Pantex kicked off a new era of weapons maintenance and surveillance on Wednesday morning, May 6 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open its new High Explosives Science and Engineering (HESE) facility.
“The HESE is yet another important upgrade in our continued investment in modern technology,” Pantex Production Operations Division Director Carl Beard said. “The facility serves as another critical piece in fortifying Pantex’s role within the Nuclear Security Enterprise.”
According to a news release, the building opened just over five years after construction began in November 2020.
The company said the HESE allows Pantex, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s High Explosives Center of Excellence for Manufacturing, to continue to fulfill its vital role today, while positioning itself for the future.
“The new High Explosives Science and Engineering facility is a landmark achievement, setting an unprecedented standard for high explosives research and development crucial to national security,” PanTeXas Deterrence President and General Manager Kelly Beierschmitt said. “This state-of-the-art facility not only exemplifies American ingenuity but also demonstrates our unwavering commitment to mission success. My sincere appreciation to all the Pantexans and others who made this happen.”
The company said the new facility combines activities performed at 15 aging facilities and consolidates several groups under one roof, refining the space for the development of technology supporting the plant’s mission.
“The HESE will enable Pantex to continue delivering on our mission to provide the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile to the Department of War in support of national and global security,” said Pantex Field Office Manager Jason Armstrong. “This facility will also allow us to optimize for tomorrow as we develop new and innovative ways to accommodate and meet future weapon modernization and production demands.”
The ribbon-cutting follows a recent groundbreaking ceremony held for the new Flexible Support Facility II.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Pantex plant opens new research facility to boost national security
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
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