About this episode

Dr. Jeff Waksman discusses the U.S. military's interest in small and micro nuclear reactors for operational resilience and logistics.

The U.S. military has a strong and growing interest in using small and micro nuclear reactors as a means of reducing logistics challenges and improving operational resilience. They like nuclear reactors for their ability to operate independently of the grid for years without needing any new fuel. Almost as important is their ability to be designed to retain byproducts and reduce heat signatures for improved stealth. Dr. Jeff Waksman Is the U.S. Army’s go-to guy for pioneering nuclear energy projects. Though no military-related project can be completed by a single person, program success often rests on the effective leadership provided by a singularly skilled leader who combines organization, inspiration and deep knowledge of how to get things done in a purposely hierarchical system. Before his current role for the Army, Waksman led Project Pele – the military’s first micro-reactor project in 50+ years – for the Department of Defense’s Strategic Capabilities Office. He did well enough at that assignment to have been selected to lead a more expansive program to finally deliver nuclear fission capabilities to bases and units that need clean, reliable power that…

People in this episode

Host: Rod Adams

Guest: Dr. Jeff Waksman

Topics covered

• nuclear energy
• military technology
• micro reactors
• logistics
• operational resilience

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: U.S. Army, Department of Defense, Project Pele, Project Janus

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