## [Home](/home) .llnl-bg-fd72511f { background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(0, 0, 0, 0), rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)), url(https://sd.llnl.gov/sites/sd/files/styles/orig/public/2026-07/home-header-2026.jpg?itok=1Gv_wEGN); } ![SD logo expands from the blue arc of the logo with animation](https://sd.llnl.gov/sites/sd/files/2026-07/SD-logo-aPNG-v2.png "SD-logo-aPNG-v1.png") [Join Our Team](https://sd.llnl.gov/careers) # Strengthening National Security Innovations in experiments, theories, and computation to ensure the safety, security, and effectiveness of our nation’s nuclear deterrent. The Strategic Deterrence (SD) organization, formerly known as Weapons and Complex Integration (WCI), provides foundational capabilities to a broad range of national security missions and ensures the success of the strategic nuclear deterrent into the future. Following our strong tradition of multidisciplinary team science, we nurture an exceptional workforce and effectively partner with stakeholders to achieve national security impact. ![Five people below a banner with the word 'Zin'](https://sd.llnl.gov/sites/sd/files/styles/scaled_400h/public/2021-07/thumbnail.jpeg?itok=37uQFx8M " thumbnail.jpeg") ### [People ](https://sd.llnl.gov/careers/our-people) ![Computer simulation of turbulence.](https://sd.llnl.gov/sites/sd/files/styles/scaled_400h/public/2021-07/image2020-11-2_12-37-13.png?itok=7bHEkn4w " image2020-11-2_12-37-13.png") ### [Science ](https://sd.llnl.gov/stockpile-science) ![Silhuette of two people inside firing tank.](https://sd.llnl.gov/sites/sd/files/styles/scaled_400h/public/2026-02/b5-HEAF_FiringTank_07-2018.jpg?itok=Jf2DWcD6 "HEAF_FiringTank_07-2018.jpg") ### [Facilities ](https://sd.llnl.gov/facilities) .llnl-bg-b45a9912 { background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(0, 0, 0, 0), rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)), url(https://sd.llnl.gov/sites/sd/files/styles/orig/public/2021-08/stockpile-stewardship-bg-8.png?itok=-Wn57uvK); } ![Four people working with cylindrical equipment.](/sites/sd/files/styles/orig/public/2021-07/thumbnail2.jpg?itok=z0DwvCO6) ### Stockpile Modernization The stockpile program is an ambitious effort to improve the science and technology for assessing an aging nuclear weapons stockpile without relying on underground nuclear testing. Now in its third decade, this program has built an incredible foundation of tools and capabilities that have expanded our understanding and enabled us to begin a new epoch in modernizing the nuclear security enterprise in the face of emerging threats. [Learn more](https://sd.llnl.gov/nuclear-deterrence/stockpile-stewardship) .llnl-bg-271260d0 { background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(0, 0, 0, 0), rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)), url(https://sd.llnl.gov/sites/sd/files/styles/orig/public/2021-07/news-connections-bg%403x-8.png?itok=Zl6Q5Q-i); }## News var news_data_3496 = "[{"nid":"52826","tid":"796","vid":"newsline_categories","category":null,"name":"Top Story","title":"Visionary LLNL director and national security pioneer Johnny Foster dies at 102","source":"pao","ext_link":null,"pub_date":"April 29, 2025","terms":"936:Nuclear deterrence,796:Top Story","alias":"http:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/\/article\/52826\/visionary-llnl-director-national-security-pioneer-johnny-foster-dies-102","alias_path":"\/article\/52826\/visionary-llnl-director-national-security-pioneer-johnny-foster-dies-102","body_value":"Former Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Director John S. Foster Jr., a pioneering physicist and nuclear weapon designer who shaped U.S. national security for seven decades, died on April 25 at the age of 102. Known affectionately as \u201cJohnny,\u201d Foster was a towering figure in American science, nuclear strategy and defense, serving as LLNL\u2019s fourth director (1961\u2026","body_mini_value":"Former Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Director John S. Foster Jr., a pioneering physicist and nuclear weapon designer who\u2026","thumbnail_380_380":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/thumbnail_380_380\/public\/2025-04\/External_Foster_875x500_1.jpg?itok=zFYfziYz","crop_thumbnail":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/thumbnail_400_225\/public\/2025-04\/External_Foster_875x500_1.jpg?itok=zYCu0RvA","scaled_1140w":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/scaled_1140w\/public\/2025-04\/External_Foster_875x500_1.jpg?itok=6O-E5sbb","original":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/2025-04\/External_Foster_875x500_1.jpg"},{"nid":"52311","tid":"501","vid":"tags","category":null,"name":"Materials Science","title":"New program aims to fast-track energetic materials education for researchers","source":"pao","ext_link":null,"pub_date":"Feb. 6, 2025","terms":"556:Energetic Materials Center,931:High-Energy-Density Science,501:Materials Science,881:Physical and Life Sciences,836:Strategic Deterrence,796:Top Story","alias":"http:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/\/article\/52311\/new-program-aims-fast-track-energetic-materials-education-researchers","alias_path":"\/article\/52311\/new-program-aims-fast-track-energetic-materials-education-researchers","body_value":"More than 80 physicists, chemists, material scientists and engineers participated in a new educational program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) during 2024, developed and delivered by the Lab\u2019s energetic materials experts. As hiring at LLNL accelerated in recent years, Lab leaders recognized the growing need to provide specialized training for newer members\u2026","body_mini_value":"More than 80 physicists, chemists, material scientists and engineers participated in a new educational program at Lawrence Livermore\u2026","thumbnail_380_380":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/thumbnail_380_380\/public\/2025-02\/79766_Energetic%20Materials%20University%202024%20_00214.jpg?itok=xX0WJxZ5","crop_thumbnail":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/thumbnail_400_225\/public\/2025-02\/79766_Energetic%20Materials%20University%202024%20_00214.jpg?itok=8s2svJLo","scaled_1140w":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/scaled_1140w\/public\/2025-02\/79766_Energetic%20Materials%20University%202024%20_00214.jpg?itok=Lyb0fio3","original":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/2025-02\/79766_Energetic%20Materials%20University%202024%20_00214.jpg"},{"nid":"52426","tid":"506","vid":"tags","category":null,"name":"Nuclear and Chemical Sciences","title":"Three LLNL scientists honored with presidential early-career award","source":"pao","ext_link":null,"pub_date":"Jan. 16, 2025","terms":"756:Advanced Materials and Manufacturing,976:Careers,846:HPC, Simulation, and Data Science,506:Nuclear and Chemical Sciences,926:Nuclear, Chem, and Isotopic S\u0026T,586:People,881:Physical and Life Sciences,796:Top Story","alias":"http:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/\/article\/52426\/three-llnl-scientists-honored-presidential-early-career-award","alias_path":"\/article\/52426\/three-llnl-scientists-honored-presidential-early-career-award","body_value":"In an announcement this week, President Biden awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) to nearly 400 distinguished scientists and engineers, recognizing their exceptional contributions and potential for leadership in their research fields. Among the honorees are three distinguished researchers from Lawrence Livermore National\u2026","body_mini_value":"In an announcement this week, President Biden awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) to nearly\u2026","thumbnail_380_380":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/thumbnail_380_380\/public\/2025-02\/pecase%20hero.jpg?itok=4akJa8n4","crop_thumbnail":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/thumbnail_400_225\/public\/2025-02\/pecase%20hero.jpg?itok=HH7aUGVz","scaled_1140w":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/styles\/scaled_1140w\/public\/2025-02\/pecase%20hero.jpg?itok=jtJ5ex13","original":"https:\/\/contenthub.llnl.gov\/sites\/contenthub\/files\/2025-02\/pecase%20hero.jpg"}]"; var www_domain = "https://www.llnl.gov"; April 29, 2025 ### [Visionary LLNL director and national security pioneer Johnny Foster dies at 102](https://www.llnl.gov/article/52826/visionary-llnl-director-national-security-pioneer-johnny-foster-dies-102) Feb. 6, 2025 ### [New program aims to fast-track energetic materials education for researchers](https://www.llnl.gov/article/52311/new-program-aims-fast-track-energetic-materials-education-researchers) Jan. 16, 2025 ### [Three LLNL scientists honored with presidential early-career award](https://www.llnl.gov/article/52426/three-llnl-scientists-honored-presidential-early-career-award) [View archives](https://sd-pre.llnl.gov/news-archives) ## Program Areas ### [ ![silhouette of a physicist pointing at a colorful computer simulation](https://sd.llnl.gov/sites/sd/files/2022-09/weapon-physics-design-program.png "weapon-physics-design-program.png")](https://sd.llnl.gov/about-us/organizations#weapon-physics-design) Weapon Physics and Design > ### [ ![Two computer scientists checking a computer blade](https://sd.llnl.gov/sites/sd/files/2022-09/weapon-sim-computing-program.png "weapon-sim-computing-program.png")](https://sd.llnl.gov/about-us/organizations#weapon-simulation-computing) Weapon Simulation and Computing > ### [ ![Physicist adjusting equipment with gloved hand](https://sd.llnl.gov/sites/sd/files/2026-07/weapons-technology-engineering.jpg "weapon-technology-engineering")](https://sd.llnl.gov/about-us/organizations#weapon-tech-engineering) Weapon Technologies and Engineering > ### [ ![Physicist adjusting equipment in working lab](https://sd.llnl.gov/sites/sd/files/2026-07/weapon-infrastructure-581x696.jpg "weapons-infrastructure-card-image.jpg")](https://sd.llnl.gov/about-us/organizations#weapons-infrastructure "Weapons Infrastructure") Weapons Infrastructure > [Learn more](https://sd.llnl.gov/about-us) .llnl-bg-7918abfa { background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(0, 0, 0, 0), rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)), url(https://sd.llnl.gov/sites/sd/files/styles/orig/public/2021-07/wci_expo_2019_-69.jpg?itok=nMYmXW1k); }## Discover what you can do in the SD program [Explore career opportunities](https://sd.llnl.gov/careers)