Why Nonproliferation Instead of Nuclear Energy as a Career?

Abstract:

There are many options one can choose from with a degree in nuclear engineering. It is a great time in fact to be pursuing/graduating with such a degree because there are many people in the U.S. government, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Nuclear Energy Agency, the nuclear industry worldwide, and the nuclear research community looking for staff as their current staff are retiring or near retirement. A few years ago for example, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission noted that I had over 50% of its technical staff at or near retirement age. The situation is not much better today.
So why do I advocate pursuing a career in nonproliferation instead of other avenues? Come listen; I hope to interest/intrigue you sufficiently that you will consider such a career. And if you are already considering such a career, I hope I can give you some ideas on how to pursue it.

Bio:

Ms. Kessler is the Chair of Nonproliferation & National Security Department at Brookhaven National Lab in Upton, NY. The Department conducts research on nonproliferation for the Departments of Energy, State, and Defense. It works on national security projects with the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. The Department also does work for the Department of Homeland Security on nuclear emergency response and nuclear detection.
Prior to this appointment, Ms. Kessler was the Director of the Pacific Northwest Center for Global Security at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for seven years. The Center conducted research on nonproliferation, Asia security, and human security issues. From 2001-2003, Ms. Kessler was the Deputy Director General of the Nuclear Energy Agency at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, France for two years. Ms. Kessler spent 1988-2001 in the U.S. Department of State, where her focus was on nuclear nonproliferation and international nuclear safety policy. Her primary role at State was as Senior Coordinator for Nuclear Safety. In her position she was the U.S. lead in the G-7 Nuclear Safety Working Group dedicated to efforts to improve the safety of Soviet designed nuclear plants and to close those which could not be upgraded to meet international standards. From 1997-2000, Ms. Kessler was the U.S. lead in international efforts to close the last reactor at Chernobyl, which was accomplished on December 15, 2000.
Ms. Kessler has a B.A. from Brown University in Bio-geology, an M.S. from MIT in Technology and Policy and an M.S. in National Security Studies from the U.S. National War College.
Ms. Kessler is on the Boards of the Pacific Science Center and UPLIFT International.