AFRL scientist selected for Civilian Development Education Published Dec. 22, 2008 By Rex Swenson Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A scientist from the Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate here has been selected for an Air Force senior development education program called the National Laboratory Technical Fellowship Program. John Cominiello is the first civilian to be selected for NLTFP at Sandia National Laboratory, a year-long course offered through Air University's Air Force Fellows. The mission is to develop senior air and space power leaders with a strategic understanding of international security and civil-military affairs and cutting edge technology. "I feel honored to be selected for this program especially given the Air Force focus on reinvigorating the nuclear enterprise," he said. "I look forward to the opportunity to apply my background in explosives research and development and six-sigma methodologies to this challenging endeavor." The program provides a broad-based education about nuclear weapons. The goal of the program is to accelerate the development of engineers and scientists in their understanding of the enduring nuclear stockpile and the science-based stockpile stewardship tools, processes, and techniques to keep the stockpile safe, secure and reliable in the absence of underground nuclear testing. "John is a great asset to the Air Force and this training will only add to his ever-expanding skill set," Dr. Bob Sierakowski, Munitions Directorate chief scientist. Ultimately, this program will help prepare a future generation of experts for critical positions in the nuclear weapons stewardship program and maintain a corps of experts to ensure the United States remains the preeminent nuclear superpower. The Sandia Weapons Intern Program uses a combination of on-the-job learning and education course work. "The program of study includes historical development, current stockpile activities and lessons learned as well as modeling and simulation, validation and advanced manufacturing processes and techniques," explained Mr. Cominiello. Air Force National Lab Tech Fellows learn in both the classroom and in the laboratory gaining experience with current and future nuclear stockpile programs, surety principles, nuclear subsystems and components and modeling and simulation. Importantly, the program also focuses on the management of nuclear weapons programs, including laboratory Technical Business Practices, nuclear weapons information and knowledge management and the roles and responsibilities in the U.S. nuclear weapons complex and community.