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Naval Reactors (NR), which administers the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, is an umbrella term for the U.S. government office that has comprehensive responsibility for the safe and reliable operation of the United States Navy's nuclear reactors "from womb to tomb." The deputy administrator for Naval Reactors concurrently serves as director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, establishing a single entity who has authority and reporting responsibilities within both the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA 08), reporting to the chief of naval operations, and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA NA-30), reporting to the NNSA administrator.

Naval Reactors is headed by a Navy four-star admiral. The director serves for a nominal eight-year term of office, the longest standard assignment in the U.S. military. The program was originally created under Executive Order 12344 by the President Ronald Reagan, on February 1, 1982. The director was concurrently assigned as the deputy administrator for Naval Reactors for the National Nuclear Security Administration via () on October 19, 1984 in order to assist them in the research, design, development, health, and safety matters pertaining to naval nuclear propulsion plants via . Executive Order 12344 was made a permanent federal program via of October 5, 1999 ().

History

In June 1946, the Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz decided to send five officers (including then Captain Hyman Rickover) and three civilians to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to study the potential of using nuclear energy to power ships. The Navy group organized themselves under then Captain Rickover and embraced Philip Abelson's concept of a nuclear-powered submarine. The consensus of the group was that the technical difficulties could be overcome, and nuclear power could be used as a means for propelling Navy ships.

On January 1, 1947, Congress established the Atomic Energy Commission and assigning it responsibilities for nuclear reactor plant development. Later that month, Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, approved a program for the design and development of nuclear power plants in submarines.

These problems were even more difficult for submarine application since the reactor and its associated steam plant had to fit within the confines of the comparatively small hull, and be able to withstand extreme battle shock incident to the operation of combatant ships. The propulsion plant had to be operated and maintained at sea by Naval officers and enlisted men who, although specially trained, were not physicists or scientists. Although application of nuclear power to submarines was a major challenge, it was generally recognized that success would transform submarine warfare. Submerged operation of submarines of the World War II era was limited by battery power and was measured in hours to a few days. Because nuclear fission produced heat without consuming oxygen, a true submarine was possible, one which could remain submerged and steam at sustained high speed for long periods. He was promoted, partially as a result of Congressional involvement, until he reached the rank of full Admiral and held the position for over 30 years from 1949 to February 1, 1982 (when he was retired).

The history of nuclear propulsion and Rickover's influence and involvement is substantial. Due to the importance and impact of nuclear power, the AEC commissioned the creation of two related historical records to capture important facts of both naval nuclear propulsion and the Shippingport commercial reactor. Both of these official documents necessarily contain a good deal of information on Rickover's choices, methods and technical philosophy in the development of practical nuclear power, but are not biographies. While Rickover cooperated to provide real-time access to facilities, people and records, according to the authors he did not edit; Rickover was in-fact deceased before the second document was completed. These are: (1) Nuclear Navy, 1946-1962 by AEC staff historians Richard G. Hewlett and Francis Duncan, and (2) Rickover and the Nuclear Navy: The Discipline of Technology by Francis Duncan. The AEC makes both of these documents directly available to the public in digital form.

Management and personnel principles

Many books (including those referenced below) and articles have been written about core NR management principles such as attention to detail and adherence to rigidly defined standards and specifications, as well as the organization's unique (for government) personnel practices. NR staff and alumni (including Admiral Rickover himself) have often been called by Congress, the President and other government agencies to provide expert opinion and management support to other important government programs, most notably the large scale reviews following the destruction of the Space Shuttles Columbia and Challenger.

Program elements

  • Research, development, and support laboratories
  • Nuclear Component Procurement Organization
  • Nuclear power schools and Naval Reactors training facilities.
  • Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Headquarters and field offices
  • Naval support facilities and tenders
  • Shipyards that build, overhaul and service the propulsion plants of naval nuclear-powered vessels
  • Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory
  • Naval Reactors Facility
  • Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) Charleston

List of directors

The Director of Naval Reactors also concurrently serves as a Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration.