There are three NNSA National Laboratories.
How Many NNSA Labs Are There?
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy, oversees three primary national security laboratories. These laboratories are vital for maintaining the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear deterrent, as well as addressing global nuclear security challenges.
These NNSA laboratories are key components of the broader network of Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories. The DOE manages a total of 17 National Laboratories, each possessing unique instruments and facilities, many of which are unparalleled globally. These institutions collectively tackle critical scientific challenges, ranging from combating climate change to exploring the fundamental origins of the universe.
The NNSA National Laboratories
The three national security laboratories managed by the NNSA are:
| Laboratory Name | Location | Primary Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos National Laboratory | Los Alamos, NM | Nuclear deterrence, global security, energy security, advanced science and technology. It is one of the largest science and technology institutions in the world. |
| Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | Livermore, CA | Nuclear deterrence, high-performance computing, energy and climate security, bioscience and biotechnology. Known for its work in national security and scientific discovery. |
| Sandia National Laboratories | Albuquerque, NM / Livermore, CA | Nuclear weapons, national security systems, energy, and climate research. Sandia is the nation's premier science and engineering laboratory for national security and technology. |
In addition to these three national laboratories, the NNSA also manages four production plants and the Nevada National Security Site, bringing its total number of principal sites to eight. These sites work in concert to support the NNSA's critical missions related to nuclear security.
For more information on the NNSA and its facilities, you can visit the official NNSA website.
