National Security Advisor
National Security Advisor

Biography

Dr. Sonya Bowyer is an advisor in the Operational Systems and Technology Division within the National Security Directorate. She received her PhD in nuclear physics from Indiana University and has worked for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) since 1995 as a postdoc, principle investigator, line manager, sponsor relationship manager, project manager, program manager, and advisor. 

Sonya’s work at PNNL has primarily focused on radiation detection associated with national and homeland security applications, which has led to her working with many federal agencies on a broad spectrum of national mission areas including cooperative nuclear threat reduction, international safeguards, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty atmospheric monitoring, domestic safeguards technology development, and domestic nuclear counterterrorism. 

Sonya served three contiguous assignments in Washington, DC, as a detailee and as an Intergovernmental Personnel Act staff member from 2002 to 2005. Her technical and managerial capabilities are impressive, and she has demonstrated excellence at research, management of programs, sponsor relationships, technical advising to high-level decision makers, strategic planning, and policy formulation. She has repeatedly provided critical contributions to the National Nuclear Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as an indispensable leader of and contributor to well-formulated and efficacious teams. 

Publications

2012

  • Kulisek J.A., K.K. Anderson, S.M. Bowyer, A.M. Casella, C.J. Gesh, L.E. Smith, and A. Gavron, et al. 2012. "Progress on Establishing the Feasibility of Lead Slowing Down Spectroscopy for Direct Measurement of Plutonium in Used Fuel." In 52nd Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM 52), July 17-21, 2011, Palm Desert, California, 2, 1173-1182. Deerfield, Illinois:Instiute of Nuclear Materials Management. PNNL-SA-80557.

2002

  • Aalseth C.E., E. Arik, D. Autiero, F.T. Avignone, K. Barth, S.M. Bowyer, and H. Brauninger, et al. 2002. "The CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST)." Nuclear Physics. B, Proceedings Supplement 110. PNNL-SA-38422.
  • Aalseth C.E., S.M. Bowyer, and P.L. Reeder. 2002. "Radiation Discrimination in LiBaF3 Scintillator Using Digital Signal Processing Techniques." In IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, 1, 501-505. New York, New York:IEEE. PNNL-SA-35545.
  • Reeder P.L., and S.M. Bowyer. 2002. "Calibration of LiBaF3: Ce Scintillator for Fission Spectrum Neutrons." Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment 484, no. 1-3:469-485. PNNL-SA-34979.

2001

  • Bliss M., S.M. Bowyer, J.L. Bryant, M.S. Lipton, and K.L. Wahl. 2001. "Experiences and Management of Pregnant Radiation Workers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory." Chemical Safety and Health 8, no. 3:6-8. PNNL-SA-34336.
  • Reeder P.L., and S.M. Bowyer. 2001. "Fast Neutron and Alpha Detection Using LiBaF3 Scintillator." IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science 48, no. 3:351-355. PNNL-SA-33897.

1999

1998

  • McKinnon A., S.M. Bowyer, C.W. Hubbard, H.S. Miley, R.W. Perkins, R.C. Thompson, and R.A. Warner. 1998. "Environmental Measurements with a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Radionuclide Particulate Monitor." Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 235, no. 1-2:115-119. PNNL-SA-29515.
  • Miley H.S., S.M. Bowyer, C.W. Hubbard, A. McKinnon, R.W. Perkins, R.C. Thompson, and R.A. Warner. 1998. "A Description of the DOE Radionuclide Aerosol Sampler/Analyzer for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty." Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 235, no. 1-2:83-87. PNNL-SA-28234.

1997

  • Bowyer S.M., H.S. Miley, R.C. Thompson, and C.W. Hubbard. 1997. "Automated Particulate Sampler for Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Verification (The DOE Radionuclide Aerosol Sampler/Analyzer)." IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science 44, no. 3:551-556. PNNL-SA-28346. doi:10.1109/23.603709