Opening Plenary Address

President Nancy Jo Nicholas, VicePresident Steve Ortiz, ladies, and gentlemen,congratulations on your 50thanniversary. I am honored to speak todayto the Institute of Nuclear MaterialsManagement, whose members include theforemost nuclear safeguards and securityexperts in the world.The broad composition of this conference—more than 900 attendees—demonstrates the global imperative ofensuring adequate nuclear security. I amparticularly glad to see so many studentshere. As the National Nuclear SecurityAdministration’s (NNSA) DeputyAdministrator for Defense NuclearNonproliferation, I am charged with leadingNNSA’s efforts to reduce the globaldangers of nuclear proliferation. Thiscomplements NNSA’s mission to maintainthe United States nuclear weaponsstockpile. We take nuclear security veryseriously; it is, after all, our middle name.