10 June 2026 4:45PM- 6:00PM MDT
Abstract: As mission demands increase in scope, complexity, and urgency, risk management must evolve from a program-level reporting activity into an enterprise decision-making capability. This discussion will cover how risk supports knowledge-based management across the nuclear security enterprise by helping leaders understand cross-cutting impacts, resource constraints, acquisition tradeoffs, sustainment pressures, and portfolio-level dependencies.
Drawing on current Defense Programs priorities, the discussion will highlight the role of risk in supporting faster program execution, maintaining deterrent readiness, addressing technology obsolescence, and improving the visibility of risks that cannot be resolved at the program or site level.
The presentation will also explore the cultural shift required to move from isolated risk management practices toward a more integrated portfolio perspective, where risk information is used to inform decisions across programs, budgets, schedules, and technical systems.
For the systems engineering community, the central message is that risk management is one of the most important tools for connecting technical judgment, acquisition strategy, resource decisions, and enterprise outcomes.
Speaker: Mr. Kent T. Jones, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is Assistant Deputy Administrator for Systems Engineering and Integration, Defense Programs, at the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. He is responsible for the development and integration of policies, processes, requirements, plans, and SE&I assessments within NNSA’s Defense Programs.
He is also responsible for providing direct systems engineering and acquisition program management support for Defense Program’s designated enhanced management portfolio, which includes weapons life extension, enabling science, infrastructure, and warhead sustainment activities.
Mr. Jones has served as a national security professional for over 36 years. As a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, he served in multiple command and staff positions with the Chemical Corp and later in the Nuclear Operations and Counter-Proliferation career field until his retirement in 2009.
Upon entering civil service with the Air Force, he held a variety of leadership positions within the nuclear enterprise, including leading the 710th Nuclear Systems Squadron, 498th Nuclear Systems Wing.
Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Jones served as chief of the Nuclear Weapons Division and Interagency Program Coordinator for the U.S. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, where he was responsible for the day-to-day execution of sustainment and acquisition activities in support of the Air Force’s nuclear weapons stockpile.
His education includes a BS in Electrical Engineering, MS in Nuclear Engineering, Army Command and General Staff College, Harvard Senior Executives in National and International Security program, and the OPM SES Orientation Course. He is DAIWA certified as LVL III in Engineering as well as Science and Technology Management (STM).
Zoom link is provided in the meeting invitation; contact [email protected] to request the meeting invitation.