Protecting U.S. residents and visitors is among our nation’s highest priorities. As adversaries gain access to sophisticated technologies and materials, the threats grow more dynamic and complex—from cyber and nuclear to chemical and biological weapons of mass effect and other forms of terrorism.

Faced with these realities and their impact on national security, PNNL develops science-based solutions that keep America safe. We drive innovation and critical capabilities in nuclear materials, threat analysis, and other areas of expertise to secure our nation’s critical infrastructure, combat global terrorism, and detect concealed threats and explosives.

The PNNL national security mission connects back to the 1940s, when scientists in nearby Hanford, Washington, produced the nation’s first plutonium for the Manhattan Project. Today, our researchers, tools, and technologies play a key role in advancing the ability to identify and secure nuclear materials, detect weapons of mass effect, manage nonproliferation treaties, secure our nation's borders, and protect critical infrastructures. 

PNNL’s scientific discovery and capabilities—rooted in innovative theory, methods, algorithms, and tools—are enabling stronger, more resilient technologies and systems to safeguard national security. Coupled with decades of radiological and nuclear materials expertise, advanced computing and threat analysis capabilities, and a broad fundamental science base, we are identifying and countering emerging threats that have significant impact at home and around the globe.