The Under Secretary for Nuclear Security, in the United States Department of Energy

United States Department of Energy

The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...

, is the Administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration

National Nuclear Security Administration

The United States National Nuclear Security Administration is part of the United States Department of Energy. It works to improve national security through the military application of nuclear energy...

. The National Nuclear Security Administration's responsibilities include designing, producing, and maintaining safe, secure and reliable nuclear weapons for the U.S. military, providing safe, militarily effective naval nuclear propulsion plants, and promoting international nuclear safety and nonproliferation. The incumbent Under Secretary, Thomas Paul D'Agostino, was sworn in on August 30, 2007.

The Under Secretary for Nuclear Security is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

. The Under Secretary is required to have extensive background in national security, organizational management, and appropriate technical fields. The Under Secretary is also a member of the Nuclear Weapons Council, and is the chair of the Council when a majority votes that the issue at hand is the primary concern of the Department of Energy. The Under Secretary is paid at level III of the Executive Schedule, meaning he or she receives a basic annual salary of $152,000 as of 2006.

Assisting the Under Secretary for Nuclear Security are the Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, the Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, the Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, the Deputy Under-secretary for Counter-terrorism, the Associate Administrator for Defense Nuclear Security, the Associate Administrator for Emergency Operations, the Associate Administrator for Infrastructure and Environment, and the Associate Administrator for Management and Administration.