nationwide collaborative network of knowledgeable staff, and provide opportunities to develop impactful contributions to the community’s body of knowledge. These opportunities are expected to include discussion and exploration of difficult concepts and ideas of interest to the arms control community, developing collaborative proposals and publishing, and gaining lasting contacts throughout the community. This paper will provide highlights of the pilot program to date, including the mentor/mentee matching process, the pilot program teams, topic areas, future goals, and lessons learned.