University of Tennessee is shaping the next generation of nuclear security experts

As the global energy landscape evolves, few areas are more important—or more complex—than the future of nuclear energy and security. At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, faculty are not only advancing nuclear science and engineering but also shaping the public policies, workforce pipelines and security frameworks that will define our global nuclear future.

UT's work sits at the intersection of technology and governance—training the people who will carry out nuclear security, nonproliferation and regulation at a time when those roles are urgently needed and persistently underfilled, while developing the workforce required to build and deploy advanced nuclear systems that will drive economic growth.

"UT is not just responding to the world's needs for reliable energy," said Marianne Wanamaker, dean of the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs. "We're also preparing people to shape policies to secure a successful nuclear future and to safeguard our country and the world."

Where policy meets technology

In the Baker School and the Tickle College of Engineering, UT is deliberately bridging technical expertise with public policy—an approach that sets the university apart.

"Policy and technology have to advance together," Wanamaker said. "Advanced nuclear systems require not only engineering excellence but smart policy, economic frameworks and meaningful engagement with the communities where these projects take shape."

The Baker School supports state and national leaders through research on energy markets, regulation, workforce development and community impacts. Faculty across UT advise groups such as the Tennessee Business Leadership Council and the state's Nuclear Energy Advisory Council, providing analysis that helps shape decisions in a quickly changing energy landscape.

Timothy Fitzgerald, associate professor of economics in the Baker School, recently presented research on Tennessee's energy challenges to business leaders from across the state.

"Local acceptance and trust are critical," Fitzgerald said. "UT's policy experts are helping state leaders engage communities in transparent, evidence-based ways."

Addressing a national workforce shortage

One of the most urgent gaps in the U.S. nuclear ecosystem is nuclear security expertise. To address that need, UT created the Institute for Nuclear Security—now a national leader in building the talent pipeline for nuclear safeguards, deterrence, security operations and threat assessment.

"Nuclear security is inherently multidisciplinary," said Howard Hall, a professor of nuclear engineering and the director of INS. "This field requires expertise that spans engineering, policy, intelligence and international relations."

INS is participating in the $25 million Enabling Capabilities in Technology Consortium, a cooperative agreement established in 2025 and funded by the National Nuclear Security Administration. Led by Professor of Nuclear Engineering Jason Hayward, the consortium links national laboratories, universities and industry partners to strengthen the nation's capabilities in nuclear nonproliferation and deterrence. The institute has produced more than 100 alumni with advanced degrees who now work in critical roles across the federal government, national laboratories, NNSA, the U.S. Department of State and the intelligence community.

"What really excites me is going to a meeting in Washington DC or across the nuclear community and seeing my former students involved in the decision-making process," Hall said. "We're building the human capacity needed for effective nuclear operations with a high level of security."

UT is one of only two U.S. universities in the European Safeguards Research and Development program—a vehicle for European Union collaborations on nuclear material safeguards. The university is also a charter member of the International Nuclear Security Education Network, a global consortium of universities facilitated by the International Atomic Energy Agency that develops and promotes nuclear security curricula and educational programs globally. Through INS, UT publishes the International Journal of Nuclear Security, a peer-reviewed journal focused on science and policy studies for the international community.

Educating the next generation of nuclear leader

UT's nuclear engineering program, which ranks third in the nation, works with other academic programs across the university to ensure that students understand the technical, regulatory and societal dimensions of nuclear energy.

In collaboration with other University of Tennessee colleges, the Baker School and the Tickle College of Engineering offer undergraduate minors in nuclear security policy and nuclear deterrence as well as a certificate in engineering leadership and public policy that engineering students can pursue to better understand the intersections of technology, government and national security.

At the graduate level, certificate programs in nuclear security and national security prepare students to work in agencies like the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Defense.

Hands-on skill building for real-world challenges

Practical training is central to UT's approach. For example, INS's graduate certificate in nuclear security science and analysis culminates in a semester-long capstone project that simulates a real nuclear production mission such as designing and operating a facility to convert highly enriched uranium to civilian use.

Students must determine how to design the facility, transport materials and secure operations. Security professionals from Y-12 National Security Complex provide feedback on students' architectural designs in a realistic vulnerability assessment. The exercise takes place at the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center, a state-of-the-art facility built with state funding through a partnership between NNSA and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

Partnerships with Y-12, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and private companies in the region enhance both research and workforce development, expanding internship and career pathways in nuclear nonproliferation, global security and nuclear policy.

Tennessee: A national hub for nuclear innovation

East Tennessee—home to ORNL, Y-12, the Tennessee Valley Authority's reactor fleet, and one of the country's most concentrated clusters of nuclear companies and expertise—remains the historic heart of American nuclear innovation.

More than 150 nuclear-related companies operate within 50 miles of UT, and that number is growing. State investment, including the governor's $70 million Tennessee Nuclear Fund, is accelerating industry recruitment, workforce development and site readiness. UT has provided guidance and support to multiple companies setting up facilities in the region.

"Strong state support is key to attracting nuclear companies," said Brian Wirth, head of the Department of Nuclear Engineering and UT-ORNL Governor's Chair for Computational Nuclear Engineering. "The ecosystem here is extraordinary—and UT plays a major role in sustaining and expanding it."

Nuclear education, innovation and security—all in one place

From the lab to the legislature, UT is shaping the policies, technologies and workforce that will define the nation's nuclear future and security.

"The state has been at the center of nuclear innovation since the Manhattan Project," Wanamaker said. "That legacy continues, but today it's about shaping the future—connecting advanced technology, the private sector and public policy for next-generation nuclear power."

As the nation looks to secure its energy future, Tennessee—and UT—stand ready to lead, reinforcing the convergence of nuclear education, innovation and security in East Tennessee.

Provided by University of Tennessee at Knoxville