The Department of Defense (DoD) has reissued DoD Instruction 3150.02, titled "DoD Nuclear Weapons Systems Surety Program." This update aims to enhance the department's nuclear surety standards by integrating risk management processes for both surety and cybersecurity, ensuring that U.S. nuclear weapons remain safe, secure, and under positive control.
Ms. Deborah Rosenblum, performing the duties of deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, commented on the necessity of this update: "The current DoD nuclear surety standards have not substantively changed since they were developed in 1960. Our community took ownership and updated our surety standards to protect our enterprise."
As legacy Cold War-era nuclear weapon systems are modernized with digital technologies, the update addresses new digital threats while maintaining relevance against current and future challenges. The technological advancements offer benefits in predictability and reliability but also introduce potential cyber-related vulnerabilities.
Nuclear surety involves shared responsibilities between the DoD and the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), necessitating coordination between these entities regarding surety issues. Ms. Rosenblum emphasized this partnership: "It is our shared responsibility as members of the nuclear surety community to ensure our standards have evolved to address growing digital threats. I thank our partners with NNSA for helping ensure our nuclear weapons are safe, secure, and reliable."
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs (OASD(NCB)) leads efforts to maintain a secure U.S. nuclear deterrent amid increasing global competition and evolving threats against national interests.