Scott A. Roecker
Vice President, Nuclear Materials Security
NTI Nuclear Security Index
Building a framework for assurance, accountability, and action
Challenge
Global leaders had no baseline for assessing the security of weapons-usable nuclear materials or nuclear facilities.
Action
With Economist Impact, NTI created the NTI Nuclear Security Index, a first-of-its-kind public benchmarking of nuclear security conditions around the world.
Results
After helping shape the agenda at the Nuclear Security Summits through 2016, the NTI Index continues to spur countries to enhance nuclear security and reduce highly enriched uranium (HEU) stocks.
22 countries have nuclear materials that could be used to build a nuclear bomb and 154 other countries without such materials could serve as safe havens, staging grounds, or transit routes for illicit nuclear activities. Countries with and without nuclear materials must be accountable for their efforts to prevent a nuclear catastrophe, which would inevitably have global implications. Constant vigilance by nuclear operators, governments, and international organizations is needed to keep pace with evolving threats.
In partnership with Economist Impact, NTI developed the Nuclear Security Index to promote action to strengthen nuclear security, track progress, identify nuclear security priorities, and build accountability. With its first three editions timed for release before the 2012, 2014, and 2016 Nuclear Security Summits, the NTI Index measured progress, including actions taken to fulfill summit commitments, in an era when global leadership and political attention on nuclear security were at their highest levels. Keeping track of nuclear security is even more important now that the summits have ended.
Today, the NTI Index is recognized as the premier resource and tool for tracking progress on nuclear security. It serves as a much-needed forcing function for continued progress by highlighting evolutions in best practices and priorities, raising red flags where gaps and challenges remain unaddressed, and promoting action and accountability. The NTI Index also provides an assessment of the health, sustainability, and comprehensiveness of the global nuclear security architecture, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and international treaties.
2021
NTI Webinar on IAEA Information Circulars as Global Tools for Nuclear Security
Nuclear security experts from around the world joined NTI Tuesday for a webinar on “Global Tools for Nuclear Security: An Introduction to IAEA Information Circulars on Nuclear Security.”
New NTI Paper Identifies Strengths and Weaknesses in the Global Nuclear Security Architecture
Countries should step up their efforts to close gaps and support, contribute to, and participate in efforts to bolster the global nuclear security architecture.
2020
Nuclear Security is Only as Strong as the Weakest Link: 2020 NTI Index Highlights Cybersecurity and Insider Threat Prevention
Nuclear Security is Only as Strong as the Weakest Link: 2020 NTI Index Highlights Cybersecurity and Insider Threat Prevention
The NTI Nuclear Security Index
Assesses countries’ progress on nuclear security, highlights security gaps, and recommends actions for governments to better protect nuclear materials and facilities and build an effective global nuclear security architecture.
The 2020 NTI Nuclear Security Index
Past Event
Launch Event: 2020 NTI Nuclear Security Index Rankings
11:00 AM EDT
2019
NTI Awards Two Grants to Improve Nuclear Security Conditions Worldwide
NTI announces the winners of the 2019 NTI Nuclear Security Index Challenge.
2018
NTI Nuclear Security Index Challenge: Call for Submissions
NTI Nuclear Security Index Challenge calls for proposals that use the rankings to spur government action.
Past Event
Release of 2018 NTI Security Index and Cyber report
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC
Important Nuclear Security Progress Now in Jeopardy, According to 2018 NTI Index
The NTI Nuclear Security Index finds that the steps countries have taken to reduce nuclear terrorism are jeopardized by various factors.
NTI Expert Describes Cyber Risks to Nuclear Facilities at Nuclear Security Workshop in Oslo
The group discussed nuclear security and nuclear forensics techniques, crucial aspects to tracking nuclear material.
2017
NTI Expert discusses WMD issues with NextGen Group
NTI's Michelle Nalabandian joined the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs and the Egyptian Pugwash Association in Cairo, meeting with young professionals to discuss WMD issues.
Erin D. Dumbacher Joins NTI as Program Officer for Scientific and Technical Affairs
Dr. Page Stoutland, Vice President for Scientific and Technical Affairs lauded Dumbacher's experience with cyber security and national security policy.
New Database Documents all Iran Missile Tests since 1988
This first-of-its-kind, downloadable database is accompanied by an interactive map that illustrates the tests by location, missile name and type, and results.
New Analysis and Interactives Uncover the Story of North Korea’s Missile Test
On May14th, North Korea tested its longest-range missile to date, the Hwasong-12, which flew 787 kilometers with the potential to go much further.
2016
For Professors: Updated Curriculum Based on NTI Index Now Available
An updated, two-session education module on nuclear materials security for undergraduate or graduate courses is now available, based on the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit
Asia-Pacific Experts Respond to the 2016 Nuclear Security Index
The Asia-Pacific Leadership Network released a series of articles providing regional perspectives to the Nuclear Threat Initiatives 2016 Nuclear Security Index.
Past Event
Nuclear Security in the Middle East
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, 1400 K Street, NW, Suite 1225, Washington, DC, 20005
Past Event
Plutonium & Highly Enriched Uranium 2015
Lindner Commons, 6th floor, 1957 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20052
Washington Post Raises Concerns For Nuclear Security Progress Post-Summit
Washington Post praises achievements but also raises concerns about future progress after the fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit.
NTI Experts Available for 2016 Nuclear Security Summit
While the three previous Nuclear Security Summits have resulted in much progress to secure the world’s vulnerable nuclear materials, significant security gaps remain.
WATCH the Launch of the 2016 NTI Nuclear Security Index
New videos are available of the launch of the 2016 Nuclear Security Index, a unique public assessment of the security of the world’s deadliest materials.
As Final Head-of-State Nuclear Security Summit Approaches, Nunn and NTI Warn of Slowing Progress on Preventing Nuclear Terrorism
The 2016 NTI Nuclear Security Index finds that progress on reducing the threat of nuclear terrorism has slowed and major gaps remain in the global nuclear security system.
Past Event
2016 NTI Nuclear Security Index Launch
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
2015
Institute for Science & Int’l Security Releases New Civil HEU Numbers
Because highly enriched uranium (HEU) is a key ingredient in nuclear weapons, it is important to track how much civil HEU exists and where it is.
2014
Past Event
The Future of Global Nuclear Security Policy Summit
Newseum, Washington, DC
NTI Index Report in Russian, Chinese, Arabic, French & Spanish
Download the Russian, Chinese, Arabic, French, or Spanish translations of the 2014 NTI Nuclear Materials Security Index report’s foreword, executive summary, and select country profiles.
NTI Experts Available for the Nuclear Security Summit
NTI experts available to members of the new media covering the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit
Past Event
2014 NTI Index Vienna Briefings
Vienna, Austria
Past Event
Countdown to the Nuclear Security Summit 2014
Washington, DC
VIDEO: The Threat of Nuclear Terrorism
A new, short video describes three real-world nuclear security breaches and the steps to prevent terrorists from getting a nuclear weapon.
NTI Celebrates Progress, Congratulates 7 Countries that Eliminated Materials
A new video, shown at the launch of the 2014 NTI Index, applauds the seven countries that removed all or most weapons-usable nuclear materials since 2012.
Past Event
Launch of the 2014 NTI Nuclear Materials Security Index
National Press Club
Releasing the 2014 NTI Index, Nunn Calls on Leaders To Address Weaknesses in Global Nuclear Security
Index Highlights Positive Trends and Dangerous Gaps As World Leaders Prepare for Nuclear Security Summit in March
Nunn and Rohlfing at the 2014 NTI Index Launch
NTI Co-Chairman Sam Nunn speaks at the release of the 2014 NTI Nuclear Materials Security Index launch at the National Press Club.
2014 Nuclear Materials Security Index To Be Launched by NTI, Will Assess Nuclear Materials Security Worldwide
The release of the 2014 NTI Nuclear Materials Security Index, a unique public assessment of nuclear materials security conditions in 176 countries.
2013
Gains in Global Nuclear Security
In January 2012, the NTI released their Nuclear Materials Security Index, a first-of-its-kind public assessment of nuclear materials security conditions in 176 countries.
2012
Past Event
Japan, Nonproliferation, and Nuclear Security: Cooperation for Regional Security in Asia
Washington, DC
Past Event
A Next Step in Nuclear Arms Control: Securing Fissile Materials
The Brookings Institution
NTI Contributes to Inaugural Publication
NTI contributes an article on the NTI Nuclear Materials Security Index to the inaugural INENS Insights publication, distributed at the NPT PrepCom in May 2012
MacArthur Foundation Interviews Deepti Choubey
NTI's Deepta Choubey was featured alongside MacArthur Foundation President Bob Gallucci and Harvard's Matt Bunn.
Choubey on Nuclear Materials Security in the Middle East
NTI senior director, Deepti Choubey, noted that transparency is a key issue for countries in the region with weapons-usable nuclear materials.
Past Event
London Briefing of the 2012 NTI Nuclear Materials Security Index
London, United Kingdom
Past Event
Briefing of the NTI Nuclear Materials Security Index
Vienna, Austria
NTI Launches Nuclear Materials Security Index
The Index examines nuclear security conditions in 176 countries, underscoring that there is no global consensus on steps to secure nuclear materials.
Past Event
NTI Nuclear Materials Security Index Launch
National Press Club, Washington, DC
ADVISORY: Nuclear Materials Security Index to Launch
The Index was created to spark an international discussion about priorities required to strenghten security and ensure governments reduce risks.