Last week marked the end of the latest three-week International Training Course on the physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities, which began in 1978. This 40th anniversary course provided training on international best practices for physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities to 50 participants from 38 countries as well as two observers from Taiwan.

The participants included nuclear operators for research reactors and power plants and state regulators and policy makers. NNSA and the International Atomic Energy Agency co-sponsor the course every 18 months, which has always been held at Sandia and taught primarily by Sandia instructors.

The course involves classroom training and hands-on exercises. Some of these exercises are held at Sandia’s Integrated Security Facility. This facility uses the security systems originally designed to protect.

Category 1 nuclear material in Tech Area 5 that now serves as a venue for hands-on physical security training. With its fully functional physical security and material accounting systems, the facility is invaluable for demonstrating physical security, material control as well as safety concepts and principles.