Identify all executive branch departments, agencies, etc that have a role regarding the nation’s nuclear weapons and what each of their roles is
Introduction
The United States’ nuclear weapons are complex and huge. There are several agencies that are convoluted in nuclear weapons issues at various aspects. They include Departments of Defense, State, Energy, Homeland Security and Commerce.
The Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration
This is the chief agency of the U.S Government that is responsible for design, manufacture and preservation of nuclear weapons in the United States. It was initially established by former President Jimmy Carter in the year 1977 in reaction to the energy crisis that the country was undergoing during then. It inherited most of its responsibilities from the defunct Atomic Energy Commission. The main responsibility of this agency today is to oversee the design of nuclear facilities of the nation. These facilities are located in Los Alamos, Savannah River, Oak Ridge and Lawrence Livermore as well as many other laboratories in the U.S. the laboratories not only design and construct prototype weapons, they only function nuclear reactors as well as repossessing those plants that generate enriched plutonium and uranium that are used nuclear weapons. Besides, the department develops safety measures for the prevention of accidental detonation of weapons or even deliberate detonation of weapons stolen by hostile nations of terrorists ( Ritchie 72).
The department of defense is the agency that is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the armed forces of the United States. These include those trained units of the military that operate military weapons and vehicles of delivery. The vehicles of delivery are the submarines, the bombers and the missiles. The department of defense has a series of other integrated commands like the U.S Strategic Command and Office of the Secretary of Defense. The U.S Strategic Command is based in Omaha, Nebraska. Its responsibility includes coordination of every branch of the nuclear weaponry of the armed forces. The Office of the Secretary of Defense comprises of the civilian department that supervise the uniformed military in addition to several agencies and offices that deal with issues of nuclear weapons. The Missile Defense Agency develops technologies for shooting down missile that have been fired from hostile technologies. Additionally, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy is involved in the drafting of guiding policies for usage of nuclear weapons and negotiating agreements with foreign nations regarding nuclear arms control ( Jones 101).
The department of state
This is the United States’ official diplomatic arm. Its main area of responsibility is negotiating agreements regarding arms control. It works amicably and closely with the military officials and Defense Department. There is an Office of the Under Secretary of State for the Arms Control and International Security under the Department of State that has the responsibility of negotiating agreements that limits or bans certain weaponry types. It also works with friendly foreign governments and other federal agencies to curb the development of nuclear technologies in countries like Iran and Pakistan.
The Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security
This department is charged with the responsibility of licensing export goods by companies from the United States to specific foreign destinations with authentic commercial applications but require military uses. The department is under the stewardship of Under Secretary of Commerce and Security, an Assistant Secretary for Export Administration and Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement.
Works cited
Jones, Gary L. Nuclear Weapons: Improved Management Needed to Implement Stockpile Stewardship Program Effectively. Oxford: DIANE Publishing, 2000. Print.
Ritchie, Nick. US Nuclear Weapons Policy After the Cold War: Russians, 'Rogues' and Domestic Division. Routledge: New York, 2008. Print.