Paper and Presentation: Strengthening the Nuclear Security Enterprise with Organizational Agility
Abstract: The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is responsible for developing and maintaining the nuclear weapons stockpile and reducing global nuclear risks. NNSA infrastructure promotes national security through unique capabilities found nowhere else in the United States. These capabilities are threatened by deteriorating facilities built during the Manhattan Project and the Cold War eras. Lean agile principles form the core of the NNSA data-driven and risk-informed approach to infrastructure management. The application of lean-agile will help transform the Enterprise from reliance on aged assets to world-class infrastructure that attracts the nation’s greatest experts and serves as the foundation for cutting-edge science, engineering, and production capabilities.
The advancements made in improving NNSA infrastructure demonstrate the value of using organizational agility to transform a large, non-IT organization. The Office of Infrastructure Lifecycle Management is applying the foundations of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) – lean agile core values, mindset, principles, and leadership. Our agilie approach involves the following:
- Get executive buy-in and engagement
- Train leaders on the fundamentals of lean-agile leadership
- Expand lean agile training to all staff
- Develop a strategic plan to clearly articulate organization’s goals and priorities, set a clear vision of the future, and get everyone moving in the same direction
- Improve flow by developing repeatable, transparent, efficient, and effective processes
- Encourage innovation by embracing the concept of Minimum Viable Product
- Embrace incremental value delivery where possible
- Undertake continuous improvement using retrospectives
- Adopt Lean Portfolio Management for budgeting and project prioritization
PMI Talent Triangle: Strategic and Business Management (Business Acumen)
Biography: Ty Deschamp is the Assistant Deputy Associate Administrator for Infrastructure Lifecycle Management at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). His office is responsible for the modernization, operations, and maintenance of NNSA’s $116.3 billion physical infrastructure and more than 5,500 real property assets. Ty has over 15 years of broad experience across NNSA and the Department of Energy (DOE) in the areas of nuclear infrastructure and safety, nuclear nonproliferation, national security, and environmental management. Within NNSA, he has transformed project management processes, streamlined operations, and is a staunch believer in organic change and lean-agile management. He previously worked as the Federal Program Manager of the multiple-award-winning NNSA Program Management Information System Generation 2 (G2) program for 11 years where he developed the largest high-performing agile program in NNSA with more than 90 staff. He received his B.S. in Business Information Systems from the University of Idaho, and an MBA from Washington State University.
