Nuclear Security #258003

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate between nuclear safety, nuclear security, and safeguards, and explain their distinct objectives and implementations.

• Identify the key international legal instruments and recommendations that form the global nuclear security architecture.

• Describe the fundamental principles of a State’s nuclear security regime, including the role of the competent authority.

• Recognize the components of a physical protection system (detection, delay, response) and their integration.

• Understand the threats posed by nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control (MORC) and the national response framework.

• Articulate the importance of a strong security culture within organizations handling nuclear material.

This course is designed for professionals whose work involves or interfaces with the security of nuclear and radioactive materials:

• Regulators and Government Officials from relevant competent authorities

• Facility Operators and Security Managers at nuclear power plants, research reactors, and fuel cycle facilities

• Law Enforcement and Intelligence Personnel with relevant portfolios

• Policy Makers and Diplomats involved in international security

• Physical Protection Specialists and Engineers

• Consultants and Auditors in the nuclear field

• Students of international security, nuclear engineering, or related fields

• Pre-assessment
• Live group instruction
• Use of real-world examples, case studies and exercises
• Interactive participation and discussion
• Power point presentation, LCD and flip chart
• Group activities and tests
• Each participant receives a binder containing a copy of the presentation
• slides and handouts
• Post-assessment

Day 1: The Fundamentals of Nuclear Security

• Morning Session: The Global Imperative

  • Defining Nuclear Security: Distinguishing it from Safety and Safeguards.

  • The Threat Landscape: Adversaries, motivations, and potential consequences.

  • The Core Objectives: Preventing theft, sabotage, and unauthorized access.

• Afternoon Session: The International Legal Framework

  • The Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its 2005 Amendment.

  • International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).

  • United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540.

  • The Role of the IAEA: Codes of Conduct, guidance, and advisory services.

Day 2: Building a National Nuclear Security Regime

• Morning Session: National Responsibility and Governance

  • Establishing a Competent Authority (CA): Legislation, regulations, and inspection.

  • The Fundamentals of a State’s Nuclear Security Regime.

  • Threat Assessment and Design Basis Threat (DBT) development.

• Afternoon Session: Regulatory Oversight

  • The Licensing and Inspection Process for facilities.

  • Evaluating security plans and measures.

  • Workshop: Analyze a sample national legislative framework for gaps.

Day 3: Implementing Physical Protection Systems (PPS)

• Morning Session: The Principles of PPS

  • The Integrated Systems Approach: Detection, Delay, and Response.

  • Defense-in-Depth and Graded Approach for different facility types.

• Afternoon Session: PPS Components and Evaluation

  • Technical Systems: Barriers, sensors, access controls, and surveillance (CCTV).

  • Security Force Requirements: Training, readiness, and command & control.

  • Case Study: Evaluate the PPS of a hypothetical facility against a defined DBT.

Day 4: Material Out of Regulatory Control (MORC)

• Morning Session: Preventing and Detecting Illicit Trafficking

  • National Systems for border control, law enforcement, and detection.

  • The IAEA’s Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB).

• Afternoon Session: Preparedness and Response

  • Nuclear Security Detection Architecture (NSDA).

  • Response to a nuclear security event: coordination between agencies.

  • Tabletop Exercise: Manage the response to a reported illicit trafficking incident.

Day 5: The Human Element and Capstone

• Morning Session: Security Culture and Sustainability

  • Defining and Fostering a Strong Nuclear Security Culture within an organization.

  • The role of training, exercises, and performance testing.

  • Managing insider threats.

• Afternoon Session: Capstone and Course Synthesis

  • Final Scenario: A multi-faceted nuclear security challenge is presented. Participants, in groups, must develop a comprehensive security plan addressing legal, technical, and human elements.

  • Presentation and Feedback.

  • Course Recap: Emerging challenges (cyber threats, new technologies).

  • Final Q&A and Certification.