New Y-12 Collaboration Has ‘Transformational’ Potential
A new enhanced collaboration between the University of Tennessee and Y-12 National Security Complex will lead to career-enhancing opportunities for Tickle College of Engineering students and provide access to world-class facilities at a level seen before at UT.
Officials with UT and Consolidated Nuclear Security, which manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex for the NNSA, signed an agreement May 30 to collaborate on initiatives that enhance national security.
As part of the collaboration, the partners will develop a National Security Prototype Center (NSPC) in Oak Ridge to solve complex manufacturing problems, combining Y-12’s experience in high-precision classified manufacturing and UT’s expertise in advanced materials and manufacturing.
“Very few colleges of engineering have this type of partnership or capabilities, and I am excited about the possibilities for our students and faculty,” said TCE Dean Matthew Mench, the Wayne T. Davis dean of the college. “Combined with the tremendous partnerships we have with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, we are continuing to build a world-class ecosystem to address critical national needs in manufacturing, nuclear security, and national security.”
In addition to establishing the National Security Prototype Center, the agreement will allow Y-12 and UT to collaborate in other areas:
- Recruiting a Distinguished Chair for National Security Manufacturing to lead the NSPC program and implement effective collaborations. The position will hold a joint appointment between UT and Y-12.
- Creating shared facilities to advance NSPC objectives; UT and Y-12 will create shared facilities to house collaborative NSPC programs supported by the U.S. Department of Defense.
- Leveraging emerging technologies such as digital twins and extended reality for high-consequence industries. Both parties intend to play a national leadership role in the development and deployment of these technologies in high-consequence environments such as nuclear material and energy production and emergency response.
- Delivering hands-on education and training programs for the nation’s future-ready nuclear energy, security, and national defense workforce. Programs will include science, technology, engineering, mathematics and areas related to skilled technical work and will be flexible.
Opening new doors to success
The 60,000-square foot NSPC will allow TCE faculty and students to have access to classified space for manufacturing research and development at a higher level of technology readiness than ever before. The center will focus on turning innovative ideas into prototypes that will provide solutions for the nuclear deterrence, national security, and nuclear energy sectors.
“As national leaders in advanced manufacturing, partnership on this facility is an excellent opportunity to extend our capabilities and opportunities,” Mench said. “Through this partnership, our faculty and students will be able to work within world-class facilities at the leading edge of manufacturing and materials science. It will open doors for our research enterprise that we not previously accessible and very few other universities have access to.”
The collaboration will provide TCE students with internships and future job opportunities and allow the college to help train future Y-12 workforce through expanded educational offerings.
“The collaboration between Y-12 and TCE faculty will open up multiple avenues of applied research that is critical to our national security,” said Kivanc Ekici, the head of the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering. “I believe MABE department’s prominence in manufacturing will be an asset for this exciting new partnership.”
Mench was part of a leadership team from both entities that worked to develop the vision for the enhanced collaboration. The pioneering spirit they both share provided a strong framework for future success.
“It is a tremendous tribute to the support from the academic leadership at the university and CNS that such a bold vision was implemented so quickly,” Mench said. “In time, I believe this partnership will be transformational to the college as we continue to work together to maximize the benefits of this partnership to all stakeholders, including the state and region.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey (865-974-0683, rpotkey@utk.edu)