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Next Generation Nuclear Security Summit - April 12-13, 2010
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fissile materials working group

The Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG), a nongovernmental coalition of over 40 U.S. experts representing many of the top nonproliferation and nuclear security organizations in the country and also includes several international partner organizations.  Members of the FMWG collaborate in a series of meetings designed to create consensus behind top fissile materials priorities, develop actionable policy proposals, and package recommendations for implementation by U.S. and foreign government officials.

The FMWG has been a forceful presence in support of improved fissile material security and the prevention of nuclear terrorism.  Important milestones for the FMWG include the publication of its consensus recommendations to the Obama Administration for improving nuclear material security (September 2009); the convening of a summit of international experts and supporting events in support of the official Nuclear Security Summit (April 2010); and a series of regional meetings to explore international perspectives on nuclear security (October 2010 - April 2011).  These activities highlight the urgency of this agenda and engage a broad array of international stakeholders.  Please click here for a summary of the FMWG's acitivites to date.  To view the FMWG's condensed work plan, please click here.

Media Contact:
Sean Harder
sharder@stanleyfoundation.org
319-455-6397


The Steering Committee is comprised of the following professionals:

  • Kenneth N. Luongo, President, Partnership for Global Security (co-chair)
  • Alexandra Toma, Executive Director, Connect U.S. Fund (co-chair)
  • Matthew Bunn, Associate Professor of Public Policy; Co-Principal Investigator, Project on Managing the Atom; Co-Principal Investigator, Energy Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment (ERD3) Policy Project, Harvard University
  • Togzhan Kassenova, Associate, Nuclear Policy Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
  • Miles Pomper, Senior Research Associate, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
  • Jennifer Smyser, Program Officer, Policy and Outreach, The Stanley Foundation
  • Sharon Squassoni, Director and Senior Fellow, Proliferation Prevention Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
  • Benn Tannenbaum, Non-Resident Fellow, Center for Science, Technology, and Security Policy, American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • Paul Walker, Director, Security & Sustainability, Global Green USA
     

Key Staff:

Ryan Costello
FMWG Coordinator
202-721-5600 x. 5724
 

Michelle Marchesano
mmarchesano@partnershipforglobalsecurity.org
202-332-1412

Press Room
  • MEDIA ADVISORY: Nuclear Terrorism Experts Available
    Sep6
    Posted by Ryan Costello
    Release Date: 
    09-06-2011

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    CONTACT: Sean Harder (sharder@stanleyfoundation.org or 319-455-6397)
     
    MEDIA ADVISORY: Nuclear Terrorism Experts Available
     
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – As journalists prepare to cover the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks
    on this nation and efforts to prevent similar attacks in the future, experts on the Fissile Materials
    Working Group (FWMG) will be available to answer questions related to nuclear terrorism and the

  • Nuclear Security Success Underscores Need to Restore Funding Cuts
    Aug18
    Posted by Ryan Costello
    Release Date: 
    08-18-2011

    HEU removal in South Africa proves NNSA funding critical to preventing nuclear terrorism

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – A group of nuclear security experts is congratulating the South African government and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) for their efforts in returning 6.3 kilograms (13.8 pounds) of highly enriched uranium (HEU) to the United States. 

  • NYT Op-ed: House Slashes US Defenses Against Nuclear Terrorism
    Jul28
    Posted by Ryan Costello
    Release Date: 
    07-25-11

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a strongly worded New York Times op-ed, a former ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency and a former advisor to the US Secretary of Energy warn that pending cuts to key nonproliferation programs will leave America vulnerable to a nuclear terrorist attack.

  • House Budget Cuts Leave Nuclear Material Vulnerable to Theft, Terrorism
    Jul18
    Posted by Ryan Costello
    Release Date: 
    07-18-2011

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – A group of nuclear security experts is urging the U.S. Senate to restore $85 million that the House on Friday cut from programs aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism.

  • Experts Praise Extension of G-8 Global Partnership: Call for More Effective Action against Nuclear Terrorism
    May27
    Posted by Ryan Costello
    Release Date: 
    5/27/2011
    Deauville, France – The Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG), a coalition of leading nuclear security experts, praised G-8 leaders’ renewal of their commitment to address the spread of materials and weapons of mass destruction, and to prevent nuclear terrorism. This commitment to continue the important work of the Global Partnership beyond 2012, however, must be used to make the program more flexible and effective.
     
  • Nuclear Security Group Calls for Renewal of G-8 Global Partnership
    May23
    Posted by Michelle Marchesano
    Release Date: 
    5/23/2011

    WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Fissile Material Working Group (FMWG), a coalition of leading nuclear security experts, urges G-8 leaders meeting in Deauville, France this weekend to renew their commitment to address the spread of materials and weapons of mass destruction across the globe. The G-8 has an important role in halting what has been recognized as one the top threats to global security: nuclear terrorism.

    FMWG experts are available for press interviews during the G-8 summit.

  • One Year Later: Nuclear Summit Process Working
    Apr11
    Posted by Sarah Williams
    Release Date: 
    04/11/2011

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – When 47 world leaders gathered here one year ago for a Nuclear Security Summit, it marked the beginning of an unprecedented international effort to secure vulnerable nuclear materials around the world to prevent nuclear terrorism.

  • Experts Urge Congress to Fully Fund Nuclear Security Efforts
    Mar14
    Posted by Sarah Williams
    Release Date: 
    03/14/2011

    WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Current spending bills proposed by both the House and Senate do not include sufficient funds to protect vulnerable nuclear materials a nonpartisan coalition of leading nuclear security experts said Monday.

    The Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG) is calling on the 112th Congress to fully fund the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Defense Nuclear Non-proliferation Account, which supports front line programs in the prevention of nuclear terror.

  • Experts Urge Congress to Fully Fund Nuclear Security Efforts
    Mar14
    Posted by Sarah Williams
    Release Date: 
    03/11/2011

    WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Current spending bills proposed by both the House and Senate do not include sufficient funds to protect vulnerable nuclear materials a nonpartisan coalition of leading nuclear security experts said Monday.

    The Fissile Materials Working Group (FMWG) is calling on the 112th Congress to fully fund the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Defense Nuclear Non-proliferation Account, which supports front line programs in the prevention of nuclear terror.

  • Experts Urge Congress to Fully Fund Nuclear Security Efforts
    Feb8
    Posted by Michelle Marchesano
    Release Date: 
    2/8/2011

    A coalition of leading nuclear security experts and organizations is urging Congress to fully fund threat reduction and nonproliferation programs that were trimmed below requested FY 2011 levels in December.

    The Fissile Material Working Group, or FMWG, sent members of Congress a letter on Monday asking that the funds be restored in order to preserve programs intended to prevent nuclear terrorism. The full version of the letter can be found here.

    Contact Information: 

    Sean Harder: 319-455-6397  or sharder@stanleyfoundation.org