Global Security

LANL has worked with the intelligence community since World War II, when Los Alamos scientists assessed the state and capabilities of Germany’s nuclear program. Today, LANL serves as a national resource across all 16 intelligence agencies, as well as for the Department of Defense and other government agencies.

LANL continues to develop trusted relationships and consistently deliver high-quality products. Once a customer provides LANL with a problem, LANL scientists develop turnkey solutions by establishing strategic partnerships with other laboratories, businesses, and academic institutions. As a “trusted agent,” LANL finds and oversees the delivery of the best solutions possible.

Los Alamos also continues to monitor, assess, and report on the nuclear weapons programs in established and emerging states, as well as the interests of subnational organizations in improvised nuclear weapons. Global Security’s mission is to provide early identification, creative maturation, and timely delivery of scientifically robust solutions to the most urgent and technically challenging security issues facing our nation—such science-based solutions will enable the intelligence community to accomplish its missions with minimal risk to the life and limb of the nation’s agents, soldiers, allies, and the public.

Core Capabilities

LANL has more than 60 years of resources available in nearly every technical discipline. Under authority of Executive Orders and Intelligence Community Directives, Los Alamos provides the intelligence community with access to LANL technology, including hardware, software, technical analysis, forensics, modeling and simulation, specialized techniques, and advice and consultation. Key capabilities include the following:

• Assessing, monitoring, and countering the capabilities of proliferant nations.
• Providing specialized, high-technology tools (hardware, software, or procedures) to the intelligence community so that it can more quickly and effectively combat threats to the national security of the United States.
• Applying on a global scale modeling and simulation tools to natural and manmade disasters, utility infrastructures, social networks, and cyber threats. The emphasis remains on predicting and optimizing the response to said threats.

Distinct capabilities include the following:

• As a member of the field intelligence element, LANL pioneered the ability for a national laboratory to function as an executive agency on behalf of an intelligence community agency. When executed, this agreement substantially reduces the burden on an intelligence community sponsor to solve a particular problem by enabling LANL to technically direct a project, oversee procurements, manage subcontracts, and provide system solutions to the customer.
• LANL’s Federally Funded Research and Development Center enables the intelligence community to instantly access Los Alamos resources. In selected areas, LANL has dedicated facilities and teams of people that respond immediately to emerging problems whenever the need arises.