Defense Science Board Permanent Task force on Nuclear Weapons Surety: Report on the Unauthorized Movement of Nuclear Weapons

摘要

This unauthorized weapons movement incident can be a just-in-time rescue if lasting corrective actions are implemented now. The process and systemic problems that allowed such an incident have developed over more than a decade and have the potential for much more serious consequences. This time, the harm was limited to impact on confidence and careers and the incident is beneficially focusing needed attention on multiple aspects of the nuclear enterprise. It has dramatized the need for uncompromising processes and procedures, clear focus on the unique demands of the enterprise at multiple levels of the national security structure, and an environment that attracts, nurtures, and guides the right numbers of the best and brightest as stewards of this uniquely powerful national security force. It also highlights the need for clearly understood and competently executed responsibilities and accountabilities at all levels in the enterprise. There are currently significant deficiencies in meeting each of those needs. At the same time, the Task Force found concerted efforts underway in the operating forces to return to appropriate standards of competence and focus following the 30 August 2007 incident to include a supplement to the Air Force Instruction addressing specific deficiencies that permitted the The Department of Defense (DoD) has received authoritative and credible reports of declining focus and an eroding nuclear enterprise environment for at least a decade with little in the way of effective and lasting response. Some findings and recommendations from those reports, particularly relevant to conditions surrounding the unauthorized movement incident, are described in Section IV of this report. This incident has provided a fresh opportunity to address these deficiencies. There is little mystery regarding what needs to be done or how to do it. The nuclear enterprise performed at all levels with the needed competence for decades.