Christine Evans Christine is an R&D Engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory doing Nuclear Safety and Security for the Advanced Systems Development group. She currently works on evaluating nuclear explosive safety outcomes for potential future weapon technologies and building safety framework models to trace nuclear safety systems to requirements, design decisions, and nuclear safety verification. Christine graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a Masters of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering and a Bachelors of Science in Engineering Physics. Before LANL, she interned at the Nevada National Security Site doing SDRD research on photoneutron production from linear accelerators. She also interned at Systems Planning and Analysis (SPA) under a DTRA contract where she became exposed to global politics and its role in the nuclear enterprise. Christine wants to continue exploring the intersection of hard science and high stakes policy that defines nuclear defense. Miriam Kreher Dr. Miriam Kreher is a Research & Development Engineer at Los Alamos National Lab. She earned her B.S. in Engineering Science from the University of Pittsburgh, then a Ph.D. in Computational Nuclear Engineering from MIT in 2023. Miriam’s specialty is in numerical methods development for reactor physics problems. In her current role in the Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation division, she focuses on reactor design for applications in space in collaboration with NASA as well as other special purposes related to national security. These projects involve radiation shielding calculations, nuclear fuel depletion analysis, and modeling detector response. Miriam also serves as a Subject Matter Expert within the DoD’s Nuclear Technology Advisory Group. Outside of work, Miriam is the proud mother of a rambunctious one-year-old boy. She loves sharing the beauty of New Mexico with her family through camping trips and gardening, as well as traveling the world at every opportunity. Norman Love Norman Love is a Systems Engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he supports the W88 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile program. He provides technical and programmatic oversight of U.S. nuclear weapon systems and serves as a Fellow at the Center for National Security and International Studies (CNSIS), where his work bridges nuclear policy and emerging technologies. Prior to joining LANL, he was a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas El Paso. Norman holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Oklahoma and has conducted research with NASA, Oak Ridge, and Sandia National Laboratories. Norman is passionate about applying technical insight to strategic policy challenges, particularly at the intersection of nuclear deterrence, space and lunar security, and emerging technologies. Siobhan Niklasson Siobhan Niklasson is a graduate research assistant in the National Security Earth Sciences group at Los Alamos National Laboratory and a PhD candidate in geophysics at New Mexico Tech. She studies seismoacoustic event detection using ocean-based sensors, with a special interest in how changing conditions affect ambient noise levels and impact our ability to monitor our surroundings. Her recent projects have focused on the rapidly changing Arctic region. Before returning to research, she worked in science outreach and education, promoting scientific and environmental literacy in audiences of all ages. She most enjoys working at intersections of disciplines and professions. Quin Burke Quin works at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the Global Security Directorate, focusing on nuclear nonproliferation/counterproliferation efforts. Previously, he worked at the Department of Defense and worked as a research assistant at the Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute on nuclear forensics and on fissile material detection. He also interned with the Photometrics Group at Sandia National Laboratories, developing optical measurement techniques for the Nuclear Security Enterprise. Quin earned his BS in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M University, and is originally from San Antonio, Texas. Stephen Preisig Stephen is a Project Leader in Nuclear Enterprise Assurance (NEA) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). At the Lab, Stephen’s work supports development of tools & capabilities to mitigate potential consequences of subversion. Prior to joining the Lab, Stephen was a Senior Analyst at the Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC) and served as Principal Investigator on a multi-year Plant Directed Research and Development (PDRD) project. Stephen holds an M.A. in International Security from the Josef Korbel School at the University of Denver, and a B.A. in Political Science from William Jewell College. Stephen is also a US Marine veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Laurel Baker Laurel Baker is currently a Research Associate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Center for Global Security Research, where she investigates how emerging and disruptive technologies influence gray-zone escalation in the global commons. In addition to her time as a National Nuclear Security Administration Graduate Fellow, she previously conducted research at several think tanks and NGOs, such as the Hoover Institution, the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute for the Study of War, and the Wilson Center. Laurel has published analyses with a variety of national-security outlets and holds an MA in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies from Stanford University. Sara Cheng Dr. Sara Y. Cheng is a physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where she leverages high performance computing to study material interactions in high energy density regimes. She earned her BA in Physics and Applied Mathematics from University of California Berkeley in 2013, followed by a PhD in Physics from the University of Texas at Austin in 2018. Sara began her research career in computational and experimental molecular biophysics, investigating the fundamental physics of biomolecular interactions before transitioning to her current focus on high energy density physics. At LLNL, Sara supports several critical programs, including multi-lab collaborations involving experiments at the National Ignition Facility. Her work contributes to advancing our understanding of materials under extreme conditions. As part of the 2025 CSIS PONI Nuclear Scholar Program, Sara is expanding her expertise in nuclear deterrence and enterprise policy, providing valuable policy context for the technical research conducted at LLNL. Arnika Chidambaram Arnika Chidambaram is a systems engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering (from the University of New Mexico and UC Berkeley, respectively). During undergrad, she interned in the Radiation Detection division at Sandia National Laboratories and won Best Presentation in Isotopes and Radiation at the American Nuclear Society Student Conference. During her master’s, she interned in the Center for Global Security and Research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory which inspired her interest in nuclear deterrence and led her to her current role in the Defense Technologies Engineering Division. In her free time, she enjoys yoga and spending time with her friends and family. Jake Criscione Jake Criscione is a Systems Engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), where he has worked for over three years on the W87-1 Modification Program. His primary focus is on requirements development and maturation for the Nuclear Explosive Package’s external interfaces. He represents LLNL in the Interface Control Subgroup, working closely with the U.S. Air Force, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Sandia National Laboratories. Jake has also contributed to major test efforts, including an initiation train qualification test and ongoing system-level testing for Normal Nuclear Environments. Originally from Sacramento, California, he earned his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He brings experience in cross-agency collaboration, systems engineering, and nuclear weapons testing to the 2025 Labs Nuclear Scholars Initiative. Kyle Mackay Kyle Mackay is the Deputy Primary Physics Lead of the W87-1 Modification Program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). In this role, he coordinates engagement between design engineers and physicists, performs physics assessments to advance primary design, and works with production agencies across the country. Most recently, he supported the milestone of the first production unit plutonium pit for the W87-1 at Los Alamos National Lab. As campaign lead for hydrodynamic tests, he directs the design and execution of integrated weapon experiments that supply vital data for stockpile certification. In his spare time, Kyle develops advanced simulation methodologies for new computing systems such as the El Capitan supercomputer. Before shifting focus to support nuclear modernization, Kyle was a postdoc at LLNL where he modeled experiments at the National Ignition Facility and OMEGA laser. Kyle holds a PhD in Mechanical Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Elizabeth Rubino Elizabeth Rubino began working as a design physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 2022. Her work focuses on integrating nuclear data uncertainties into advanced modeling suites to explore the sensitivity of critical parameters to nuclear data variations, as well as modeling outputs such as neutrons, gamma rays, and x-rays. Elizabeth earned her bachelor’s degree in physics from Florida Atlantic University in 2015 and her PhD in experimental nuclear physics from Florida State University in 2020, followed by a postdoctoral position at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University. James Thietz James Thietz has served as Hydrodynamic Design Test Lead and Joint Test Assembly (JTA) Flight Test Lead for the W80-4 program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for the past five years. In this role, he has advanced numerous stockpile stewardship initiatives and made significant contributions to High Explosives Assessment Development. James holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and brings 14 years of U.S. Air Force experience to his work. Recognized for his technical expertise and problem-solving skills, he leads with a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and mission excellence, and was recently appointed as an offsite fellow supporting Air Force Global Strike Command modernization efforts. Emily Greenfield Emily is a Policy Analyst at TechSource supporting the Nuclear Weapons Council for Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA). Prior to joining the DOE/NNSA, she was a Program Analyst and Assistant Program Manager at Systems Planning and Analysis supporting U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs and DOE’s Office of Environmental Management. She has worked across the nuclear Program of Record, from acquisitions and treaty implementation to nuclear waste management. Emily holds a M.A. in International Security from the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs at the University of Denver, and a B.A. in International Affairs from the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia. Samreen Singh Samreen Singh is a Policy Analyst at Leidos, specializing in nuclear deterrence and strategic modernization. She supports the Nuclear Weapons Council within the National Nuclear Security Administration, advising on deterrence priorities and coordinating decisions across multiple warhead modernization programs. Her work includes guiding senior leadership on material negotiations with UK counterparts under the U.S.–UK Mutual Defense Agreement. Previously, at the U.S. Department of Justice, she managed bilateral and regional programs across Asia and the Pacific to counter transnational crime and terrorism, strengthening cooperation with foreign criminal justice institutions. Samreen holds a master’s in Public Policy from American University and a bachelor’s in Government and International Politics from George Mason University where she was a Global Politics Fellow. She has engaged in strategic dialogue through the Atlantic Council’s Next Generation Agenda, contributing to discussions on advancing trilateral security cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Australia. Denise Cano Denise Cano is a System Engineer in the Nuclear Deterrence Modernization and Stockpile Systems at Sandia National Laboratories. She holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Mexico. Denise was part of the team that successfully transitioned the B61-12 to Life Cycle Production Unit (LPU) status. Throughout my career, she has tackled various program material issues and resolved the high-risk sunset of cellular silicone pads, always striving for operational excellence. When she is not working, she loves to sew clothes and quilts and enjoys camping and hiking with her husband and their two dogs. Sarah Hale Sarah Hale is a dedicated mechanical engineer with fifteen years of experience at Sandia National Laboratories. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and her Master of Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology. As a mechanical engineer working on various nuclear weapon systems, she performed finite element analysis on weapon components and led a team to modernize nuclear weapon design and manufacturing processes. In the past three years, she has transitioned to a systems engineering role. In this position, she has begun revitalizing Sandia’s nuclear weapons training program for engineers, incorporating concepts of deterrence theory. Sarah collaborates with stakeholders across the Nuclear Security Enterprise to enhance information flow and reuse. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering with Girl Scouts and local high schools. Toni Isenberg Toni Isenberg is a program management professional at Sandia National Laboratories, where she has held various roles focused on technical program development, execution and stakeholder engagement. Currently serving as an Engineering Program Lead for Microsystems Engineering, Science, and Applications (MESA) Operational Sustainment portfolio, she oversees execution of critical programs that enhance the National Nuclear Security Administration’s capabilities in producing custom microsystems. Previously, as a Technical Advisor to the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Nuclear Industrial Base Program, Toni provided expert guidance on supply chain risks pertaining to microelectronics and facilitated communications with key interagency organizations. Her earlier contributions include leading the Nuclear Deterrence Electronic Parts Program, where she secured sustained program funding and developed strategic partnerships across the Nuclear Security Enterprise. Her program management experience spans various domains, including Safeguards & Security, Nuclear Deterrence, and Advanced Science and Technology portfolios within Sandia National Laboratories. Wesley Odom Wesley Odom is a research scientist and engineer at Sandia National Laboratories working on nuclear deterrence and intelligence analysis. He specializes in complex human-systems integration and vulnerability analysis. His work emphasizes human-AI collaboration, arms control, and modern large-scale data governance in high-consequence, increasingly AI-augmented environments. He has led projects spanning R&D for the assurance of high consequence cyber-physical nuclear weapons sub-systems, investigations into command and control of Minuteman III missileer operations, and vulnerability assessment of enterprise-level monitoring and verification systems. Wesley has also contributed to strategic futures research examining how AI and coming changes to knowledge management will reshape national security R&D workflows. His interdisciplinary training in mathematical physics, industrial engineering, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence informs a cross-functional approach to reliability, risk, and strategic design of modern R&D methods for national security. Maggie Wilbanks Maggie Wilbanks is a Principal Member of Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). Since September of 2021, she has served as the Sandia Field Office Liaison, focused on weapon quality and assisting Product Realization Teams with policy adherence. Maggie joined SNL in 2019 in the Power Sources Technology Group, supporting high quality production and delivery of nuclear weapon components. She received her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University and her Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Maggie also holds a Project Management Professional certification, along with a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. She lives in Placitas, NM, with her partner, Justin, and two cats, Curie and Navi, and enjoys attending live sporting and music events. Sean Winkelpleck Sean R. Winkelpleck is a Research and Development Engineer at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) current involved as a Systems Electrical Lead overseeing sustainment and reprocessing efforts for the W88 ALT940 program. Prior to this, Sean held a position as the Component Lead for the Weapon Control Unit (WCU), Cables, Connectors LACs and System Adapters and was the Subject Matter Expert for Surveillance Issue Assessment on the B61-12 Program. Sean currently has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Florida and is actively perusing his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. John Wise After earning his B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from New Mexico Tech, John Wise served as a nuclear engineer at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, where he repaired submarine reactors. His experience aboard Ohio-class submarines deepened his appreciation for America’s nuclear deterrence mission. Currently, John serves as a nuclear weapon system engineer at Sandia National Labs, focusing on the W76-1/-2 warhead for the Trident Missile. He is actively contributing to a weapon upgrade, an over-the-road transportation system for the W76, and an advanced exploratory project. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, grilling in the backyard, and oil painting.