Paper: The Enterprise Program Management Office: Another Best Practice at the National Nuclear Security Administration
Abstract: The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) within the U.S. Department of Energy maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad. NNSA’s Office of Safety, Infrastructure and Operations (NA-50) is responsible for enabling safe operations, ensuring effective infrastructure and providing enterprise services to NNSA programs and national laboratories, plants and sites around the United States.
NA-50 plans, directs and oversees the maintenance, operation and modernization of NNSA infrastructure and facilities at eight sites around the United States, a vast and complex enterprise of 41,000 employees, 36 million square feet of buildings including 400 nuclear facilities, 2,000 miles of roads, 9.1 trillion BTUs of energy use, and 15.2 million tons of hazardous materials, on 2,160 square miles of land. With an annual budget of approximately $1.5 billion, NA-50 manages multiple programs and projects ranging in size and complexity each year. NA-50 has established an enterprise-level program management office (EPgMO), one of the first in the US government.
The project management office (PMO) and in recent years the program management office (PgMO) are recognized best practices in organizations around the world. An enterprise PMO (EPMO) extends the functions and benefits of a PMO to multiple projects within an organization. An EPgMO extends the functions and benefits of a PgMO across multiple programs, portfolios and projects within an organization in the same manner that an EPMO does, but often with a broader scope. A relatively new approach in the program/project management field, the NA-50 EPgMO at NNSA is one of the first of its kind in the US government. This paper will describe the purpose, functions and value of an EPgMO and the related experience to date within NA-50 at NNSA.
Biography: Jessica Kunkle is the Director for the Office of Safety, Infrastructure and Operations’ (NA-50) Program Management Office (PMO) at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). In this role, she leads a fast-paced, cross-functional team to provide shared, corporate services for eight federal programs totaling approximately $1.6 billion in annual appropriations. Jessica also serves as the Executive Director for NNSA’s Operations and Efficiencies Board and NA-50’s Program Management Improvement Team.
Ms. Kunkle has held various positions throughout her tenure with DOE/NNSA, including working in NNSA’s Program Executive Office leading management improvements for NNSA; serving as the Budget Officer for the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) overseeing the execution of over $800 million per year; and working as a Contract Specialist supporting NNSA’s vital nuclear nonproliferation mission.
Ms. Kunkle has received a Secretary of Energy Achievement Award (2016) and the National Defense Industrial Association’s (NDIA) Excellence in Enterprise Information Award (2015). She holds degrees in Marketing, Operations, and International Management from the University of New Mexico.
